How to Make Slow Cooker Ham
This pineapple slow cooker ham is sweet, sticky, and fall-apart tender, glazed with brown sugar, honey, and juicy pineapple. It’s the easy, hands-off holiday ham your whole crowd will fight over!
For years, I was convinced a holiday ham had to be complicated.
All that basting. All that glazing. Hovering by the oven so it wouldn’t dry out.
Then I made one in my slow cooker, and I have never looked back.
You layer everything, walk away, and a few hours later you’ve got the sweetest, stickiest, most tender ham on the table.
The best part is that glaze. Brown sugar and honey melt down into the pineapple juice and soak right into every slice.
The Easiest Star of Your Holiday Table
Here’s why this one has earned a permanent spot on my holiday menu.
It’s almost entirely hands-off. Your slow cooker does the work while you handle everything else. (Like greeting guests, setting the table, picking out holiday music, and lighting the candles!)
It feeds a crowd. One ham, a whole table of happy people.
That brown sugar and pineapple glaze is pure, sticky magic.
And a little sprinkle of ginger and chili flakes at the end? It gives the whole thing a warm, cozy depth you won’t be able to place, but you WILL keep going back for more.
How to Make Slow Cooker Ham
Start by covering the bottom of a large slow cooker with two cups of brown sugar. This is your sweet, sticky foundation.
Place the ham on top. Use your hands to gently fan the slices apart a little, so all that glaze soak in.
Drizzle the honey evenly over the whole thing.
Then tuck the pineapple in around the sides and pile a little on top. Pour in all that juice too. Don’t you dare drain it! :)
Cover it up and let it cook low and slow until it’s warmed through and tender.
In the last half hour, stir together your remaining brown sugar with the ginger and chili flakes, and sprinkle it right over the ham. This is what gives you that gorgeous, caramelized crust on top.
Spoon a little of those pan juices over each slice before serving and dig in!
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Ham
- Pick a ham that actually fits. You want the lid to close all the way, so measure your crock before you shop. A 6-quart or larger works best.
- Leave that pineapple juice in. It keeps everything moist and builds all that sweet flavor.
- Save the spiced sugar for the end. Sprinkling it on during the last 30 minutes lets it turn into a glaze instead of just melting away.
- Don’t skip the pan juices. That liquid gold at the bottom is what makes every slice taste incredible, so spoon it right over the top.
- The chili flakes are a personal touch. They’re not there to make it spicy. Just a whisper of warmth to balance all that sweet. You can leave them out entirely if your crew prefers.
What You’ll Need
Just a handful of simple ingredients for a truly special main.
A spiral-cut ham. Bone-in or boneless, whatever you love. The pre-cut slices soak up all that glaze beautifully.
Brown sugar. The heart of that sweet, sticky glaze, used in two parts.
Honey. For extra richness and shine.
Pineapple. Tidbits or chunks, juice and all, for that sweet tropical flavor.
Ground ginger and chili flakes. My little secret for a warm, cozy finish.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Ham
A gorgeous ham deserves a table full of cozy sides! These are my favorites alongside it.
Whatever else lands on your table, I promise this ham will be the first thing to disappear.
Scroll down for the full printable recipe, and get that crock pot going!
And if easy, crowd-feeding meals are your love language, our 30 Minute Dinner Recipes Book belongs on your shelf.
Now go enjoy that gorgeous ham!
Print
Pineapple Slow Cooker Ham
This pineapple slow cooker ham is sweet, sticky, and tender, glazed with brown sugar, honey, and juicy pineapple. An easy, hands-off holiday ham that feeds a crowd!
- Prep Time 10 mins
- Cook Time 3½-4 hrs
- Total Time 4 hrs 10 mins
- Yield 10–14 servings 1x
- Category Dinner, Mains
- Method Slow Cooking
- Cuisine American
Ingredients
- 1 spiral-cut ham, pre-cooked (bone-in or boneless, either works)
- 3½ cups brown sugar, divided
- ½ cup raw natural honey
- 1 (20 oz) can pineapple tidbits or chunks, undrained
- 1 pinch dried chili flakes
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
Instructions
- Cover the bottom of a large slow cooker (6-quart or larger) with 2 cups of the brown sugar.
- Place the ham on top of the brown sugar and gently open the slices slightly with your hands.
- Evenly pour the honey over the ham.
- Add the pineapple (with its juice) around the sides, with some on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 3½ to 4 hours.
- In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1½ cups brown sugar, dried chili flakes, and ground ginger. Sprinkle the mixture over the ham during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Notes
- Use a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, and choose a ham that fits with the lid fully closed.
- Don’t drain the pineapple. The juice keeps the ham moist and adds flavor.
- Add the brown sugar, ginger, and chili flake mixture only in the last 30 minutes so it forms a glaze instead of dissolving.
- Spoon the juices from the bottom of the crock over the ham right before serving.
- The chili flakes add gentle warmth, not real heat. Leave them out if you prefer.
