There is something especially comforting about setting a good ham in the slow cooker and letting a handful of pantry staples do the work. This kind of easy supper feels right at home in a Midwestern kitchen, especially in the middle of summer when you want a meal fit for company without heating up the whole house. A spiral sliced half ham turns tender and juicy as it warms, and the sweet-savory glaze slips down into every slice, making this a reliable dish for Sunday dinner, potlucks, or a simple family meal that feels a little bit special.
Serve this ham with buttery mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet corn, or a simple cucumber salad for a fresh mid-summer plate. It is also mighty good with soft dinner rolls, baked beans, scalloped potatoes, or a fruit salad on the side. If you are feeding a crowd, set out mustard, extra pan juices, and a platter of sliced tomatoes so folks can help themselves and build a hearty country-style supper.
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Mid-Summer Magic Ham
Servings: 8 to 10
Ingredients
1 pre-cooked spiral sliced half ham, about 7 to 9 pounds
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 can (20 ounces) sliced pineapple, with juice
1/2 cup maple syrup
Directions
1. Remove any packaging from the spiral sliced ham and place the ham cut-side down in a large black slow cooker insert.
2. Sprinkle the brown sugar all over the top of the ham, letting some fall down between the slices.
3. Pour the pineapple with its juice over the ham, then drizzle the maple syrup evenly across the top.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or until the ham is hot throughout and the glaze has melted into the slices. Spoon some of the juices over the ham once or twice during cooking if you like.
5. Carefully lift the ham onto a serving platter, spoon the warm glaze and pineapple over the top, and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
Cherry-Studded Holiday Look: If you want a prettier platter for company, tuck a few maraschino cherries among the pineapple slices during the last hour of cooking or add them right before serving. It gives the ham that old-fashioned special occasion look so many of us remember.
Less Sweet Version: For a ham with a gentler sweetness, reduce the brown sugar to 1/2 cup. The pineapple and maple syrup still make a lovely glaze without overpowering the savory flavor of the ham.
Keep It Juicy: Since the ham is already cooked, you are really just warming it through and flavoring it. Be careful not to cook it too long, especially if your slow cooker runs hot, or the outer slices can dry out.
Easy Leftovers: Leftover ham is a blessing in my book. Tuck it into biscuits, breakfast scrambles, pasta salads, or a pan of scalloped potatoes the next day, and save a little glaze to spoon over sliced leftovers when reheating.