Crockpot Honey Baked Ham with Double Brown Sugar Glaze
I asked you guys a question: Can you make a Honey Baked Ham right in your crockpot and save all that precious oven space on Thanksgiving? Well, not only can you do it, but I think I just made the BEST honey baked ham Iโve ever tasted! This Crockpot Honey Baked Ham with Double Brown Sugar Glaze is unbelievably juicy, tender, sweet, and absolutely delicious. The secret is my double brown sugar glaze, sweet pineapple, honey, and a quick finish in the oven that creates the most incredible caramelized coating. Iโm telling you right now, youโre not getting a better holiday ham than this!
And hereโs the best part: While your ham is cooking away in the crockpot, your oven is completely free for all those delicious Thanksgiving side dishes!
If youโre looking for another holiday main dish that saves oven space, you absolutely have to try my Easy Crockpot Turkey Breast with Homemade Gravy. Thatโs right! You can make your turkey breast AND homemade gravy right in your crockpot, too! And if you love a delicious holiday ham but prefer using your oven, make sure you check out my Coca-Cola Cranberry Spiral Ham. Itโs another one of my favorite holiday recipes, and the combination of Coca-Cola and cranberry is absolutely incredible!
But before we get into this recipe, I have to share some of my familyโs favorite Thanksgiving dishes because if youโre planning your holiday menu, Iโve got you covered!
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My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes to Complete Your Holiday Menu
Thanksgiving is one of my absolute favorite holidays because, in my family, itโs all about getting together, cooking incredible food, and keeping our family traditions alive. Whether youโre making this crockpot ham as your main dish or serving it alongside a turkey, here are some of my favorite recipes to complete your Thanksgiving table!
- Whole Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey: If youโre making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, you have to have a beautiful, juicy roasted turkey!
- Grandmaโs Giblet Gravy: This is one of those family recipes that makes Thanksgiving taste like Thanksgiving. Itโs a tradition in my family!
- Grandmaโs Mashed Potatoes: Creamy, delicious, and the perfect side dish for all that gravy.
- My Familyโs Traditional Stuffing Recipe: Thanksgiving would not be Thanksgiving without our familyโs stuffing!
- Sweet Potato Casserole: Sweet, comforting, and always a favorite on the holiday table.
- Broccoli Casserole: One of those delicious, comforting holiday side dishes everyone goes back for.
- Easy Crockpot Turkey Breast with Homemade Gravy: Perfect for smaller gatherings or when you need to save oven space.
- Coca-Cola Cranberry Spiral Ham: Another delicious way to make your holiday ham!
Why Youโll Love This Crockpot Honey Baked Ham
There are so many reasons why I think this is one of the best holiday recipes Iโve ever made!
- It saves oven space! Thanksgiving is all about timing, and oven space is precious. This ham spends most of its cooking time in the crockpot.
- Itโs unbelievably juicy! The pineapple juice, honey, butter, and Dijon mustard create the most delicious combination while the ham gently heats.
- My double brown sugar glaze is the secret! We use the brown sugar mixture twice to create layers of sweet, caramelized flavor.
- Itโs incredibly easy! Youโre starting with a fully cooked ham, so thereโs no complicated preparation.
- Itโs perfect for any holiday! Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or even a big Sunday family dinner.
- It looks like a showstopper! The caramelized glaze and pineapple rings make this ham absolutely gorgeous when you bring it to the table.
And I have to tell you something else. You do NOT need to spend a fortune on a specialty ham to make something spectacular. I bought my bone-in brown sugar ham at Walmart. It was a Marketside ham, weighed approximately 8.74 pounds, and cost me about $22! Thatโs right! You can make an incredible holiday ham without spending a fortune.
Click Here for my favorite crockpot!
Place your fully cooked spiral ham cut side down in your crockpot.
Pour the pineapple juice around the ham and save the rings for later.
Spread Dijon mustard and softened butter over the ham, then drizzle with honey.
Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 4โ5 hours, until properly heated through.
Next, take a measuring cup and carefully scoop the cooking juices from the crockpot.
Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Divide the mixture in half.
Sprinkle half the brown sugar mixture over the ham and arrange the pineapple rings on top.
Bake at 450ยฐF for approximately 5 minutes to start caramelizing the sugar.
And don’t throw away that ham bone! You can use it for recipes like my Navy Beans and Ham Soup (coming soon)!
I like using a disposable foil roasting pan, the kind you might use for a lasagna. Click Here for my Large Checkered Cutting Board above!
Delicious Holiday Dessert Recipes!
Melissaโs Tips!
- Start with a fully cooked spiral ham. This recipe is designed for a fully cooked ham, not a raw or fresh ham. That makes preparation much easier, especially during the holidays.
- Place the ham cut side down. This helps keep the cut surface moist while the ham gently reheats.
- Donโt melt your butter. I like using softened butter and smearing it directly onto the ham. Itโs such a simple little trick!
- Save those pineapple rings! Donโt throw them away after pouring the juice into the crockpot. Theyโre delicious and make the finished ham look absolutely beautiful.
- Donโt skip the double brown sugar glaze. This is the secret to the entire recipe! One layer goes directly onto the ham, and the second becomes a rich glaze made with those flavorful crockpot juices.
- Watch your ham carefully under the broiler. You only need a little bit of time to achieve that beautiful caramelized coating. Sugar burns quickly, so keep your eyes on it.
- Donโt overheat your ham. Because weโre starting with a fully cooked ham, the goal is to heat it through safely without drying it out. Use a meat thermometer rather than relying on cooking time alone.
๐ค Common Questions
No! I use the juice from a 20-ounce can of pineapple slices, along with honey, butter, and Dijon mustard. The ham also releases delicious juices as it heats.
Yes! You can prepare the brown sugar spice mixture ahead of time and refrigerate the ham until youโre ready to cook. You can also fully prepare the ham ahead of time, refrigerate it promptly, and reheat it safely before serving.
Crockpot Honey Baked Ham with Double Brown Sugar Glaze
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Start by removing your fully cooked spiral ham from its packaging. If your ham came with a glaze packet, set that aside. Weโre making our own glaze, and trust me, itโs going to be delicious! Place the ham into your crockpot with the cut side facing down. This is important because it helps keep the ham juicy while it heats.
- Open your 20-ounce can of pineapple slices in 100% pineapple juice. Pour all the juice from the can into the crockpot around the ham. Set the pineapple slices aside because weโre going to use them later when we finish the ham in the oven.
- Take your 3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard and spread it all over the ham. Get it on the sides and across the top. Next, take your ยฝ cup of softened salted butter. Do not melt your butter! You want it softened enough that you can smear it right onto the ham. I literally just took the butter and pressed and spread it all over. Then pour your 1 cup of honey all over the ham.
- Place the lid on your crockpot. If your ham doesnโt quite fit, refer to my aluminum foil trick above, provided your slow cooker manufacturer permits it. Cook on LOW for approximately 4โ5 hours, or according to your hamโs reheating instructions, until the appropriate internal temperature is reached. Remember, your ham is already cooked! We want to gently reheat it and keep it juicy and tender.
- Once your ham is heated through, carefully remove it from the crockpot. I like using a disposable foil roasting pan, the kind you might use for a lasagna. If youโre doing this by yourself, take a sturdy spatula and place it underneath one side of the ham. Then use kitchen tongs on the other side to help lift it. Be careful because the ham and juices will be extremely hot. You can also use a second person to help if needed. Transfer the ham to your foil roasting pan, keeping the cut side down. Next, take a measuring cup and carefully scoop approximately 2 cups of the cooking juices from the crockpot. Youโre only going to need 1 cup for the glaze, but I always like having extra just in case!
- Preheat your oven to 450ยฐF. In a bowl, combine 2 cups light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ยฝ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ยฝ teaspoon ground ginger. Mix everything together until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the brown sugar. Now divide that mixture roughly in half. Weโre using half on the ham and the other half to make our incredible glaze.
- Take approximately half of your brown sugar spice mixture and sprinkle it all over the ham. Since the ham is hot, I like using a spoon. Sprinkle the mixture across the top, down the sides, and gently lift the spiral slices so you can get some of that delicious brown sugar mixture between them. Now take your reserved pineapple rings and arrange them all over the ham. I like to drape them over the top and let them cascade down the sides. Scatter any remaining pineapple slices around the ham in the pan.
- Place your ham into the preheated 450ยฐF oven. Let it bake for approximately 5 minutes. This helps the first layer of brown sugar begin to melt and caramelize. And while thatโs happening, weโre making our second glaze!
- In a small saucepan, add 1 cup of the reserved crockpot cooking juices and the remaining half of your brown sugar spice mixture. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir with a rubber spatula. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low. Allow the mixture to bubble gently and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it reduces by approximately half and becomes glossy and slightly thickened.
- Carefully remove the ham from the oven. Pour your warm brown sugar glaze all over the ham. Use a pastry brush to spread the glaze across the top, down the sides, and between the spiral slices. Make sure you get that delicious glaze everywhere! This is what creates the DOUBLE brown sugar glaze.
- Return your glazed ham to the 450ยฐF oven for approximately 5โ7 minutes. Then, if youโd like a deeper caramelized finish, switch your oven to BROIL for another minute or two, watching it constantly. Do not walk away from your oven! The brown sugar can go from perfectly caramelized to burnt very quickly. Youโre looking for a beautiful, glossy, golden-brown finish. Once your ham has the color you want, remove it from the oven. If using a disposable foil pan, support it underneath with a sturdy baking sheet before moving it, and make sure the pan is safe for the broiler. Otherwise, transfer the ham to a broiler-safe roasting pan for the final step.
- Allow your ham to rest briefly before serving. Then spoon some of that incredible glaze over the slices. And THATโS IT! You just made the most delicious, juicy, caramelized Honey Baked Ham right in your crockpot, with just a short oven finish!
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Nutrition
Notes
My Crockpot Trick When Your Ham Doesnโt Quite Fit!
Okay, you guys, I have to share this because itโs such a good little kitchen trick! My ham was just a little too big for my crockpot. Not by much, but enough that the lid wouldnโt sit down perfectly. And guess what I did? I took a large piece of aluminum foil, covered the opening of my crockpot securely, and then placed the lid right on top. Thatโs it! The foil helped create a seal, and my ham came out unbelievably moist and juicy. You donโt necessarily need to buy an enormous crockpot just to make a holiday ham! Important: Only use this trick if your slow cooker manufacturer permits it. The foil must stay away from the heating element, and the lid needs to rest securely. If the ham is too large to safely cover, use a larger slow cooker.Tried this recipe?
Made this? Tap a star to rate it – it only takes a second and it means the world!๐ How to Store Leftovers
Cooked ham leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours and used within 3โ4 days.
When freezing, allow leftover ham to cool promptly, then store it in airtight, freezer-safe containers or bags. For best quality, use frozen cooked ham within approximately 1โ2 months.
