Slow Cooker Ham is the easiest main dish you can make for the holidays! A two-ingredient glaze plus the ham are all you need for this crowd-pleaser.
Slow Cooker Spiral Ham with Apricot-Dijon Glaze
This Slow Cooker Ham recipe was inspired by my oven baked Apricot-Rum Spiralized Ham, which is also delicious! I wanted to make a slow cooker version without the rum and my family absolutely loved how it turned out, so I decided it was worth sharing here too. You won’t believe how easy it is make the perfect juicy, flavorful ham for pairing with all your favorite holiday recipes!
What Makes This Ham the Best for Holiday Celebrations
Spiral ham is by far the easiest holiday addition to any table because it’s already cooked when you buy it, so all you have to do is make a glaze and heat it up! But despite being easy, it also feels special. It’s always a hit!
- Two-ingredient glaze: Plus there’s no need to cook the glaze, just mix it and brush it on!
- Saves space in your oven: The oven is prime real estate when you’re hosting and this slow cooker ham cooks on the countertop so there’s more room for baking Spinach Gratin and Green Bean Casserole.
- Perfect results every time: Low and slow cooking is ideal for a ham since it only needs to be warmed up. You don’t want to dry it out and the crockpot does a great job locking in moisture.
Ingredients You’ll Need
As promised, there are just 3 simple ingredients for this recipe! See exact measurements in the recipe card above.
- Hickory Smoked Spiral Cut Ham: When buying ham, I look for uncured, hormone- and antibiotic-free pork. It’s not a must to make this recipe, but it is a healthier option.
- Apricot Preserves are the base of our sweet and tangy glaze, which balances the savory, salty flavor of the ham.
- Dijon Mustard adds depth to keep the glaze from being cloyingly sweet.
How to Cook Ham in the Slow Cooker
See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions. Here’s a visual overview of the process.
- Make the glaze: Reserve one tablespoon of the apricot preserves, then whisk together the rest of the preserves and the mustard in a small bowl.
- Glaze the ham: Set the ham in your slow cooker, making sure it’s positioned in such a way that you can fit the lid on. Brush the glaze over the ham.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours. Brush the remaining tablespoon of preserves over the ham during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.
Tips for Slow Cooker Ham
If you’ve never cooked ham in a crockpot before, these additional pointers will help.
- Don’t buy a big ham: When making ham in a slow cooker, I recommend a large 6-quart oval slow cooker and a smaller ham (6 to 7 pounds) to make sure it fits and you can put the lid on.
- Turn or trim the ham if necessary: You may have to turn the ham on its side if it’s too large, or cut some of the ham off if the lid doesn’t fit.
- Don’t use the glaze packet: If your ham comes with a glaze packet, toss it out. Making my simple glaze instead will taste much better than the questionable ingredients in the packet that comes with the ham.
Slow Cooker Spiral Ham with Apricot-Dijon Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 6 to 7 pound Hickory smoked fully cooked spiral cut ham
- 5 tbsp apricot preserves
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Make the glaze: Whisk 4 tablespoons of preserves and mustard together.
- Place the ham in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, making sure you can put the lid on. You may have to turn the ham on its side if your ham is too large.
- Brush the glaze over the ham. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 4 to 5 hours. Brush the remaining tablespoon of preserves over the ham in the last 30 minutes.
Last Step:
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Sides for Pairing With Ham
Ham is one of those main dishes that’s pretty easy when it comes to pairing! It goes with so many sides, you really can’t go wrong. Here are a few of my favorites.
Potatoes
Ham and potatoes are a comfort food duo! These recipes are perfect for a holiday.
Vegetable Sides
These lightened up vegetable side dishes are sure to impress.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
When it comes to leftover ham it’s always great in soups, omelets, beans, and just about anything you want to add flavor to. I made an awesome Leftover Ham Bone Soup with the leftover bone which I highly recommend (so save the bone)! My Cauliflower Fried “Rice” with Leftover Ham and Black-Eyed Peas with Leftover Ham, Collard Greens and Cabbage are delicious too.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover slow cooker ham in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in foil for 3–4 days.
- Freezer: Wrap ham slices tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil, or place them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag with the air pressed out. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- To reheat: Place the ham in a baking dish with a splash of water or broth, cover tightly with foil, and warm at 300°F until heated through.
