Crockpot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

This Crockpot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is the ultimate ham recipe to have on your holiday table. Easy to make with less than 10 ingredients, it’s bold with flavor and almost effortless thanks to the handy slow cooker.

I grew up having pineapple ham many Easters in my family, it was a classic, and for good reason. The fruity flavor of the pineapple pairs perfectly with the smoky ham. A few years ago, I wanted to find an easier solution to cooking the ham and this Crockpot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham was born.

It’s so simple to prep in about 15 minutes of hands-on time, and then I can use my oven for getting all the side dishes ready. I love that even when using the slow cooker, I can still have an impressive presentation with the pineapple rings on the outside. This pineapple ham happens to also be such a crowdpleaser, even little kids end up cleaning their plate! I think it’s all thanks to that sweet and fruity glaze.

Serve alongside my Cheesy Corn Casserole or Whipped Mashed Potatoes for the best meal.

Why You’ll love this Recipe

• Vintage ham recipe that’s easy to make. This slow cooker pineapple brown sugar ham takes almost no time to make! With 15 minutes of prep time, it cooks all day and fills your kitchen with the best aromas.
• Showstopping centerpiece to any holiday table. Every time I make this ham, I receive so many compliments from friends and family.
• Easy to pair with lots of side dishes. No matter the occasion, this ham goes with your classic holiday sides beautifully.

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

• Fully cooked spiral boneless sliced ham or bone-in spiral sliced ham: You can use either here, whichever suits your fancy! Oftentimes the bone-in takes longer to cook, just keep that in mind. Also, be mindful of fitting it in your crockpot.
• Pineapple Bourbon Ham Glaze: Makes that beautiful caramelized finish on the ham and adds both a sweet and rich flavor to every bite.
• Pineapple slices: Gives that extra fruity flavor and impressive presentation.
• Brown sugar: Adds a bit more sweetness.
• Honey: Another sweetener that also adds some floral flavors.
• Dijon mustard: Rounds out the sugar and honey with tang and acid.
• Ground cinnamon and cloves: Both are optional, but I highly recommend using them. They are warming spices that add lots of depth of flavor to each bite.
• Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce nicely.
• Fresh parsley: Optional for garnish.

Tools You’ll Need

• Small Bowl
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Liquid Measuring Cups
• Baster
• Crockpot
• Medium Saucepan or Skillet
• Flat Whisk

How to Make brown sugar Pineapple Ham

1. Grease the inside of a slow cooker with non-stick spray or butter. Place the ham inside, cut side down. If needed, trim excess fat from the surface.
2. In a bowl, combine the jar of Pineapple Bourbon Ham Glaze, 1/4 cup of the juice from the can of pineapple, brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, cinnamon and cloves (if using). Whisk until smooth.

3. Carefully pour the glaze evenly over the ham, making sure it coats the surface well. Situate the pineapple slices on top of the ham and secure with a toothpick.

4. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Baste the glaze over the ham every 45-60 minutes.

5. Remove the ham from the slow cooker once it’s heated through. Carefully pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoon water to make a slurry, then whisk it into the simmering liquid. Cook for a few minutes until the glaze has thickened to your desired consistency.

6. Arrange the sliced ham on a serving platter. Drizzle the thickened pineapple glaze on top and garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Expert Tips

• Depending on if you buy a boneless or bone-in ham, the weight will change. A boneless ham will be 4 to 5 pounds, while a bone-in ham will be 5 to 7 pounds. Make sure they are spiral cut for easy slicing when it’s time to serve. Also be mindful of the shape/weight for fitting in your crockpot. You can trim it if needed.
• Be sure to baste every 45-60 minutes you are coking the ham for that beautiful presentation. This is the secret to making your brown sugar pineapple ham look like a magazine! It gives it that beautiful sheen every time, plus so much flavor too.
• When reducing your sauce, if it’s still too thin, simply mix more slurry to add to the saucepan. A slurry is a 1:1 ratio of cornstarch to water that thickens sauces like a professional restaurant. Start small with 1 to 2 tablespoons of each and add more as necessary. Simmer that sauce until thickened perfectly.
• Swap the pineapple for orange. If you want to change up the flavors, use orange instead of pineapple. I would use orange juice and orange marmalade rather than the pineapple bourbon sauce, and skip using orange slices. It’s also so delicious!
• If you didn’t or couldn’t get the Pineapple Bourbon Ham Glaze, you can purchase another store-bought jarred ham glaze. Or if your ham came with a ready-to-use glaze, you could use that too.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop with a splash of broth or extra sauce if they are dry.

You can easily freeze slices of pineapple ham as well, just be sure to wrap well in plastic wrap and then foil and freeze for up to 2 months.

If you want to make this ham in advance, it’s easy to do so since it’s a slow cooker recipe and takes many hours to cook. Start the recipe in the morning hours before guests arrive and in the meantime, you can set the table and prepare the other side dishes!

Frequently Asked Questions

More holiday Side Dish recipes

• Baked Mac and Cheese
• Brown Sugar Baked Carrots
• Green Jello Salad
• Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes