This Crock Pot Ham Recipe with cranberry orange glaze is super easy to make in the slow cooker and is perfect for your holiday dinner!
If you're looking for an easy Christmas ham recipe, you're going to love this delicious cranberry orange Crock-Pot ham. You only need 4 ingredients, and your slow cooker can do all the work!
We always have Turkey for Thanksgiving, but for Christmas, it's all about the ham. I used to bake our holiday ham, but a couple of years ago, I started making it slow cooker, and it was so incredibly good and completely fuss free!
This easy Crock Pot ham recipe has a glaze made with jellied cranberry sauce and orange marmalade, so it's perfect for Christmas or Thanksgiving. But hey, you can make it anytime!
Why Make Holiday Ham in the Slow Cooker?
Cooking ham in the Crock Pot frees up valuable oven space, which you can use for all those yummy holiday side dish recipes. It also won't heat up your kitchen, which is a plus if you're like me and live in a warm climate!
Like most meals made in the slow cooker, ham also super easy to prepare, which makes it perfect for any holiday dinner. Even though I love to cook, I'd rather be spending this time with the family!
How to Make Glazed Ham in the Crock Pot
First, add a little bit of olive oil to the slow cooker or spray the inside with non-stick cooking spray. Then, place your ham in the Crock Pot, cut side up.
Next, stir a can of jellied cranberry sauce with a cup of orange marmalade, and spread it over the ham. Add some water or orange juice, and let the Crock-Pot do the work!
The tartness of the cranberries combined with the sweetness of the orange marmalade makes an incredibly flavorful sauce that's slightly tangy and not too sweet. And, it pairs very well with the ham.
Have an Instant Pot? You can make this delicious Instant Pot Ham in your electric pressure cooker!
How Long to Heat a Fully Cooked Ham in the Crock Pot
Since the ham is already cooked, you just need to warm it up until the temperature reaches 140 degrees. You don't want to cook the ham so long that it dries out!
An 8 pound cooked spiral cut ham takes about 4 to 5 hours on low to cook in the Crock Pot. You can also cook it on high for about 3 hours -- just keep an eye on it!
A small precooked uncut boneless ham cooks even faster -- anywhere from 2 to 4 hours on low. I've used this recipe for both bone-in and boneless hams with great results.
I do like the bone-in spiral cut hams because they're super easy to serve. And, you can use the bone to make ham and lentil soup!
Cranberry Orange Crock Pot Ham Recipe
Crock Pot Ham Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray
- 1 8 pound spiral ham
- ½ cup orange marmalade (try to find all natural, if possible)
- 1 can jellied cranberry sauce
- ½ cup water or orange juice
Instructions
- Add olive oil to bottom of large slow cooker
- Place ham in slow cooker
- Pour cranberry sauce, marmalade and water over ham
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or until warm, with temperature of at least 140 degrees. Optional -- cook on high for about 3 hours or until done.
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
Recipe and pictures have been updated as of 11/2019
If you're looking for natural, locally-sourced meat in the Phoenix area, check out The Meat Shop. This is where we get our hams and other meat products whenever we can, and honestly, they're the best! This isn't sponsored or anything. We've been going here for years, and I just wanted to give them a shout-out!
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James says
Made this as a test run for the Family Thanksgiving. It was another huge hit. Easy to sit and forget! Lots of leftovers for me too!
Dee says
Thanks, James! I always recommend trying new recipes out before the big day!
Betty Cavanagh says
HI!
Will you be more specific re: the weight/size of the ham? I know this is contingent on how many guests, perhaps one that is large and fits in the crockpot you have pictured (I think ours is a 6 or 7 quart one).
Also, is this the kind of ham that you buy spiral sliced or honey glazed or do they sell them plain (and just waiting to be cooked as you describe in this delicious sounding recipe)? I've never purchased a ham before.
Thank you.
Betty
Dee says
I believe this is one was 8 pounds, boneless. We bought this one (plain, all natural) from our local butcher, and we had to slice it after it cooked. Our slow cooker is about 6 quarts, and we trimmed the ham a little so that it would fit snugly in the Crock-Pot. I have another recipe where I bought a pre-cut, spiral ham and just used different flavors. https://www.meatloafandmelodrama.com/pineapple-teriyaki-crock-pot-ham/ 🙂
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week! Wishing you a bountiful Thanksgiving and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Dee M says
It's super easy -- gotta love Crock-Pot cooking! 🙂
Candy Company says
Wow this is so easy! I love to combine fruits and meat in dishes.
Dee M says
I'm addicted to this stuff, but it really goes well with the ham. 🙂
Dee M says
Oh, you need a slow cooker! And, the more the merrier! 🙂
Claudia | Gourmet project says
orange marmalade? that's genius!
AiPing | Curious Nut says
Gahhhh I tell myself over and over that I need to get a slow cooker. Can I self invite myself to your house please? I promise I'll help you finish the ham... :p
Dee M says
We have tons of side dishes, so this works very well for us. I hope you have a chance to try it! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks! We love ham too, and this is super easy. 🙂
Dee M says
I love having the extra oven space, and I think the ham tastes so much better this way. 🙂
Kathi Kirk says
That is incredibly clever and incredibly easy! Perfect for this ham loving' family!
Amanda {Striped Spatula} says
Thanks for sharing this recipe! A friend was actually just telling me about crockpot ham the other day, and I've never tried it! It sounds like a great idea and a really delicious final product (not to mention so convenient for freeing up the oven for side dishes). Will be saving to try soon!
eclecticyellowhouse.com says
My husband thinks ham should be its own food group, so it's always on our table during the holidays. I've never thought about putting it in the slow cooker though...what a great idea! I could always use the extra oven space, so I'm giving this a try this year. Thanks for sharing!