Slow Cooker Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham
Cut used: Ham (Fresh Ham / Leg) pork →
Prep
10 min
Cook
4 hrs
Total
4 hrs 10 min
This is the easiest way to serve a crowd-worthy ham without babysitting the oven all day. The slow cooker keeps the ham moist for hours while pineapple juice and brown sugar reduce into a sweet, tangy glaze. It frees up your oven for side dishes, which makes it a favorite for busy holiday kitchens.
What Ingredients Do You Need?
- 5-6 lbs Boneless fully cooked ham
- 1.5 cups Pineapple juice
- 3/4 cup Brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Ground cloves
- 8, for garnish Pineapple rings
- 8, for garnish Maraschino cherries
- 1 tbsp, for glaze thickening Cornstarch
How Do You Make Slow Cooker Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham?
- 1
Prepare the slow cooker
Place the ham in the slow cooker and pour pineapple juice around the base.
- 2
Mix the glaze
Whisk together brown sugar, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves, then rub half over the top of the ham.
- 3
Cook low and slow
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, basting with the pan juices every hour, until heated through.
- 4
Add pineapple garnish
During the last 30 minutes, arrange pineapple rings and cherries on top of the ham, securing with toothpicks if needed.
- 5
Thicken the glaze
Transfer the remaining pan juices to a saucepan, whisk in cornstarch slurry, and simmer until thickened into a syrupy glaze.
- 6
Check temperature
Confirm the ham has reached 140°F internally before removing from the slow cooker.
- 7
Rest and serve
Let rest 10 minutes, then slice and drizzle with the thickened pineapple glaze.
What Are the Pro Tips for This Recipe?
- 💡 A boneless ham fits more easily in a standard slow cooker than a bone-in one.
- 💡 Basting regularly is the secret to a shiny, well-coated glaze on a slow cooker ham.
- 💡 This is a great make-ahead option — keep it on the warm setting for up to an hour before serving.
