There's something incredibly special about a holiday ham, but cooking one can feel like a lot of work. This Easy Slow Cooker Pineapple Ham recipe changes all that. It takes the stress out of preparing a holiday main course by using your slow cooker to create a juicy, tender, and deeply flavorful ham with a fraction of the effort.

The magic of this recipe is the hands-off approach. The slow cooker gently heats the ham, locking in moisture and infusing it with the sweet, tangy flavors of the pineapple glaze.1 The result is a ham that is perfectly cooked and glazed to perfection, making it a beautiful and delicious centerpiece for your holiday table or a Sunday dinner.

Easy Slow Cooker Pineapple Ham

Juicy Holiday Favorite!

Yields: 10-12 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 4-6 hours

Ingredients

  • For the Ham:

    • 1 (7-8 lb) pre-cooked spiral-cut ham2

  • For the Pineapple Glaze:

    • 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple rings in juice, divided

    • ½ cup packed brown sugar

    • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Slow Cooker & Ham

  1. Place Ham: Remove the ham from its packaging. Place it cut-side down in a large slow cooker. If your ham is too large, you can cut it to fit.

  2. Arrange Pineapple: Drain the pineapple rings, reserving the juice. Arrange the pineapple rings on top of the ham.

2. Make the Glaze

  1. Combine: In a medium bowl, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, and ground ginger (if using) until the brown sugar is completely dissolved.

3. Cook the Ham

  1. Pour Glaze: Pour the glaze mixture over the ham, making sure to get it in between the slices.

  2. Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the ham is heated through. The internal temperature of the ham should reach 140°F (60°C).

  3. Baste: Halfway through the cooking time, you can baste the ham with the juices from the bottom of the slow cooker for extra flavor.

4. Finish and Serve

  1. Transfer: Carefully remove the ham from the slow cooker and transfer it to a large platter.

  2. Slice: If using a spiral-cut ham, it is already sliced. If using a boneless ham, slice it against the grain.

  3. Serve: Drizzle with the remaining juices from the slow cooker and serve immediately.

Pro-Tips for a Perfect Ham

  • The Right Ham: A pre-cooked, spiral-cut ham is perfect for this recipe as it is already fully cooked and the slices allow the glaze to seep in.3

  • A Good Glaze: The glaze is what gives this ham its signature flavor. You can adjust the ingredients to your liking. For a spicier glaze, add a little bit of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.

  • Don't Overcook: Since the ham is already pre-cooked, you are just reheating it. Overcooking will dry it out. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches the right temperature.

  • The Glaze is the Sauce: The juices at the bottom of the slow cooker make an excellent sauce. You can serve them as-is or reduce them on the stovetop for a thicker glaze.

  • Make It a Meal: This ham is delicious with simple sides like green beans, mashed potatoes, or roasted carrots.