Whether you're cooking for Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or just Saturday night family meal, you can make your main dish—that classic holiday ham—right in your slow cooker! This leaves plenty of room in your oven for sides. Below, all your ham-related questions answered.
What kind of ham should I get?
We suggest a spiral-cut, naturally smoked ham for this recipe. That means the ham is already fully cooked, so at the bare minimum, all you need to do is heat it up! We add a tasty honey mustard glaze to take it to the next level—it'll taste totally homemade, promise. Plus, you'll get that delicious smoky flavor you just can't achieve in your home kitchen. We also suggest going the bone-in route, as hams with the bone removed are typically less flavorful. Just remember to get yours spiral-cut, it'll make slicing the ham a THOUSAND times easier. (Psst... you can use the ham bone for split pea or ham bone soup!)
How long does it take to cook a ham in a slow-cooker?
A spiral cut ham will take about an hour per pound on low in a slow cooker to heat through. The ideal serving temperature is around 120º F, which you can easily check by inserting a meat thermometer directly into the thickest part of the ham. Any hotter than that and you run the risk of a dry ham. Keep basting throughout the cooking time to make sure your ham is nice and juicy.
How big should my ham be?
It's safe to assume each of your guests will eat somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 of a pound of ham each, so do the math! Just remember, it's better have too much than not enough. There are a million leftover ham recipes that always make us wish we had bought an even bigger ham.
How do you carve and serve a spiral ham?
Spiral ham is perhaps the easiest ham to slice but can still trip you up if you've never seen it done before. On the side of the ham where you can see the bone, carefully insert a boning knife close to the bone, parallel to the countertop. Cut around the bone to release the ham slices from the center bone, then pile high on a serving platter and drizzle with any remaining pan juices.
What sides should I serve with my ham?
We love a good stuffing like this cornbread one, or some other starch like mashed potatoes—I'm partial to this roasted garlic mashed potato recipe. Roasted vegetables or a spinach salad are great veggie sides.
What wine should I serve with my ham?
Since glazed hams are typically on the sweeter side, we tend to lean towards dry red wines like pinot noir, merlot, or shiraz. If you're looking for a wine that plays nice with smoky flavors, try a dry riesling or a pinot gris. As always, consult your local wine store employee! They'll know exactly what you need.
Storing and reheating
Store the ham in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Leftovers are delicious cold, but if you want to reheat, simply wrap with foil and heat in the oven at 275° for 10 minutes per pound.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!
