Crockpot Ham with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze (2024)

November 15, 2019 by Melissa 40 Comments

Crockpot Ham – a traditional flavor packed bone-in ham made in the slow cooker and finished with a maple brown sugar glaze. The best way to make a holiday ham!

Crockpot Ham

I used the slow cooker to gently heat the ham without drying it out, then made an easy homemade maple brown sugar glaze. Just a few minutes under the broiler caramelizes the glaze and gives it a delicious crunch. This slow cooker ham is gorgeous, and would be beautiful on any holiday table. The best part is, this slow cooker ham recipe is easy and economical. Perfect for feeding a crowd!

What kind of Ham should I use in the Crockpot?

Start with a 7 1/2 pound bone-in butt portion ham. My super market also offers shank portions, but my butcher recommended the butt portion and said it is the better quality cut. For this recipe, stick with the unsliced bone-in ham. Spiral sliced hams can dry out in the slow cooker and under the broiler. Keep in mind that hams are precooked, the trick is adding flavor and reheating them without drying them out which is why a Crockpot is perfect!

How to Make Ham in a Slow Cooker

Start by trimming excess fat and skin from the ham. Use a paring knife to slice a grid pattern into the ham. The ham will shrink a bit as it cooks and this will leave room for the glaze to drip in and build flavor.
Add a cup of apple juice to the slow cooker to ensure the ham does not dry out, and heat for 5-6 hours on low.
Once the ham is heated through, carefully remove the ham from the slow cooker and let it rest on a baking sheet for about 20 minutes.
While the ham is resting, prepare the glaze by combining pure maple syrup, dark brown sugar, brown mustard and cornstarch. Bring to a boil and let it cook 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly, until the glaze has thickened. Squeeze in fresh orange juice. Set the glaze aside and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
Spoon the glaze over the ham, making sure it is well covered. Finish the ham under the broiler until the glaze starts to caramelize, 5-7 minutes.

What To Serve with Crockpot Ham

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Corn Casserole

Sausage Apple Stuffing

Instant Pot Mashed Red Potatoes

5 from 18 votes

Crockpot Ham Recipe with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

5 hrs

Resting Time

20 mins

Total Time

5 hrs 35 mins

Crockpot Ham - a traditional flavor packed bone-in ham made in the slow cooker and finished with a maple brown sugar glaze. The best way to make a holiday ham!

Course:Dinner

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Crockpot Ham, Slow Cooker Ham

Servings: 12

Calories: 779 kcal

Ingredients

7.5poundhamunsliced, bone-in ham
1cupapple juice

Glaze

1/2cupdark brown sugar
1/2cupmaple syrup
2tablespoonsbrown mustard
2tablespoonsof cornstarch
1/3cuporange juice
freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Start by trimming excess fat and skin from the ham.
Use a paring knife to slice a grid pattern into the ham.
Add ham and 1 cup of apple juice to slow cooker.
Heat for 5-6 hours on low, until heated through.
Remove ham from slow cooker and let rest for 20 minutes.
Prepare glaze.
Bring pure maple syrup, dark brown sugar, mustard, pepper and cornstarch to a boil.
Let boil 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly until mixture starts to thicken. Add orange juice.
Let glaze cool for about 5 minutes.
Pat ham dry and spoon glaze over ham.
Heat ham under broiler 5-7 minutes until glaze has caramelized.

Recipe Notes

If glaze cools too long and is overly thick, just reheat to make pourable.

Nutrition Facts

Crockpot Ham Recipe with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze

Amount Per Serving

Calories 779Calories from Fat 432

% Daily Value*

Fat 48g74%

Saturated Fat 17g106%

Cholesterol 176mg59%

Sodium 3370mg147%

More Tips

I put the ham back into the slow cooker on before serving.
Let the ham rest before slicing. Don’t slice too early or the ham will dry out quickly.
Keep a close eye on the ham when broiling. It can brown very quickly.
I originally used pure maple syrup in this recipe, but have since started using regular pancake syrup and found it works just as well. So I use what I have on hand. They both give a great maple flavor.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Nat & Holly
April 4, 2014 at 3:45 pm

That looks seriously delicious! I’ve always been intimidated to try ham, but your recipe gives me hope! Thanks!
Reply
- Melissa
  April 9, 2014 at 10:19 am
  
  Thank you! xo
  Reply
  - Jen
    November 3, 2022 at 8:37 pm
    
    DELISH! Turned out so good! The whole fam loved it!!
    Reply
Tonia
April 6, 2014 at 5:39 pm

I love glaze on my ham! Using the crock post is great way to make things easier.
Reply
Carrie
April 9, 2014 at 7:46 pm

Sounds tasty and easy.
Reply
Amanda
October 22, 2014 at 11:23 am

Hi! This looks great… I have a large boneless ham in the freezer that I am wNting to cook for a group! Do you think this will still work? Should I remove the ‘skin’ before heating and applying the glaze if so? Thanks 🙂
Reply
- Melissa
  November 10, 2014 at 1:03 pm
  
  I haven’t tried with a boneless ham, but I think it will work for you. My ham did not have skin on, so I would recommend removing it. Let me know how it turns out!
  Reply
Carol
November 20, 2014 at 7:40 am

This looks great. We always have a ham on Christmas and I may try this one this year.
Reply
Julie
April 5, 2015 at 10:42 am

Does the lid to the crock pot need to go on? My ham is a little too big and im not sure if it’ll work still
Reply
- Melissa
  April 9, 2015 at 11:24 am
  
  Yes, you need to keep the lid on the slow cooker. I hope you it worked out for you!
  Reply
Tanya
September 21, 2015 at 10:12 am

Thank you for such a simple recipe. My only issue is with your instruction to “trim the excess fat off.” Ahhhhh no please dont do that lol. We are a small homestead who focuses on raising pastured/wooodlot raised heritage animals, including pigs. Pastured/woodlot raised pork is the best, premium pork you can buy. An i am here to ask you to leave the fat on. The fat not only keep the meat moist, but it holds the flavour. All our customers have quickly learned to not even buy chops without the bone in & fat on. All our pigs that go to butcher for clients have instructions for NO deboned cuts and NO trimming of fat. You want about 1″ of fat on your pork to add flavour. After cooking, you can cut it off. Again, just a suggestion from a passionate pig farmer who hand raises and feeds our pigs. A pig farmer who sits in the pasture giving belly rubs to the pigs. Happy cooking!
See Also
We Tried 6 Ways of Cooking Spiral-Cut Ham and the Winner Was a Juicy, Flavorful Showstopper
Reply
- Vicky
  October 28, 2015 at 2:14 pm
  
  I agree, Tanya. Fat is flavor and adds moisture.
  Reply
Hayley
December 16, 2015 at 2:15 pm

I’m in Australia. Is your brown mustard a liquid or powder?
Reply
- Melissa
  February 15, 2016 at 8:27 pm
  
  Not powdered mustard, it’s a condiment you would put on a sandwich or hamburger.
  Reply
b
November 15, 2016 at 8:53 pm

I noticed brown mustard only comes in spicy. My kids don’t like spicy foods at all. Does this ingredient make the ham even a little spicy?
Reply
- Melissa
  November 22, 2016 at 6:46 pm
  
  I don’t think it does, but you can substitute dijon mustard!
  Reply
Danielle
November 21, 2016 at 4:08 pm

Hi there! How far in do you slice when doing the grid pattern? I assume you aren’t cutting all the way through, correct?
Reply
- Melissa
  November 22, 2016 at 6:45 pm
  
  I’d say maybe 1/4 of an inch. The slices widen as it cooks and makes the grid pattern more prominent.
  Reply
Genny L. Brezina
February 15, 2018 at 2:44 pm

I’ve made this several times now and it’s super delicious. Easy and yummy. The whole family loves it. 🙂
Reply
Evelyn
October 8, 2018 at 7:49 am

I will try it so excited
Reply
Barb Sauer
December 30, 2018 at 8:56 am

I made the slow cooker ham yesterday and it was the best tasting ham we have ever had. I followed the recipe exactly as stated with no changes at all. I did leave it in the cooker for 6 hours. The ham was so tender and tasted amazing. Thank you so much for this simple and fabulous recipe.
Barbara
Reply
Swoody
January 29, 2019 at 11:48 am

What internal temperature should the ham be cooked to?
Reply
Brittany
November 17, 2019 at 7:33 am

Did the recipe change? I’ve been making this every year for thanksgiving and I don’t remember the recipe calling for Apple juice or orange juice
Reply
- Melissa
  November 17, 2019 at 8:49 am
  
  I just updated the post and recipe! I used apple juice instead of water to heat the ham and added some orange juice to the glaze for freshness. These are the only changes but I think they add a lot of extra flavor!
  Reply
Erin
December 11, 2019 at 10:18 am

The maple and orange juice give this so much flavor. Great recipe!
Reply
stephanie
December 11, 2019 at 12:04 pm

I was looking for a new ham recipe and decided to try this one out, it turned out absolutely delicious. I will definitely be making this again.
Reply
Toni
December 11, 2019 at 12:07 pm

This is really amazing! A must-have for Christmas!
Reply
Natalie
February 13, 2020 at 9:48 am

My mouth is watering!! This ham is so juicy & tender! I need to make ham more often, because my family loves it & this recipe is easy!
Reply
Matt Taylor
February 13, 2020 at 10:29 am

I LOVE crockpot ham. This one is fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Reply
katerina @ diethood.com
February 13, 2020 at 11:24 am

Slow cooker ham is the best!! This one looks absolutely amazing!
Reply
Sara Welch
April 7, 2020 at 11:59 am

What a beautiful ham! This will surely impress my family on Easter; looking forward to enjoying this soon!
Reply
Kristyn
April 7, 2020 at 1:50 pm

This is a delicious ham!! Oh, I am still making one for Easter, even if it’s my little family. Love the maple brown sugar glaze. It adds a yummy flavor!
Reply
wilhelmina
April 7, 2020 at 3:00 pm

This takes all the stress out of a special occasion dinner! I was able to focus on side and dessert while knowing that the main dish was just over there doing it’s thing!
Reply
Ruth Donaldson
April 4, 2021 at 8:45 pm

This was so easy and the best glaze we’ve ever tasted. Will definitely make this again.
Reply
Eden
September 14, 2021 at 3:35 pm

This turned out amazing! We loved it so much and it was easy to make. Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Reply
Matt Taylor
September 14, 2021 at 4:15 pm

Oh my gosh, this crockpot glazed ham is so amazing. For one thing, it is incredibly easy to make, 2nd, I love ham, third, the glaze is incredible. Such a great recipe!
Reply
Betsy
September 14, 2021 at 6:43 pm

So easy! This crockpot recipe is so good! Love this! The maple flavor is perfect. I could easily eat this for any meal — breakfast, lunch , OR dinner! And I did…I made it for dinner with potoatoes & green beans and then we had the leftovers with pancakes for breakfast, and made sandwiches a couple days later for lunch! And that maple flavor was the star of the show!
Reply
Allyssa
November 3, 2022 at 3:50 am

Super loved its taste! Full of flavor and very easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
Reply
Journa Liz Ramirez
November 3, 2022 at 6:23 am

The slow cooker perfectly cooked the ham! It turned out to be so beautiful and delicious glazed with the homemade maple brown sugar. Love to have this on holidays.
Reply
Hedy McD
April 8, 2023 at 9:45 am

This is the only ham recipe that I make. Comes out perfect and delicious every time. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Reply