If you’re anything like me, the thought of juggling five different pans just to make dinner makes you want to order takeout. That’s where this beauty of a recipe steps in. My Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is everything you want from comfort food—sweet, savory, and set-it-and-forget-it simple. We’re talking juicy ham slow-cooked to perfection, nestled in crushed pineapple and brown sugar. The house smells like you’ve been slaving away in the kitchen all day, but really? You just tossed everything in a slow cooker and went about your life. This dish is a perfect fit if you’re exploring healthy recipes crock pot style but still want flavor that punches back. Whether you’re looking for vegan crock pot recipes (ok, not this one, but we see you), pasta crock pot recipes, or crock pot vegetarian recipes for other days, this is a solid fallback when meat lovers show up. Crock pot cooking has never felt more rewarding, and when you’re short on time, simple crock pot recipes like this one make dinner feel like a win.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham Recipe
3) Ingredients for Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
4) How to Make Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
5) Tips for Making Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
6) Making Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
8) Try these Main Course recipes next!
9) Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This recipe is one of the best crock pot recipes for holidays and weeknights.
It combines sweet pineapple and brown sugar with tender ham.
Easy to prep, easy to serve, and easy to impress.
Perfect for beginners in crock pot cooking or pros wanting a break.

2) Easy Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham Recipe

Let’s be honest, when we think of the best crock pot recipes, we want flavor without babysitting a pot for hours. That’s what I love about this Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham. You toss in a few simple ingredients, walk away, and when you return? Dinner smells like a five-star holiday buffet. And you didn’t even break a sweat.

I first made this on a chilly Sunday when I had more things on my to-do list than time. I wanted something warm and sweet that felt like comfort food but didn’t require me to hover over the stove. This did the trick. It’s part savory, part sweet, and all joy. It’s one of those healthy recipes crock pot lovers can enjoy when you want to feel a little indulgent but still keep prep clean and simple.

If you’re looking for simple crock pot recipes with real payoff, or just trying to add to your growing list of crock pot cooking wins, this one fits the bill. It’s also a surprising favorite for folks who usually lean toward vegan crock pot recipes or crock pot vegetarian recipes—because everyone always asks for seconds.

3) Ingredients for Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

1 (6 to 8 pound) spiral cut ham: Choose bone-in or boneless. Bone-in adds a little more flavor and keeps the meat juicy.

2 cups brown sugar: This sweet coat melts over the ham and forms a sticky, caramel-like glaze that you’ll want to spoon over everything.

1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple: Use it with the juice. It keeps things moist and gives that signature sweet-acidic tang to balance the saltiness of the ham.

1/2 cup honey: Honey brings deeper sweetness and adds a rich finish to the glaze. It also helps the glaze stick to every slice of ham.

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon: A warm background note that gives just a bit of spice. Not too bold, just enough to make it interesting.

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves: This brings a subtle holiday vibe. It’s bold in a quiet way, so you don’t need much.

4) How to Make Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

Step 1. Place the ham flat-side down in your crock pot. Don’t worry if it’s a snug fit. You want it cozy in there.

Step 2. Sprinkle the brown sugar right over the top. Let it fall into the spiral cuts—that’s where the magic happens.

Step 3. Pour in the crushed pineapple. No draining here. Let that juice work its way around the ham.

Step 4. Drizzle honey evenly across the top. Think of it like painting the ham with flavor.

Step 5. Dust with cinnamon and cloves. They’ll wake things up without overpowering the sweet notes.

Step 6. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 to 5 hours. You’ll know it’s ready when the smell makes everyone in the house wander into the kitchen.

Step 7. Baste the ham with the juices every hour or two. It’s not mandatory, but it makes every slice extra juicy.

5) Tips for Making Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

One tip that always saves me time: ask your butcher to trim the ham if it looks too bulky for your slow cooker. A little help goes a long way.

Layer your ingredients in order. I’ve tried doing the glaze first and ham second, and things got weird. Just trust me—ham first, sugar second, then pour everything else over the top.

If you’re making this for the holidays or a crowd, add a few pineapple slices around the ham for presentation. They soften and caramelize and look impressive with no extra work.

6) Making Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham Ahead of Time

You can absolutely prep this ahead. I’ve made it the night before, assembled everything in the crock pot insert, then popped the whole thing in the fridge. Next morning, I just put the insert in the slow cooker base and turned it on.

If you do this, just add about 30 extra minutes to the cooking time since it’ll be starting cold. You can also portion the glaze ingredients into a jar and dump them in the next day if fridge space is tight.

This is one of those best crock pot recipes that rewards you for thinking ahead. It only gets better the longer those flavors sit together.

7) Storing Leftover Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

Leftovers store beautifully. Once the ham has cooled, slice it and store in an airtight container with some of the juices spooned over top to keep it moist.

It’ll keep in the fridge for up to five days. I’ve also frozen slices for up to two months. When reheating, a splash of water or broth helps wake it back up.

Use it in sandwiches, dice it into scrambled eggs, or toss it in with pasta crock pot recipes later in the week for zero waste and double flavor.

8) Try these Main Course recipes next!

9) Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham