Easy Slow Cooker Ham (Pineapples and Brown Sugar)

Easy slow cooker ham recipe with 6 simple ingredients. Tender and juicy. Loaded with pineapples, brown sugar, ginger, garlic. Soft and tender meat that melts in your mouth.

I have tried many different variations. Some were made with lots of mustard, others were made with soda pop. I even made one with lots of fresh herbs and another one with butter and black peppercorns but this one always yields the best flavor and texture. It has the perfect sweet and savory flavor with a hint of spice. It's no wonder it's a big hit with my guests during holiday parties, just like my Christmas Salad (One Bowl), Easter Salad (One Bowl), and Easy Thanksgiving Turkey.

Jump to:

• Key ingrdients
• Variations
• How to make easy slow cooker ham recipe with pineapples and brown sugar?
• What sides to serve with holiday ham?
• precooked spiral ham
• Tips and techniques
• Recipe FAQs
• Storage
• More ham recipes
• Recipe

Key ingrdients

• Ham- Make sure it is fully cooked and spiral cut.
• Spices- Including red chili flakes, ginger powder, and garlic powder.
• Pineapples- You will want a 20 oz. can of crushed or tidbits.
• Brown sugar- This adds that familiar sweetness that many associate with ham.

Variations

• Glazed version- To make a thick glaze that you can brush on top of the ham, remove the juices from crock pot and strain it through a sieve into a nonstick saucepan. Dissolve 1-2 tablespoon of cornstarch in water and add that slurry in the juices and keep whisking until mixture thickens. Never add cornstarch powder into the juices because that will create disgusting starchy lumps that will not dissolve properly.
• Coca cola flavor- Replace the pineapples and its juice with 1 can Coca Cola and reduce the amount of brown sugar by half. Also, add a 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.
• Instead of pineapple juice- You can use the same amount of orange juice, apple juice, or apple cider.
• For a firm, crispy crust- Transfer the ham into an oven-safe baking dish with all the juices and pineapples and bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes and serve immediately.
• Make it a cheap and easy weeknight meal- By using a smaller 2-3 pound ham. The cook time would  also be obviously be shorter, too.
• Try additional herbs and spices- Such as cinnamon, nutmeg, Italian seasoning, parsley, and more for a different flavor profile.
• Mix some Dijon mustard- To bring another layer of flavor.
• Use honey- In place of brown sugar for a more natural taste.
• Smoked option- Use smoked meat for a subtle smoky flavor that is lovely in this recipe.

How to make easy slow cooker ham recipe with pineapples and brown sugar?

1. Sprinkle ham- With pineapples and half the spices and brown sugar.
2. Slow cook- Until heated through.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients- And cook until caramelized crust forms.

What sides to serve with holiday ham?

• Potatoes are always a hit and you can enjoy it in so many forms. Try these One Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes, One Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes or these One Pan Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.
• Roasted vegetables are another favorite. Serve these on the side: Oven Roasted Green Beans (One Pan), Oven Roasted Broccoli (One Pan), Oven Roasted Asparagus (One Pan)
• Bread is a classic side. Serve alongside dinner rolls, crusty bread, breadsticks, ciabatta bread.
• If you want to try something unique on the side, then consider these Easy Garlic Mushrooms (One Pan).
• Salads always a complete a meal in my household. Try any of these: Easy Green Salad (One Bowl), Three Bean Salad (One Bowl) or this Cucumber Radish Salad (One Bowl).

precooked spiral ham

I highly recommend buying it precooked because it's faster and convenient and get the crockpot to do all the work. You also won't occupy the oven and keep it free for all the other food and sides that you need to prepare for the holiday party. I used half a spiral cut one today because I love that the slices are already pre-cut and they are so convenient for serving but you can also use bone-in ham or even whole ham without any issues.

Tips and techniques

• You must use cooked ham for this recipe- This is not intended for a raw, uncooked ham.
• Discard the glaze packet- That comes with the ham.
• Add half the brown sugar and spices- In the beginning and the remaining amount near the end. That's because the first amount will fully melt into liquid but the final amount will create a nice caramelized crust on top with an amazing flavor.
• Add a sprig of thyme and sage- To infuse even more flavor and aroma into the ham.
• If your ham is not fitting in the crock pot- Trim the bottom of the ham to make it fit nicely. In the worst case scenario, cover the slow cooker tightly with heavy duty foil paper. Be very careful of the hot steam when you finally remove the foil.
• Don't over-cook the ham- Because that will lead to a tough dry ham. You simply need to get a temperature of 140 degrees F.
• If you are using a smaller ham- Just halve all the other ingredients.
• Don't keep opening the lid- Because that causes heat to escape and it will take longer for the ham to cook/heat up.
• With regards to the number of servings- It should be approximately ½ pound of boneless ham per person and ¾ pound of bone-in ham per person.
• Adjust brown sugar- According to personal preference for sweetness.
• Omit the red pepper flakes- This is just optional and if you don't like the heat, just skip this step.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Refrigerate- Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freeze- Place in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge and reheat when ready to serve.
• Reheat- This can be warmed back up in the oven or simply placed in the microwave until heated through.
• Make ahead- Prepare as per instructions, cool, then place in a sealed container and put in the fridge for 1-2 days. Then reheat and serve.

More ham recipes

• Ham Pasta Salad (One Bowl)
• Instant Pot Ham Bone Soup (With Leftover Ham)
• Instant Pot Corn Chowder (With Ham, Bacon, Potato)
• Ham and Cheese Sliders (One Pan)
• Split Pea Soup (One Pot)

Recipe