Wanna prepare your holiday ham the easy way? Make this Crock Pot Ham! Just 5 minutes of work for you and the slow cooker does the rest!
This recipe is part of my Dump it 'til it's hot series of dump recipes. It's all about making delicious food with minimal prep, no pre-cooking, the ability to freeze for a good make-ahead meal. And trust me when I say, easy never tasted so good!
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Crock Pot Ham
Since I’m working hard this year to bring you tons of easy dump and go recipes, I figured why stop at weeknight dinners? Every year we have a variety of holidays that come up. So why not make some menu options for holiday meals as well? So that’s exactly what I did.
In our family, a spiral ham is a mainstay at many family gathers, especially for different holidays. And why shouldn’t it be? It’s generally pretty easy to prepare and and a total crowd pleaser in terms of taste. It’s also a budget-friendly way to feed a crowd.
But making a slow cooker ham is a great way to make an already easy main dish effortless. I’ve come across a variety of ham recipes in the past. Many were delicious! And I was excited to put my own spin on this.
Now of course I included brown sugar. But from there, I added some unexpected items to bring a little depth into the recipe. Jim Beam Red Stag brings a deep sweetness (don’t worry, the alcohol cooks off!) and a few dashes of hot sauce add a nice zing without actually making it spicy.
Tips for making Crockpot Ham
- My ham was around 7 pounds. Be mindful of the shape and size of the ham when purchasing. You want to make sure it will fit into the bowl of the slow cooker and fit under the cover.
- Spread a cup of brown sugar evenly over the bottom of the crock pot.
- When you place the ham into the slow cooker, place it whichever way will best allow it to fit into the pot and still be able to cover it.
- I use a whisk to mix the other cup of brown sugar with the red stag and hot sauce until well combined and pour it evenly over the ham. If needed, use a brush to brush it onto the sides.
- When the ham is finished, it’ll be ready to slice and serve. I like to use the juices to serve as a way to moisten it. You can also thicken it into a more traditional ham glaze.
Frequently asked questions about making Slow Cooker Ham
- Should I use bone-in or boneless ham? If you can find a boneless spiral ham that’s small enough, it makes cutting even easier. Around here, they only have bone-in spiral ham and that worked as well. Just make sure it will fit into the pot.
- Do you add water to ham? Not for this recipe. I’ve found that it not extra moisture is needed. The sugar melts and combines with the juices from the ham.
- How long does crock pot ham last? 4-5 days covered in the refrigerator.
- Can you reheat sliced ham? Yes- I do it in the oven or in smaller portions in the microwave.
- How do you keep sliced ham moist when reheated? I like to save the juices and reheat the ham in the juices.
- How do you make a brown sugar glaze for ham? I place the juices into a pan and reduce them. If you’re pressed for time you can just thicken the juices with a cornstarch slurry.
- Can I freeze sliced ham? Yes, I freeze it in a plastic zipper bag.
- Can I make this in the Instant Pot? Although I try to provide IP directions for all of my slow cooker recipes, this particular recipe isn't ideal for instant pot cooking as it doesn't start with much liquid, and liquid is an important component to instant pot cooking.
Crockpot Ham Recipe Upgrades
Although this is designed to be a dump-and-go recipe, here are a few “upgrades” you can make if you have a little extra time on your hands and don’t mind doing a small amount of extra work. You don’t have to do them to have a delicious meal, but they will make this recipe come out even more delicious:
- I like to baste the ham a few times during cooking, but you don’t have to.
- Follow the directions I provide and make the juices into a ham glaze.
Make it a meal!
A few great recipes to round out and complete this meal would be:
Helpful tools:
Video Tutorial for making Crock Pot Ham
Crock Pot Ham
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar, divided
- 1 6-8 pound spiral cut half ham, bone-in or boneless
- 1 airline bottle, Jim Beam Red Stag
- 2-3 dashes hot sauce, like Frank's Red Hot
Instructions
- Place 1 cup in an even layer on the bottom of the crock pot.
- Place the ham on top of the sugar, turning it whichever way you need to to fit the top of the pot on.
- In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup brown sugar, Red Stag and hot sauce until well combined.
- Pour over the ham and use a brush to make sure it's covered evenly if necessary.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees, basting a few times throughout cooking.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Now that you know how to make this Crock Pot Ham recipe, be sure to share it and tag @thelifejolie on Instagram and Facebook. And be sure to pin it to save for later or bookmark it!
Check out other Dump It ‘Til It’s Hot posts:
- Dump recipes main page
- My introduction post
- Best tools for prepping dump recipes
- Tips for making dump dinners
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Toni says
Toni says
Jessy Freimann says