3-Ingredient Crock Pot Spiral Ham Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

October 28, 2018November 9, 2023

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Cooking a spiral ham in a crock pot is one of the best ways to get an easy holiday meal on the table quickly and is especially good during the Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter Holiday Season.

Nothing says the holidays like ham on the table, so this 3-Ingredient Crock Pot Spiral Ham is an easy entrée that will have everyone asking for seconds. With just three ingredients and a slow cooker, you can take a normal spiral ham to something special.

Crockpot Ham

On many holiday dinner tables across the country, a spiral ham takes center stage. Most spiral hams come with some sort of glaze package but with a couple of extra ingredients, you can add so much more flavor to your ham. Our recipe calls for a liter of the classic orange cream soda and some brown sugar.

It’s really simple to make a fully cooked ham in the crock pot or slow cooker. Essentially all you are doing is reheating the precooked ham in the crock pot. The cook time could vary depending on the size of the ham you purchase.

Barbara loves a good deal and Aldi is one of her favorite places to find great prices on great food, especially after the holidays when the store marks down its frozen spiral ham. When this happens, she grabs a couple hams for the freezer. It’s a cinch to to warm a precooked ham in the slow cooker.

Ingredient List for Slow Cooker Ham Recipe

Spiral Ham (bone-in ham)

Brown Sugar (light brown sugar or dark brown sugar)

Orange Cream Soda (Crush or Sunkist work too)

What to serve with Holiday Ham

Holiday side dishes are a great way to compliment a holiday ham. Ham pairs with so many delicious dishes. Need some holiday side dish inspiration for something other than potatoes? Here’s our favorite holiday side dishes.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Deviled Eggs

Old-Fashioned Pea Salad

4-Ingredient Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes

Slow Cooker Green Beans

Macaroni Salad

Pink Lady Salad

Recipe FAQs

• Warming a precooked ham in the crock pot is super easy. Add some yummy ingredients, and let it roll. The ham is already cooked, so all you need to do is warm it and flavor it.
• What’s not to love about a 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Ham? It’s easy and delicious. Using orange cream soda gives it the perfect sweetness.
• If the lid won’t go over the ham, do not fret. Wrap the slow cooker smoked ham tightly with aluminum foil; it will act as a lid to keep in the heat.
• What is basting? It is when you take the cooking liquids and pour it back over the meat during the cooking process. This will help the slow cooker ham keep from drying out.
• Love ham? Try our Instant Pot Cranberry Ham, Brown Sugar Crock Pot Spiral Ham,Cherry Crock Pot Ham,Ham Steak with Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze or 12 Minute Ham Steak.
• Need some leftover ham recipe ideas? Check out our Leftover Ham Recipes post.

The great thing about reheating a spiral ham in the slow cooker is that you can put a thawed one on to cook in the morning and it’s ready by lunch, and you will plenty of leftovers for ham sandwiches throughout the week.

How long does it take to heat a ham in the crock pot

The answer is that cook time will depend on the size of the ham. You want to be sure that the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F. For a smaller ham around 2-3 pounds, this will most likely only take 2 to 3 hours, whereas a larger ham could take 4 to 6 hours on low. Use a thermometer if you are unsure.

How to make 3-Ingredient Crock Pot Spiral Ham Recipe

Step by Step Instructions

1. Unwrap thawed spiral ham and discard included glaze packet.
2. Put the ham into slow cooker and separate the slices.
3. Pour orange cream soda over ham. Pat on a thick layer of brown sugar across the surface of the ham.
4. Cook slow cooker smoked ham on low for 4-5 hours, basting once or twice with the cooking juices.
5. Remove the ham, separate the ham slices and serve on a serving platter.

Storage Instructions

Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to a week.

Scroll down to the recipe card for complete recipe steps and ingredient amounts for warming a fully cooked ham in the crock pot.

Crockpot Spiral Ham Variations

• Use maple syrup or honey instead of brown sugar.
• Any type of soda is great instead of orange soda: red cream soda, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, etc.
• Use a can of pineapple juice as the liquid.
• Mix the brown sugar with yellow mustard or Dijon mustard.
• For a spiced flavor, mix in some ground cinnamon or ground cloves to the brown sugar.

Our Favorite Leftover Ham Recipes

One of our favorite things about baking a ham is all of the yummy leftover ham to eat on sandwiches and turn into other delicious meals! Here are some of our favorite ways to use up baked ham.

Mom’s Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

20-Minute Ham and Cheddar Chowder

Ham and Noodle Casserole

Ham and Randall Beans

Can you put a spiral ham in a crock pot?

Yes, a crock pot or slow cooker is the perfect way to reheat a spiral ham, especially when oven space is tight during the holidays. There is a good chance the lid to your crock pot might not fit over a large ham. If that’s the case, cover tightly with aluminum foil instead.

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Check out Meal Plan Monday!