If you’ve never made a ham in the crockpot before, get ready, because this is about to become your new holiday tradition. This Crock-Pot Ham is ridiculously simple, uses just two ingredients, and comes out so tender it basically falls apart on its own. The brown sugar melts down into this incredible sticky glaze that coats every single piece and it’s just perfection.
This crockpot ham recipe is my ride-or-die holiday ham recipe. If you find yourself trying to juggle everything else—sides, desserts, setting the table, maintaining your composure—and need a more simple main dish, this crock-pot ham recipe does exactly that. It works perfectly as the star of a big holiday spread but it’s honestly also a really great option to have for family dinner on Sundays. You can also make it at the beginning of the week and use the leftovers all week for sandwiches or whatever else sounds great to you. While you’re here, try my Beef Stew Crockpot Recipe and my Ham and Cheese Croissant Bake.
😍 Why You’ll Love This Crock-Pot Ham Recipe
Only two ingredients: a ham and brown sugar; doesn’t get much simpler than that.
The crockpot does everything: you set it up in the morning and come back to a perfectly cooked, fall-apart ham.
The glaze is everything: the brown sugar melts into the ham juices and creates this sticky, caramel-like glaze at the bottom of the crockpot.
Perfect for feeding a crowd: an 8–10 pound ham goes a long way, and keeping it on warm right in the crockpot makes serving so easy.
🐷 Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Brown Sugar Ham
Bone-in ham: look for one labeled “ready to serve” or “fully cooked. You’re just heating it through and building flavor, not cooking it from raw.
Brown sugar: some gets rubbed all over the outside of the ham, and the rest goes right on the bottom of the crockpot to build that sticky sauce as it cooks.
✔️ How To Make Crock-Pot Ham
Take the ham out of its packaging and drain off any excess liquid. Pat it dry if needed. Rub about 1/2 cup of brown sugar all over the ham, ensuring an even, light coating on all sides.
Add about 1 cup of brown sugar to the bottom of your crock-pot. Depending on your crock-pot size, aim for a layer about 1/4 inch thick covering the entire base. Place the ham cut-side down (the flat sliced side) into the crockpot, pressing it gently into the brown sugar.
Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours.For an 8-pound ham, approximately 8 hours should be sufficient.If the ham is too large for the crock-pot lid to cover securely, cover tightly with foil, pressing down all edges to seal in steam. Double up on foil if needed to ensure no steam escapes.When the ham is done, it should pull apart easily with two forks.
For serving, use two large forks to lift the ham out of the crock-pot and place it on a cutting board.Slice it into your desired pieces – no need for perfection, just serving-size cuts.
Transfer the sliced ham back into the crock-pot. Using two large spoons or tongs, gently toss the ham in the brown sugar sauce at the bottom to coat it thoroughly.Place the crock-pot lid on and keep it on the warm setting until ready to serve.Alternatively, you can transfer the ham to a serving dish and ladle the brown sugar sauce from the crock-pot over the top.
Enjoy warm.
🗒 Variations
Pineapple brown sugar ham: pour a small can of crushed pineapple or pineapple juice into the bottom of the crockpot along with the brown sugar—it adds a subtle sweetness and keeps the ham incredibly moist.
Honey glaze: swap out half the brown sugar for honey for a slightly different, floral sweetness that still caramelizes nicely.
Smoky version: add a teaspoon of smoked paprika to your brown sugar rub for a hint of smokiness that plays really nicely against the sweetness.
🗒 Substitutions
Ham size: anywhere from 8–10 pounds works well in most standard crockpots. Just adjust the cook time slightly—bigger hams will need closer to 10 hours.
Brown sugar: light or dark brown sugar both work here. Dark brown sugar has a slightly deeper, more molasses-forward flavor which is really delicious if you have it.
Bone-in vs boneless: a boneless ham works too, though bone-in tends to stay juicier and has more flavor overall. Just keep an eye on the cook time as boneless hams can cook a little faster.
🍴 Leftovers? Lucky You.
Leftover crock-pot ham keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, microwave it in 30-second bursts with a small splash of water to keep it from drying out, or warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat with a little of the sauce until heated through. Leftovers are incredible in sandwiches, breakfast scrambles, or really anything!
🤔 FAQs
Do I need to add any liquid to the crockpot?
Nope. As the brown sugar ham cooks, it releases its own juices which combine with the brown sugar to create plenty of liquid at the bottom. Adding extra liquid would just dilute that gorgeous glaze.
My ham is too big for the crockpot lid to close. Is that okay?
Totally fine—just cover it tightly with foil instead, pressing the edges down firmly all the way around so no steam escapes. Double up on foil if you need to. The steam is what keeps the ham moist, so a good seal matters.
Can I cook this crock-pot ham on high instead of low?
Low and slow is really the way to go here. High heat can dry the ham out and you won’t get that same fall-apart tenderness. If you’re short on time, 4–5 hours on high can work in a pinch, but low for 8–10 hours gives you the best results.
What size crockpot do I need for a 10-pound ham?
A 7- or 8-quart crockpot is ideal for a ham this size. A 6-quart can work depending on the shape of the ham, but anything smaller and you’ll likely run into lid issues.
Can I use a boneless ham instead?
You can, though bone-in tends to stay juicier and has more flavor. If you go boneless, check it a little earlier—boneless hams often cook faster and can dry out if left too long.
What do I do with all the sauce left in the bottom of the crockpot?
Don’t you dare pour it out. Spoon it over the sliced ham before serving, use it as a dipping sauce, or drizzle it over mashed potatoes or roasted veggies on the side.
👩🍳 Hungry For More?
If you loved this Crock-Pot Ham, here are a few more recipes you might want to try next:
💌 Let’s Stay Connected
Keep in touch with me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest! If you do make this Crock-Pot Ham recipe (or any recipe of mine) don’t forget to leave a review.
Crock-Pot Ham
Equipment
- 1 crock-pot
Ingredients
- 1 8-10 pound bone-in ham (fully cooked), reduced sodium (if available)
- 1½-2 cups brown sugar
Instructions
- Take the ham out of its packaging and drain off any excess liquid. Pat it dry if needed.
- Rub about 1/2 cup of brown sugar all over the ham, ensuring an even, light coating on all sides.
- Add about 1 cup of brown sugar to the bottom of your crock-pot. Depending on your crock-pot size, aim for a layer about 1/4 inch thick covering the entire base.
- Place the ham cut-side down (the flat sliced side) into the crockpot, pressing it gently into the brown sugar.
- Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours. For an 8-pound ham, approximately 8 hours should be sufficient. If the ham is too large for the crock-pot lid to cover securely, cover tightly with foil, pressing down all edges to seal in steam. Double up on foil if needed to ensure no steam escapes.When the ham is done, it should pull apart easily with two forks.
- For serving, use two large forks to lift the ham out of the crock-pot and place it on a cutting board. Slice it into your desired pieces – no need for perfection, just serving-size cuts.
- Transfer the sliced ham back into the crock-pot. Using two large spoons or tongs, gently toss the ham in the brown sugar sauce at the bottom to coat it thoroughly. Cover with the lid and keep it on the warm setting until ready to serve. Alternatively, you can transfer the ham to a serving dish and ladle the brown sugar sauce from the crock-pot over the top.
- Enjoy warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My family loved this!