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    The Life Jolie » Main/Entree » Crock Pot Ham

    Crock Pot Ham

    Published: Apr 1, 2019 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Wanna prepare your holiday ham the easy way? Make this Crock Pot Ham! Made with a spiral ham, brown sugar, bourbon and hot sauce, it's just 5 minutes of work for you and the slow cooker does the rest!

    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!

    Crock pot ham

    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!

    This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.

    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.

    Slow cooker ham Crockpot ham

    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.

    holiday ham

    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.

    sliced ham

    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:

    • Scalloped potatoes
    • Garlic Green Beans
    • Peas and Shrimp Salad
    • Garlic Mushrooms
    • Chocolate Pudding Cake

    slow cooker ham glaze

    Helpful tools:

    1. Slow cooker
    2. Instant pot
    3. Slow cooker liners
    4. Measuring spoons
    5. Measuring cups
    6. Whisk
    7. Mixing bowl

    Video Tutorial for making Crock Pot Ham

    Wanna prepare your holiday ham the easy way? Make this Crock Pot Ham! Made with a spiral ham, brown sugar, bourbon and hot sauce, it's just 5 minutes of work for you and the slow cooker does the rest!

    Crock Pot Ham

    Jessy Freimann
    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!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 8 hrs
    Total Time 8 hrs 5 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 servings

    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

    To make a ham glaze, 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.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    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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    Wanna prepare your holiday ham the easy way? Make this Crock Pot Ham! Made with a spiral ham, brown sugar, bourbon and hot sauce, it's just 5 minutes of work for you and the slow cooker does the rest!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni says

      April 05, 2019 at 2:02 am

      This is such a fabulous ham! Looks really amazing!
      Reply
    2. Toni says

      April 05, 2019 at 2:05 am

      This is such an amazing ham recipe!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        April 09, 2019 at 10:23 pm

        Thanks Toni!
        Reply

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