Cook Your Ham in the Crockpot for the EASIEST Holiday Dinner Ever! (original) (raw)
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This Crockpot Ham recipe is the easiest, most delicious way to cook ham for a crowd. Even if you’ve never made a holiday ham before, this recipe won’t let you down!
5 Star Review
“I usually get so stressed when it comes to cooking for holiday meals, but this recipe took all the pressure off. I put the ham in the crockpot, and it turned out so juicy and tender, I couldn’t believe it. I’m never making ham any other way!”
— Wilma —
Crockpot ham is the easiest holiday dinner!
So much of the anxiety involved in holiday entertaining is the mental Tetris you have to play when figuring out what needs to go in the oven and when and at what temperature. Enter: crockpot ham.
- Ham is delicious—savory, sweet, succulent, and salty. With this crockpot ham recipe, you’ll get all that flavor without any of the stress. We’re talking 5 minutes of prep time here!
- Like Crockpot Pork Roast, crockpot ham frees up valuable real estate in the oven and since it’s a mostly hands-off recipe, your time is free to make your sides.
- This ham recipe with my Brown Sugar Ham Glaze will elicit those excited oohs and ahhs and all the compliments. It’s absolutely delectable.
Tips for Buying a Holiday Ham
If this is the first year you’re making ham for the holidays, you might not know where to start. Here’s a primer to help you make your purchase.
- Avoid Hams That are Injected With Saline Solution. Hams are brined one of two ways: soaking the ham in saltwater for several days or injecting brine directly into the meat to expedite the brining process. Higher quality hams are submerged in brine, rather than injected.
- Avoid Canned Ham, Too. Canned ham is made by pressing and forming scraps into a can-shaped loaf. Needless to say, this is not the ham you want to serve for the holidays.
- Choose Bone-In Ham. Boneless ham is easiest to cut, but leaving the bone in helps keep the ham moist and flavorful, so it’s worth the extra effort. Plus you can use the ham bone for Instant Pot Split Pea Soup!
- Spiral vs. Whole Ham. Spiral hams are very popular for the holidays because they’re already pre-cut. Convenient! Unfortunately, being pre-cut makes them prone to drying out.
For this recipe, we’ll use a bone-in ham.
Make Enough Ham for Everyone!
Wondering how much ham to make per person? Plan for about 1/3 to 1/2 pound of ham per person for bone-in ham. Some sources even recommend as much as 3/4 pound per person, so if your family has big appetites, you’re serving more adults than kids, or you want leftovers, keep that in mind! Leftovers can be used to make delish Ham Salad!
How to Cook Ham in the Slow Cooker
Cut (photo 1). Score the ham diagonally left to right, then right to left, creating a diamond crisscross pattern.
Add the Liquid (photo 2). Pour the wine or juice into a 6-quart or larger oval slow cooker.
Add the Ham (photo 3). Cover and cook until the ham is heated completely through and reaches 140 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer (photo 4).
Glaze (photo 5). At the end of the cooking time, prepare the glaze. Transfer the ham to a cutting board and brush with the glaze mixture.
Finish (photo 6). Make Ham Gravy, if desired. Slice, serve, and ENJOY!
What to Serve with Crockpot Ham
- Vegetables. Pair your protein with a vegetable side like Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic or Sautéed Green Beans.
- Potatoes. Ham and potatoes are a comfort food combo perfect for family holiday get-togethers! Try my Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
- Other Holiday Favorites. Cornbread Stuffing, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Drop Biscuits are all excellent with crockpot ham!
This crockpot ham recipe is an easy, delicious way to cook ham for a holiday crowd. Only 5 minutes of prep and the slow cooker does the rest!
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- 1 5- to 7-pound cooked bone-in ham*, do not use spiral cut as it will dry out in the slow cooker
- 1 cup dry white wine or apple juice or water
- 1 recipe Easy Brown Sugar Ham Glaze or glaze of choice
With a sharp knife, score the ham diagonally left to right, then right to left, to create a diamond crisscross pattern.
Pour the wine or juice into a 6-quart or larger oval slow cooker. Add the ham. Cover and cook on low until the ham is heated completely through, 5 to 6 hours (it should reach 140 degrees F on an instant read thermometer).
Towards the end of the ham’s cooking time, prepare the Brown Sugar Glaze. Transfer the heated ham to a cutting board and brush super liberally with the glaze. Slice and enjoy! If desired, use the cooking juices in the slow cooker to make Ham Gravy.
*You can also make this recipe with boneless ham; note that it will heat through more quickly and is more prone to drying out.
TO STORE: Store leftover crockpot ham in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
TO REHEAT: Reheat ham in the microwave, or place it in a baking dish with a few tablespoons of water, broth, or stock; cover and reheat in a 325 degree F oven until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
TO FREEZE: You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the instructions above.
Serving: 1(of 16)Calories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 0.4gProtein: 32gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 124mgPotassium: 489mgSugar: 0.1gVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
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Hi, I’m Erin Clarke, cookbook author and the home cook behind Well Plated. I’ve helped millions of people cook healthier meals that actually taste amazing and sold over 200,000 books! I’m here to help you save time, dirty fewer dishes, and feel great about what you’re eating, without overthinking it. Welcome!