Crockpot Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze: A Stress-Free Christmas Main Dish
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This Crockpot Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze is the easiest way to make a show-stopping Christmas dinner without the stress. It’s actually THE ONLY WAY I cook a ham now. Juicy, flavorful, and coated in a sweet brown sugar glaze, it’s a set it and forget it main dish that looks fancy but took almost zero effort.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. A few of the images were created with AI tools — because I’m a real mom on a real budget, doing my best to make it all look pretty.
This ham recipe has a chokehold on me and my family. Most families have “Holiday Only” Main Course meals and this one is ours.
I don’t know why it’s taken the official title of “Holiday Only” meal because it’s so super simple but you can bet your last dollar that this is going to be our main course for the foreseeable future.
It’s easy, it’s reliable, and it makes my kitchen smell like Christmas morning. The crockpot does all the work, no oven juggling or timing stress, and the brown sugar glaze makes it taste like you actually tried. Whether you’re hosting dinner, bringing a dish to family Christmas, or just want leftovers for sandwiches (the best part, honestly), this recipe delivers every time.
Let’s Talk Ingredients (and my love for Holiday shortcuts)
If you’ve ever looked at a glazed ham and thought, “That looks like way too much work,” this recipe is here to prove you wrong. You only need a handful of simple ingredients, nothing fancy or hard to find, and the crockpot does all the heavy lifting. No basting, no timers, no stress. Just toss it in, glaze it up, and wait for the compliments to roll in.
Ingredients
bone-in spiral ham (8–10 pounds, fully cooked)
1 cup brown sugar (light or dark — whichever you have)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey
1 (8 oz) can pineapple tidbits (with juice)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for a little holiday warmth)
Shop My Kitchen Favorites
Want to make this recipe even easier? I’ve linked my go-to crockpot, liners, and kitchen utensils on my Christmas Recipe Benable List. Everything I actually use in my own kitchen: simple, reliable, and perfect for stress-free holiday cooking.
Instructions
Layer the sweetness.
Start by sprinkling the brown sugar evenly across the bottom of your crockpot. This will melt into a caramel-like glaze as it cooks.Add the ham.
Place your bone-in spiral ham cut side down on top of the brown sugar. If the lid doesn’t quite fit (because hams have main character energy), just cover the top tightly with foil before putting the lid on.Pour on the pineapple.
Open the can of pineapple tidbits and pour everything, fruit and juice, right over the ham. The juice keeps it juicy (pun intended) and adds the perfect tangy balance to the sweetness.Add the final touch.
Drizzle honey over the top of the ham and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. That’s your “wow, this smells like Christmas” moment.Cook low and slow.
Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3 hours. Baste with the juices once or twice if you’re nearby, but honestly, it’ll turn out amazing even if you forget.Serve it up.
Move your ham to a serving platter, spoon some of that golden glaze over the top, and serve warm. Save the leftovers for sandwiches, they might be even better the next day.
Notes
Liner love: Use a crockpot liner if you want to skip scrubbing sticky brown sugar glaze later, totally worth it.
Leftover magic: The leftovers make the best sandwiches the next day. Add a little mustard or layer them on Hawaiian rolls for an easy lunch.
Sweet tooth tip: If you like things extra caramelized, spoon some of the juices over the top and broil a few slices for a couple of minutes.
Make it your own: Swap honey for maple syrup, or toss in a few cloves for a stronger holiday flavor.
Hosting shortcut: You can keep this on the “warm” setting for up to two hours, perfect if dinner time tends to run flexible (like it always does in my house).
Shop My Kitchen Favorites
You can find everything I used for this recipe, including my favorite crockpot, liners, and kitchen tools, on my Christmas Recipe Benable List. It’s everything I actually use to keep holiday cooking simple, stress-free, and cleanup-friendly.
Wrapping UP
If you try this Crockpot Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze, go ahead and claim your new title as the family holiday hero. It’s one of those recipes that looks impressive but takes almost no effort, my favorite kind.
The brown sugar, pineapple, and honey come together into the sweetest glaze that tastes like Christmas on a plate. Whether it’s your “Holiday Only” meal or just a new family favorite in the making, this ham never misses.
Be sure to save this recipe on Pinterest, because once you make it this way, there’s no going back to oven-baked anything.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. A few of the images were created with AI tools — because I’m a real mom on a real budget, doing my best to make it all look pretty.
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