Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple

5 from 1 vote

You only need 4 ingredients to make this slow cooker ham with pineapple recipe.

Shopping List: dark brown sugar, pure maple syrup, precooked spiral-cut ham (bone-in or out), pineapple chunks in 100% juice.

An Easy Recipe for Ham in the Crock Pot

The ham becomes tender and juicy while soaking up the rich flavors of pineapple and brown sugar. The combination of sweet and tangy flavors caramelizes beautifully and infuses the meat with a sweet and sticky glaze. This dish is perfect for holidays, family dinners, or even meal prep. Serve it with your favorite sides for a fuss-free meal that’s bursting with flavor.

Ham cooked in the slow cooker, topped with pineapple.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long to cook a ham in the slow cooker?

Cook ham in the slow cooker on high for 2 hours or on low for 5 hours.

Does ham need to be submerged in a slow cooker?

No it does not need to be submerged. However, covering the ham with a pineapple and brown sugar glaze will help retain moisture and add flavor while the ham cooks.

How to store leftover slow cooker ham?

Refrigerator: Once it’s cooled, remove it from the crockpot to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag labeled with the date and keep it in the refrigerator. Your pineapple ham will be fresh for about 3-4 days or you can transfer it to the freezer to keep it even longer.
Freezing: Make as directed and allow the ham to cool before transferring it to a resealable freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating.

How can I reheat leftover crockpot ham?

You can reheat this crockpot pineapple ham in the oven or microwave.
Oven: Add the ham with the juices to a baking dish and bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat is 140°F.
Microwave: Add individual servings to a microwave-safe plate and cook for 4-4 ½ minutes at 50% power.

What to serve with slow cooked ham?

Mashed potatoes are a classic staple side dish for ham. Vegetables such as southern-style green beans and corn casserole are other great options.

Slow cooker ham, sliced and covered with pineapple.

Ingredients Needed: (See recipe card below for the full recipe)

dark brown sugar – You can use light brown sugar but you’ll have a less intense flavor.
maple syrup – I tried this with honey but it turned out overly sweet. If you prefer honey to maple syrup (it goes great with ham) reduce that amount by half.
precooked spiral-cut ham – You can use a ham with or without the bone but it’s important that it is pre-cooked. You could use a ham that is not cut but the flavor won’t penetrate into the meat as well. If you want to make this recipe but don’t need a whole ham, you can try it with ham steaks.
canned pineapple chunks – Crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits would also work well. Just make sure they are packed in 100% juice instead of syrup. You could also use a fresh pineapple but then you would also need pineapple juice.

Ingredients on marble countertop to make slow cooked ham.

How to Make Slow Cooker Ham

Make the sauce. In a medium, heavy-bottomed, skillet over medium heat, combine the brown sugar with the maple syrup and stir until the sugar has melted into the syrup (about 2 minutes).

Brown sugar and syrup in skillet, and skillet pouring syrup over the top of the ham in the slow cooker.

Sweeten with pineapple juice. Add 3 Tablespoons of the pineapple juice from the can in to the sugar/syrup mixture, and stir to incorporate.

Add the ham. Place your ham in your crockpot and pour the pineapple syrup over the ham making sure to get into the slices well. Use a basting brush if needed.

Ham in the slow cooker with pineapple chunks and glaze spread on top.

Combine with the pineapple. Drain the can of pineapple chunks and add the pineapple to the crockpot. Wedge some of the pineapple chunks between the ham slices for extra flavor penetration.

Cook. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 5 hours.

Baste and serve. Once cooked, baste the ham with leftover juices, and serve warm with the juices on the side.

Sliced spiral ham cooked in the slow cooker topped with pineapple chunks.

Recipe Tips:

Add maraschino cherries to the pineapple for a retro recipe.
Add 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard to the sauce for a bit of tang.
Try adding ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes if you’d like a sweet and spicy alternative.
You can add 1 teaspoon of minced roasted garlic to the sauce for a bold and aromatic flavor.
Spiral ham is the easiest way to get the flavor to reach farther into the ham.
While testing, honey and maple syrup were both used, and it was found that the maple syrup gave the best flavor without an overpowering sweetness.
The dark brown sugar gave a really nice texture while the light brown sugar was less smooth, this is because of the amount of molasses used to make the darker brown sugar.

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