This is the EASIEST Slow Cooker Spiral Ham recipe, just two-ingredients plus the ham! Perfect for the Holidays, and it won’t take up space in your oven.
Slow Cooker Spiral Ham with Apricot-Dijon Glaze
This recipe was inspired from my oven baked Apricot-Rum Spiralized Ham which is also delicious! I wanted to make a slow cooker version, without the rum and loved how this turnout out, plus there’s no need to cook the glaze, just mix it and brush it on.
Spiral Ham is by far the easiest Holiday addition to any table because it’s already cooked when you buy it, so all you have to do is make a glaze and heat it up.
If your ham comes with a glaze packet, toss it out, making this simple glaze instead which will taste much better than the questionable ingredients in the packet that comes with the ham.
When buying ham, I look for uncured, hormone and antibiotic free pork. It’s not a must to make this recipe, but certainly an option.
Tips for making ham in the slow cooker:
- When making ham in a slow cooker, I recommend a large 6 quart oval slow cooker and a smaller ham to make sure it fits and you can put the lid on.
- You may have to turn the ham on it’s side if too large, or cut some of the ham off if it doesn’t close.
- A 6 to 7 pound ham should fit just fine in a 6 quart oval slow cooker.
For more leftover ham recipes you might like:
- Leftover Ham Fried Cauliflower Rice
- Veggie Ham Egg and Cheese Bake
- 16 Bean Soup with Ham and Kale
- Pressure Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham
Slow Cooker Spiral Ham with Apricot-Dijon Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 6 to 7 pound Hickory smoked fully cooked spiral cut ham
- 5 tbsp apricot preserves
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Make the glaze: Whisk 4 tablespoons of preserves and mustard together.
- Place the ham in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, making sure you can put the lid on. You may have to turn the ham on its side if your ham is too large.
- Brush the glaze over the ham. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 4 to 5 hours. Brush the remaining tablespoon of preserves over the ham in the last 30 minutes.
I used this recipe tweaking to peach preserves (no apricot in the house) and a fancy whole grain mustard I got at Aldi on a whim. My household doesn’t like mustard at all (but I do) and they all loved this ham (they didn’t know mustard was in the preparation). Was a really good tasting ham that I slow Cooked for almost 2 hrs.
Cooking time should be shortened to 2 hours or less. I followed the directions and ended up with a dry ham floating in its juices.
This was so easy and good. I don’t remember ever making ham myself. My mom had it often but I never was responsible for it. I love the ease of slow cooker. I found the smallest bone in smoked ham I could find 5.5 pounds since just two of us. (Not spiral cut) We have a lot for left overs and a great ham bone for soups.
I was wondering if you could do this in a electric roaster, this one and you apricot-rum ham..? I was wanting to try this for Christmas, How long would you say it would take?… Thank you
Happy Easter to all.
I have been cooking for my family for over 50 years and this recipe is by far the most awesome and moist ham that I have ever made or had. I intend to share this recipe with all my family and friends. The only change is that I didn’t have a spiral ham but a half butt. Thank you Gina for an awesome and easyyyyy recipe. Alice G
How long will the ham bone keep? I want to make the soup too, but can’t do it the next day.
I made this for Easter this year. It turned out beautifully and so simple. I used to do it in the oven but this freed up my oven space for sides and dessert. Thanks for sharing.
I made this for Christmas dinner and it was fantastic! I plan to make it again for Easter but with pineapple. What are your thoughts on adding fresh or canned pineapple to the slow cooker?
I know lots of people do it, let me know how it comes out!
If using only a 3lb ham should I cut the cook time in half?
You just want it to get warm, if its smaller, reduce by 1 hour
This was easy and delicious! I am wondering if I could do this same thing but with a pork tenderloin?
Loved this simple and yummy recipe and so did my fellow nurses I made it for.
This is the best and easiest way to make a ham. The taste is wonderful. I will be making this again. I am not usually a ham person. Thanks for a easy and great recipe.
I made this for Christmas dinner and it was so good! Tasty, moist. A big hit. I think I might have found my new traditional Christmas meal. Thanks again for another great recipe!
For those that have instant pots; remember they have a slow cooker function on them too and can be used in place of a normal slow cooker. Same cooking instructions and time using slow cooker button.
Was in a hurry at the store and accidentally grabbed orange preserves. Do you think it’ll be ok?? Or shall I make another quick trip?
Sure
No bone in the pork, right? Never cooked spiral ham so not sure if that’s even an option. 🙂
Our oven just broke two days before Christmas so this is perfect! Any side dishes that you would suggest that don’t require the oven?
Gina, what crockpot/slow cooker do you recommend. The one I have leaves a bad metallic taste in the food. And I’m not 100% convinced about using a instant pot, because I heard you can’t add things in the middle of cooking.
I like the Hamilton Stay or Go 6 qt. I had the same problem with my old one!
Hi Gina what sides would u recommend with this ham?
Does the cooking time change if using a ham that is not a spiral ham cut?
Same time, it just need to be warmed up.
Hi Gina! Thanks for the recipe, I was wondering if you have any recommendations for sides on this dish? Thanks a lot 😉
I’m making potatoes au gratin and creamed peas with pearl onions to go with mine today. I usually make scalloped potatoes but I wanted a cheesy sauce this year. And as it’s Christmas, points be damned! 😀
To Gina, or anyone who has made this and loved it: I used a spiral ham that was flavored with brown sugar and other flavors, which I did not know until I opened. This was so tender when cooked per Gina’s directions, but we did not love the taste. I want to be fair in my judgment, and feel pretty confident this was due to my ham being flavored. I do not cook a lot of ham, and am wondering if there is a spiral ham that comes without the seasonings/flavors. I would like to give this another shot. Thank you.
All hams are not equal, I have purchased many and they all taste different depending on how they are smoked, etc.
Thanks you, Gina, for your reply. I will try this again and repost when I do. We are big fans of yours!
Completely dried out the ham. Better to heat in foil in the oven for an hour or two. Ruined the dinner. And I followed the directions with the shorter time.
I had the same problem! Completely dried out and fell apart I tiny bits in the Crock-Pot. Soooo disappointed for Christmas dinner.
How long would I cook this in the oven? And at what temp? Thanks. Looks great!
I linked to my oven recipe above, you can follow that.
Husband approved! Thanks Gina for another great recipe. You reference a soup that you’re making the next day (was that the red pepper soup???) – I didn’t see a reference for a ham bone.
Got busy, I will post it soon!
“Brush the remaining tablespoon of preserves over the ham the 30 minutes.” What?
remaining 1 tablespoon.
“over the ham the 30 minutes”???
Do you mean the last 30 minutes?
Sorry, yes the last 30 minutes.
Would this glaze be tasty on a corned beef?
There is no rum listed in the ingredients, yet you call it an apricot-rum glaze. How much rum?
This is the recipe for the apricot rum glaze: https://www.skinnytaste.com/apricot-rum-glazed-spiral-ham/
Could you share the name brand of the ham you used?
Do you prefer any brand of Ham?
I go to Wild By Nature, and buy what they carry. Whole Foods would be a great option. The brand I bought was Prarie Grove Farms.
I’m confused “When buying ham, I look for uncured, hormone and antibiotic free pork. It’s a must to make this recipe, but certainly an option.” Is it a must or an option???? Thanks
it’s an option, not a must.
It is illegal to use hormones in the production of pork in the US, so technically any ham you pick up would be “hormone free”, jsyk.
good to know!
Are these the new freestyle points? Also how will we know when the other recipes have been updated to the new freestyle points?
Yes, I am replacing them all. All done from 2017 to 2011. I am working on the rest.
Thanks
I think you left the ingredients blank!
Sorry technical difficulty! They should be there now!
The ingredients are missing from my view of the recipe
Fixed.
Can you make this in the instant pot?