By Becky Hardin
Updated Oct 27, 2025
This Crockpot Spiral Ham recipe is the easiest way to cook a spiral ham for any holiday or occasion. It has totally transformed how I approach cooking for a holiday crowd. Now I can just throw a spiral ham in the slow cooker with Dijon mustard, brown sugar, maple syrup, and apple cider to create a tasty glaze, and let it cook. It comes out nice and juicy, with delicious flavor!
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A Simple Way to Slow Cook a Juicy Spiral Ham
I have become an expert in easy ham recipes! I’ve mastered the creation of a few easy go-to options, including a pineapple ham , an easy 3-ingredient orange glazed ham , and a holiday brown sugar ham . The only one I hadn’t created yet was a ham in the crockpot, so voila, here it is! Perfect for those busy weeknights when I want to come home to a juicy, delicious, ready-to-go meal, or when I want to free up my hands to focus on the rest of my holiday meal.
Tips for Beginners
- Go boneless . You can easily swap the bone-in ham for a boneless one. When I do that, I cook the ham for 2-3 hours in the Crockpot, or until it reaches 140°F internally.
- Feed the crowd. Plan for ½ pound of meat per person. For example, an 8 lb. boneless ham will feed 16 people.
- Check for doneness. To get a read on the internal temperature, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the ham. Give it a few seconds until it reaches the appropriate temperature.
- Keep it juicy. Don’t worry if your ham isn’t completely covered in liquid; you just want to have some liquid around it to help keep the ham moist and flavorful.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 7-8 lbs. cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
- ▢ 2 tbsp Dijon mustard or grainy mustard
- ▢ 1 cup brown sugar
- ▢ ⅔ cup pure maple syrup
- ▢ 1 cup apple cider or apple juice, not apple cider vinegar! Orange or pineapple juices also work
Video
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Place the ham in the center. 7-8 lbs. cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
- Brush the ham with the mustard. 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Rub the brown sugar all over the surface. 1 cup brown sugar
- Pour the maple syrup and apple cider over the ham. ⅔ cup pure maple syrup, 1 cup apple cider
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
- Once the ham is warmed through, set it on your serving platter and tent with foil.
- Pour the juices from the crockpot into a medium pot and boil until the sauce reduces enough to coat the back of the spoon.
- Brush or pour it all over the cooked ham. Enjoy!
Equipment
- Crockpot
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crockpot Ham Step by Step
Prepare the Crockpot: Spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and place a 7-8 lb. cooked, bone-in spiral-cut ham in the center.
Coat the ham: Brush the ham with 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard, then rub 1 cup of brown sugar all over the surface. Pour ⅔ cup of pure maple syrup and 1 cup of apple cider or apple juice over the ham.
Cook the ham: Place the lid on the crockpot and cook the ham on low for 3 hours. Once the ham is warmed through, set it on a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
Make the glaze: Pour the juices from the crockpot into a medium pot and boil until the sauce reduces enough to coat the back of a spoon. Brush or pour the glaze all over the cooked ham.
Serve: Once the glaze has been poured over the ham, slice and serve. Enjoy!
How to Store
The easiest way to store leftover crockpot ham is to fully carve the spiral ham into slices. Place the slices in a resealable bag, or stack them and wrap them tightly in aluminum foil to store for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 325°F oven until warmed through.
To freeze, carve ham into slices. Wrap stacks of slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place them in a Ziplock bag to store for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I think this slow cooker ham recipe is the perfect ham for Easter or a special dinner, served along with creamy instant pot mashed sweet potatoes or crunchy crockpot glazed carrots . Sometimes, I’ll make white potatoes and prepare au gratin potatoes instead, and I’ll pair them with a batch of cheesy creamed green beans .
more ham recipes to try
Honey Glazed Ham Recipe (Baked)
Air Fryer Cranberry Glazed Ham
Smoked Ham
Glazed Ham Steaks
Crockpot Spiral Ham Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 7-8 lbs. cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard or grainy mustard
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup apple cider or apple juice, not apple cider vinegar! Orange or pineapple juices also work
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Place the ham in the center. 7-8 lbs. cooked bone-in spiral-cut ham
- Brush the ham with the mustard. 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Rub the brown sugar all over the surface. 1 cup brown sugar
- Pour the maple syrup and apple cider over the ham. ⅔ cup pure maple syrup, 1 cup apple cider
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
- Once the ham is warmed through, set it on your serving platter and tent with foil.
- Pour the juices from the crockpot into a medium pot and boil until the sauce reduces enough to coat the back of the spoon.
- Brush or pour it all over the cooked ham. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
