soul food
Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham recipe that went viral all over the internet! It is one of my most loved recipes ! If you haven’t tried this recipe yet, you are missing out! This is a must-make. Crockpot ham never tasted so good!
My all-time most favorite time of the year is quickly approaching! I love the feeling, the food, and my family! I am bringing you a recipe that my family raves about every holiday!
Reasons You Will Love This Recipe
- Sweet and savory ham all in one delicious pan. You get the sweet from the brown sugar, tangy from pineapple, and savory from the pineapple.
- Moist and tender ham that turns out perfect every single time. A great hands-off approach to cooking the perfect ham.
- Easy prep for you to get a meal ready for your family or a crowd.
- This is a perfect ham for the holidays, whether Easter, Thanksgiving or, even Christmas.
- My brown sugar ham is a stunning ham that offers a gorgeous presentation value.
Ingredients Needed
- Ham – I used a spiral-cut ham for this slow cooker ham recipe. Reach for a ham that fits into the slow cooker. Depending on the size of your slow cooker will depend on the size of ham you can use.
- Honey – To sweeten the ham and create a glaze you will use honey.
- Brown Sugar – A little bit of brown sugar is going to offer the perfect sweetness to compliment the savory out of the ham.
- Pineapple – Pineapple ham is so popular. The sweet juice that is released from the pineapple flavors the ham nicely. Canned pineapple works great.
- Variations to Recipe
- Here are a few ways to change up the ingredients used in this crockpot ham recipe. I love it just as it is, but feel free to make tweaks to create the perfect recipe for yourself.
- Spread on a layer of Dijon mustard on top of the ham and massage the honey in as well for a little bit of a twist in flavor.
- Sprinkle the ham with a little bit of cayenne pepper or even red pepper flakes for a spicy honey ham.
- Swap out the ham for peach or apricot preserves for a change if flavor. You could even do a cherry preserves or a can of cranberry sauce. All of these would be delicious. I love the cranberry twist.
- Use maple syrup instead of honey, or even agave syrup.
- Swap the pineapple with a bit of apple cider or apple juice instead of pineapple.
- You are welcome to sprinkle on different herbs and spices to flavor the ham differently. It doesn’t have to be a sweet ham. Smoked paprika, garlic, parsley, thyme, rosemary, etc.
- I used a spiral cut ham but you are welcome to use a different type of ham.
- Pro Tips For Success
- Ham Size
- Make sure that you are buying a ham that fits in the crockpot. You want to make sure there is space around each side of the crockpot.
- Making Cuts in Ham
- I used a spiral ham but you will find that if your ham is not a spiral cut slits around the ham. This is going to ensure the honey, brown sugar, and pineapple juice will make its way into the ham. Now if you are using a spiral-cut ham, then spread the slices apart to spread some of the mixture into the slits for added flavor.
- Crockpot Liner
- Feel free to use a crockpot liner to prevent sticking and an easier cleanup. This is not a have-to-have but it will help in cleanup. The sugars can become sticky as well as the honey, so the cleanup will be a lot easier.
- Low and Slow
- I highly recommend that you cook your ham low and slow. I find that cooking your ham on a low setting is key as it is going to help infuse the ingredients into the ham but also prevent it from drying it out.
- Allow Ham to Rest
- Make sure you allow your ham to rest for around 10-15 minutes before you go to slice and serve up the ham. This is going to help lock in the juices and prevent it from drying out when you slice into the meat.
- Juices In Crock Pot
- You will find that there will be juices at the bottom of the slow cooker. Saving the juice and keeping the ham stored in the juice is going to help flavor the ham even more.
- Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerate any of the ham you do not eat right away. You can store your ham in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze the ham for 5-6 months if you would like. This is a great way for you to extend the shelf life of the ham. Then when you want to eat some of the ham, you will simply thaw the ham in the fridge overnight.
- You can warm in the microwave or opt to reheat in the oven if you want. If you decide to warm in the oven make sure to place in a covered pan with foil.