Slow Cooker Crockpot Glazed Spiral Ham

This Slow Cooker Crockpot Spiral Sliced Glazed Ham recipe is simple, easy, and perfect for the holiday season. Serve this tender and juicy ham drizzled in a homemade sauce of pineapple, honey, and brown sugar glaze for your favorite gatherings or events!

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What Type of Ham to Use

Start with whether you plan to buy a fresh ham or a cured, smoked, and pre-cooked ham. Fresh hams aren’t that common. Most people prefer cured hams, so that’s what you will typically find in grocery stores, especially around the holidays. Once purchased all you need to do is reheat and add an amazing glaze!

I like to use bone-in hams because they have more flavor. You can also use the leftover ham bone can be used in other recipes to add flavor, like my Slow Cooker Crockpot Ham and Potato Soup.

If you aren’t a fan of carving, spiral-sliced hams work great! They are also a time saver. The smoked ham is placed on a spit and rotated against a blade while moving lengthwise so it’s sliced in a spiral, right to the bone. You will still have to cut along the bone to remove your slices, but the hard part is already done and the presentation is beautiful. The slices fall right off the bone.

When buying ham, be sure to read the labels. Some hams are artificially plumped up with water or solutions, but this dilutes the flavor. Look for one with no added water or juices. The label should just read “ham” — not Ham, water added or Ham with natural juices. Check out this complete guide to buying hams.

How to Score the Ham

Hams are really thick, so scoring a ham before you cook it is necessary in order to help the ham glaze penetrate into the meat. Scoring will also make the ham gorgeous and very presentable. You will make diagonal cuts into the ham.

I don’t score spiral sliced hams because they are already cut and you can baste the glaze into the cut sections of the meat.

While scoring, use a sharp knife and a cutting board. Start at one end of the ham, and near the bottom cut about 1/3 of an inch into the ham and in a complete line across.

Continue to make similar cuts and lines about an inch apart.

Turn the ham and repeat the diagonal lines to form a criss cross pattern.

How to Make Ham Glaze

I like to use a combination of the juices from the ham when it cooks, pineapple juice, brown sugar or brown sweetener, honey, cinnamon, ground cloves, and cornstarch (as a thickener) to make the glaze. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan on the stove until thick.

How to Make Slow Cooker Crockpot Spiral Ham

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Add ham, pineapple juice, and brown sugar or sweetener to the slow cooker.
2. Slow cook.
3. Once the ham has cooked, pour the liquid from the bottom of the slow cooker into a saucepan or skillet on medium heat to make the ham glaze.
4. Add honey, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir.
5. Add cornstarch and water to a small bowl and stir to combine.
6. Add the cornstarch slurry mixture to the glaze. Stir as you pour and add it in slowly. Stir until the glaze thickens.
7. Pour the glaze over the ham.

What Size Slow Cooker/Crockpot to Use

My 7 quart Crockpot can fit an 8 1/2 pound spiral sliced ham with the lid on. If your ham is too large for your slow cooker, you can cover the top with foil as it cooks.

Cook Time/How Long to Cook

Cook the ham for 3-4 hours on Low heat.

How Much Ham Should You Estimate Per Person

Estimate about ½ pound per person.

Can You Make it Ahead?

For holiday celebrations, I prefer to make the ham in the morning. It always tastes best when it’s freshly cooked. You can make the ham up to 3-4 days in advance if preferred.

How to Store it

The ham can be stored in the fridge tightly sealed and covered for up to 3-4 days.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze leftovers (tightly sealed) for 1-2 months for optimal freshness. This is for quality only, as frozen hams remain safe to eat indefinitely.

More Ham Recipes

Southern Baked Ham with Pineapple
Ham Potato and Vegetable Soup
Ham and Cheese Panini
Air Fryer Honey Glazed Ham
Ham Hocks and Beans
Traeger Smoked Ham

More Slow Cooker Recipes

Slow Cooker Crockpot Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Slow Cooker Crockpot Candied Sweet Potatoes
Slow Cooker Crockpot Bone In Turkey Breast
Slow Cooker Crockpot Oxtail
Slow Cooker Crockpot Neck Bones
Slow Cooker Crockpot Black Eyed Peas
Slow Cooker Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup
Slow Cooker Chili Mac
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
Slow Cooker Crockpot Gumbo