This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
This brown sugar pineapple ham in the crockpot takes just 5 hours on low and uses just brown sugar, pineapple tidbits, and a few spices for a sweet-savory glaze. The slow cooker keeps your oven free for sides while the ham heats through and soaks up all that caramelized pineapple flavor.
It’s convenient, sure, but more importantly it’s just really good ham.
This brown sugar pineapple ham might have started out as a way to save precious oven real estate.
You’ve got candied sweet potatoes, one hour dinner rolls, and pecan pie cheesecake bars all fighting for space, and then there’s the ham taking up half the oven for hours.
The oven is a whole situation during holiday dinners, so freeing up space by making the ham in the crockpot is a no-brainer.
But, let me be real honest – this recipe may have started out as a way to save precious oven real estate, but now I just do my ham in the crockpot because, sorry, it’s completely delicious.
Never dry, super flavorful, topped with a sweet little brown sugar pineapple situation.
Spiral hams are already fully cooked, so we’re really just heating it through and letting all that brown sugar and pineapple work its magic.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
🍍 Classic sweet and savory combo – Brown sugar and pineapple create that perfect holiday ham glaze everyone loves. Pairs great with salty ham.
⏰ Hands-off cooking – Set it in the crockpot and walk away for hours while it does its thing. In fact, you’re better off ignoring it, because opening the slow cooker lid just slows things down.
🎄 Frees up oven space – No fighting for room when you need to bake sides, rolls, and desserts. There’s room for all of it!
Ingredient Notes
Spiral Sliced Ham – We’re using a pre-cooked spiral sliced ham that is around 3-5 pounds. If your ham is too large, it won’t fit in the crockpot so plan accordingly.
Pineapple Tidbits – These are just small chunks of canned pineapple. I prefer the kind that is packed in 100% pineapple juice versus the kind packed in a sugary syrup.
Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar will be fine here. I like the extra depth of dark brown sugar myself.
Ground Mustard – This doesn’t make the ham taste like mustard, but it does help balance on that rich sweetness. The pop of acid goes a long way!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Tips, Tricks, & Swaps
Give it some kick: Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the final sugar rub
Pre-cooked ham note: Spiral hams are fully cooked, so we’re just heating through and building flavor.
Can’t find boneless spiral ham? A bone-in ham works too, just adjust cooking time based on weight and keep in mind that you’ll need it to fit inside your slow cooker.
No pineapple tidbits? Crushed pineapple or pineapple chunks work just as well.
Final sugar rub trick – That last 30 minutes helps the glaze stick instead of sliding right off.
Want more of a sticky glaze? Boil the pineapple juice and brown sugar in a small sauce until it’s thick and sticky. Pour over the ham during the last 30 minutes of cooking instead of sprinkling with brown sugar.
Step by Step Instructions
Pour the juice from the can of pineapple into the bottom of your slow cooker and sprinkle in 1/4 cup of brown sugar.
Place the ham in the slow cooker and spread apart the slices. Pour on the pineapples, making sure that some are stuck down in the slices of ham. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cover, and cook on low.
Turn the crockpot to high and cover the ham with some more brown sugar mixed with ground mustard, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for 30 minutes.
Once the ham is fully heated through, it’s time to serve! Transfer to a serving plate and dig in.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftover ham in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Warm individual slices in the microwave with a damp paper towel on top, or reheat larger portions covered in a 325°F oven.
Serving Ideas
This brown sugar pineapple ham pairs beautifully with classic holiday sides like our funeral potatoes, green bean casserole with bacon, or Jiffy corn casserole. Always follow it up with this pumpkin pie with walnut topping. 😉
Leftovers are perfect for ham sandwiches, breakfast scrambles, or chopped into pasta dishes.
More Ham Recipes
- White Bean & Ham Soup
- Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
- Ham and Corn Chowder
- Dill Pickle Ham Salad
Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham in the Crockpot
Ingredients
- 3-5 pounds boneless spiral sliced ham see notes
- 20 ounces pineapple tidbits in pineapple juice
- 3/4 cup brown sugar divided
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
Instructions
- Open the can of pineapple tidbits and pour the juice from the can into the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle ¼ cup of brown sugar over the juice. Place the ham on top, using your fingers to spread the slices apart a bit.
- Arrange the pineapple chunks all around and over the ham in the crockpot. You don’t have to use the full can if you don’t want.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup of brown sugar over the ham and cover the slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours, until heated through.
- Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar with the salt, pepper, and ground mustard and sprinkle it over the ham and cook, covered, for 30 more minutes on high.
- Remove from the slow cooker and serve hot.
Leave a Review