If you’ve never made a ham in a slow cooker, you’re in for a treat! It’s about as easy as it can get! This slow cooker honey glazed ham has been our family’s go-to for any holiday meal for several years and counting! It’s simple to shop for, to prep, and to clean up, so how much better can a main dish recipe get? It also pairs well with most side dishes.
My kids love this ham recipe as well, and the leftovers are even better the next day for ham sandwiches or breakfast burritos. It will definitely be on our table for Easter as well as Christmas and probably a couple of other family dinners in between.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- 6-ingredient ham recipe: Now a ham may seem daunting to make, but not this crockpot glazed ham, it’s too simple with minimal ingredients!
- Stress-free holiday recipe: When it comes to planning a holiday menu, this ham is always at the top of our list since it takes 10 minutes of prep time and then it’s hands-free cooking.
- Great for all ages: Even picky eaters love this glazed honey ham – it’s smoky, sweet, and so delicious!
Tips for Busy Cooks
When choosing a ham at the store, make sure you buy a fully cooked spiral-cut ham. Look for 4 to 6 pounds which will serve anywhere from 6 to 12 people for a holiday meal. We usually buy a 6 pound ham to make sure we have leftovers for all of the delicious things you can make.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Fully cooked spiral-sliced ham: You want to look for a ham that is 4 to 6-pounds in weight.
- Honey: Base of the honey glaze for the ham recipe.
- Brown sugar: Adds rich molasses sweetness to the glaze.
- Dijon or yellow mustard: Give a hint of tang to balance the sweetness.
- Apple cider vinegar or orange juice: Either work well here to add another layer of flavor.
- Ground cinnamon: Optional to add, but a delicious warming spice that brings out the sweetness in the honey and brown sugar.
- Garlic powder: Infuses the glaze with garlicky flavor.
- Black pepper: Gives a hint of peppery spice in every spoonful.
How to make slow cooker honey glazed ham
Unwrap the ham and place it flat-side down in your slow cooker.
Whisk together honey, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar (or orange juice), cinnamon, garlic powder, and pepper in a small bowl.
Pour the glaze evenly over the ham, coating between slices.
Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or until warmed through. Baste with juices every hour.
Optional: For a caramelized finish, transfer ham to a baking dish, brush with extra glaze, and broil for 3–5 minutes until glossy.
Expert Tips:
- Be sure to buy a fully cooked spiral ham for the easiest prep of the recipe. This is key to make sure you are just warming it through and adding the rich glaze in the slow cooker and not cooking it from scratch (which will take many more hours).
- If you’re ham doesn’t fit in your slow cooker, no worries, just trim off a section on the bottom so it can fit easily. We use a 6 to 8-quart slow cooker to ensure that the ham fits.
- To make clean-up quick and easy, fit the slow cooker with a liner. Once you are finished cooking, discard the liner and clean out the bowl.
- For a twist on the classic honey glazed ham flavors, add some orange slices or pineapple rings on the bottom of the crockpot.
- If you have ham leftover, you’re in luck! It’s delicious on sandwiches, soups, breakfast casseroles, and even fried rice.
- Broil the ham to finish for a professional touch. This will caramelize the glaze to be glossy and on top and extra delicious with each bite.
- A spiral-sliced ham is best as it will glaze beautifully. If you are using an unsliced ham, score the surface lightly before adding the glaze to help it soak in.
What to serve with crockpot honey glazed ham
Whether you are making this for a dinner party or a holiday meal, like Christmas or Easter, this glazed ham in the crockpot is so easy to make and is a true showstopper in the center of the table. Here are some side dishes we love to serve with it:
Storage
Store any leftover ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven with a splash of water or stock to warm through for a few minutes.
You can also freeze slices of ham for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat with the same methods as above.
If you want to make this crockpot honey glazed ham in advance, you definitely can! Make it the day before and reheat about an hour before guests arrive. We like to set aside extra glaze so we can baste it again as it reheats and right before serving.
FAQs
Yes, it’s important to buy a fully cooked ham so that you can just warm it through for several hours while also basting with a delicious glaze.
Yes, definitely, it helps for even cooking of the meat. You don’t need to cover the ham, but it should come up an inch or so on the sides.
Pour the glaze over the ham before cooking it, then baste with the juices every hour. This will infuse the ham with the delicious flavors throughout the low and slow cooking process.
More delicious slow cooker recipes
Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Ham
Ingredients
- 1 fully cooked spiral-sliced ham 4-6 lbs
- 1 cup honey
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup Dijon or yellow mustard
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or orange juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Unwrap the ham and place it flat-side down in your slow cooker.
- Whisk together honey, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar (or orange juice), cinnamon, garlic powder, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pour the glaze evenly over the ham, coating between slices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or until warmed through. Baste with juices every hour.
- Optional: For a caramelized finish, transfer ham to a baking dish, brush with extra glaze, and broil for 3–5 minutes until glossy.
Share your thoughts! If you make this please leave a review letting me know how it was!
Notes
– Be sure to buy a fully cooked spiral ham for the easiest prep of the recipe.
– If your ham doesn’t fit in your slow cooker, no worries, just trim off a section on the bottom so it can fit easily. We use a 6 to 8-quart slow cooker to ensure that the ham fits.
– To make clean-up quick and easy, fit the slow cooker with a liner.
– Add some orange slices or pineapple rings on the bottom of the crockpot for a flavor twist.
– If you have ham leftover, you’re in luck! It’s delicious on sandwiches, soups, breakfast casseroles, and even fried rice.
– Broil the ham to finish for a professional touch. Just a couple of minutes is enough.
– A spiral-sliced ham is best as it will glaze beautifully. If you are using an unsliced ham, score the surface lightly before adding the glaze to help it soak in. Storing Tips:
– Store any leftover ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
– Reheat in the microwave or in the oven with a splash of water or stock to warm through for a few minutes.
– Freeze slices of ham for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat using the same methods as above.
– You can make this crockpot honey glazed ham in advance. Set aside extra glaze so you can glaze again as it reheats and right before serving.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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