Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is a delicious go-to Holiday main dish that is sweet, tender, and juicy, and super easy to make in the slow cooker. 

Table of Contents

• What Makes This Ham Recipe Work?
• What Do I Need To Make Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham In A Crock Pot?
• Ingredient Substitutions:
• How To Cook A Ham In A Crock Pot
• How Long To Cook Ham In A Crock Pot?
• How Do I Know When The Ham Is Ready?
• Tips For A Perfect Ham Every Time
• How Large A Ham Should I Buy?
• How To Store Leftover Ham?
• Can I Freeze Leftover Ham?
• What To Serve With Ham
• What To Make With Leftover Ham
• Recipe
• Reviews

What Makes This Ham Recipe Work?

First, this Crock recipe makes a mouthwatering, sweet and savory, tender and juicy ham, that your family and guests will rave about!

Secondly, with only 4 ingredients and a crock pot, you can set it and forget it, and it will cook on its own and be ready for dinner. You don’t have to babysit it, turn it, or do anything to it, which frees you up to focus on other things to get ready for a holiday dinner. It will likely be the easiest of the holiday dinner recipes you will try. Like other Slow Cooker recipes, it is a set it and forget it type recipe. If you like my Peach Glazed Spiral Ham, then you’ll love this easy ham recipe.

Thirdly, all the ingredients are common ingredients that you can easily find at the grocery store. 

Lastly, it only tastes like you slaved over the stove all day. By making it in the slow cooker, you free up oven space, which during holiday dinner prep, is a limited commodity.

What Do I Need To Make Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham In A Crock Pot?

The best part of this recipe, other than the taste, is that it only requires 4 ingredients. That’s it. While it tastes like it must have a dozen ingredients, it doesn’t. It is only 4 ingredients and they are:

• Bone-In Spiral Sliced Ham (One that fits the size of your slow cooker!)
• 3 cups brown sugar
• 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple
• 3/4 cup Maple Syrup

See the photo below for the ingredients I used.

Ingredient Substitutions:

If you don’t have all the ingredients, there are substitutions you can make. It may change the flavor and maybe the texture of the original recipe, but you could still have a delicious ham with these other ingredients.

If you don’t have ham, then try making our Roast Turkey recipe or Crock Pot Chuck Roast recipe instead.

If you don’t have brown sugar, you could use regular granulated sugar, but I would highly recommend making a trip to the store for the brown sugar.

If you don’t have pineapple, try an orange marmalade or apricot marmalade instead. It will change the flavor slightly, but you should still have a delicious ham.

If you don’t have maple syrup, you could use honey instead.

Equipment Needed:

• 1 large slow cooker or Crock Pot (6 quarts or larger)

How To Cook A Ham In A Crock Pot

This Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is so easy to make, it hardly qualifies as a recipe.  With just a few simple steps, and a few hours of slow cooking, you will have a mouthwatering, sweet, tender, and juicy ham to serve. For the most detailed, comprehensive instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the article to the printable recipe.

STEP 1: Spray a slow cooker with cooking spray. Sprinkle about 1 cup (maybe a little more) of brown sugar over the bottom of the slow cooker.

STEP 2: Place a bone-in, spiral-sliced ham in a slow cooker that has been sprayed with cooking spray. IMPORTANT: Be sure the lid to the slow cooker still fits on the slow cooker. It is important that the ham you buy fits into your slow cooker.

STEP 3: Cover the ham with brown sugar. Separate the slices slightly as well.

STEP 4:  Cover the ham and brown sugar with with crushed pineapple, allow some of the juices to run down in between the slices of ham.

STEP 5: Pour the maple syrup (or honey) over the pineapple and ensure that the ham is completely covered.

Step 6:  Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook per the instructions below.

How Long To Cook Ham In A Crock Pot?

Cook the ham on low for 3-1/2 to 4 hours on high or for 7 – 8 hours on low.

How Do I Know When The Ham Is Ready?

The good news is that you are starting with a fully cooked bone-in, spiral sliced ham. So, in reality, you are reheating the ham with an awesome glaze.

According to the USDA, precooked, spiral-sliced hams are safe to eat cold. However, since we are reheating this pre-cooked ham, use a food thermometer and heat until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140 °F. The cooking times provided above should heat the ham to at least that temperature.

Tips For A Perfect Ham Every Time

1. Be sure to use a large slow cooker or crock pot so the ham will fit in the crock pot. I recommend using one at least a 6-quart crock pot or larger.
2. Make sure the size of ham you purchase will fit in the crock pot that you have.
3. Once you place the ham in the crock pot, but before you start adding the toppings, separate the slices slightly, so the juices will run down inside the ham.

How Large A Ham Should I Buy?

For a bone-in, spiral sliced ham, it is typically about 3/4 to 1 lb per person. However, for a boneless ham, it would be recommended for about 1/2 lb of ham per person. Obviously, this will vary depending on the people being served. Typically, you will need more per person for adults than for children, but this can give a general rule of thumb.

How To Store Leftover Ham?

As soon as possible after serving, tightly cover the ham with foil, plastic, or place in an air-tight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days, according to recipetips.com.

Can I Freeze Leftover Ham?

Yes you can freeze ham but it can affect the flavor and texture of the ham. I try to avoid freezing the ham, if possible. I usually try to use up the leftover ham in one of the recipes below. However, if you have to freeze the ham, use moisture proof bags when you want to freeze leftover ham. Store in the freeze for up to 2 months.

What To Serve With Ham

If you are wondering what side dishes go well with ham, I have several tried and true recommendations.

Scalloped Potatoes – Very similar to Potatoes Au Gratin, they are drenched in a creamy, cheesy, garlicky cream sauce and then covered in more cheese! Pairs perfectly with ham.

Green Bean Casserole – A traditional green bean casserole that is made from scratch with fresh green beans and a homemade mushroom sauce and topped with french fried onions.

Homemade Crock Pot Applesauce – Sweet homemade applesauce goes very well with ham, and the slow cooker makes it even easier to make.

Southern Squash Casserole – is a comforting side dish casserole made with summer squash, and often served during the holidays, with tender, cooked yellow squash, onions,  sour cream, and cheddar cheese topped with crushed buttery crackers.

Honey Glazed Carrots – These buttery, sweet carrots and make a wonderful vegetable side dish for any holiday dinner, and they are so easy to make you can make them for any weeknight.

Rice Pilaf – This fluffy, buttery rice, infused with incredible flavor from sauteing in butter and cooking in seasoned chicken broth, with vermicelli (or orzo), creates a classic side dish for a holiday meal 

Hash Brown Casserole – This Cheesy Bacon Ranch Hash Brown Casserole gives the classic Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole a flavor boost with bacon, ranch seasoning mix yet still maintains that creamy cheesy texture of the casserole.

Crockpot Roasted Potatoes – Potatoes roasted in a crockpot or slow cooker with garlic, Italian Seasoning herbs, including rosemary, and parmesan cheese. These Crockpot Roasted Potatoes are perfect for a weekend or holiday dinner.

Homemade Carrot Cake – A sweet, moist, and dense Carrot Cake made from scratch with pineapple, coconut and pecans.

What To Make With Leftover Ham

Got leftover ham? Here are some great ideas on what to do with that leftover ham.

Leftover Ham And Potato Soup – an easy and delicious way to use up leftover ham and potatoes to make a creamy, comforting fall or winter soup.

Ham Green Beans And Potatoes – A classic Southern side dish or one-pot meal, often slow-cooked in a crockpot with a ham hock, but this short cut method uses chopped ham in an Instant Pot pressure cooker. It is a great way to use leftover ham from Easter or Thanksgiving.

Ham And Swiss Sliders – Made with sliced ham, Swiss Cheese, and Hawaiian rolls, and smothered with a garlic Dijon butter sauce, these sliders are a perfect game-day or party appetizer.

Leftover Ham, Cheese, and Spinach Stuffed Sweet Potatoes – This stuffed sweet potato, from Everyday Maven, is an easy and quick dinner that the whole family will love and a perfect way to use up your leftover ham!

Ham Bone Soup – This 15 bean soup, from Tastes of Lizzy T, is a great way to use up leftover ham. It’s hearty and comforting.

Ham And Cheese Quiche – It takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and it’s loaded with ham, bacon, cheese, and green onions.