A tender, juicy ham can transform your holiday table. This easy Pineapple Citrus Glazed Ham—made in the slow cooker—stays moist and full of flavor every time. I usually buy a ham on sale and use a bright orange and pineapple glaze to give it a sweet-tart finish. Leftovers are perfect for ham sliders, grilled ham-and-cheese melts, or frozen in portions for quick weeknight dinners. Below the recipe you’ll find notes on substitutions, storage, and helpful photos.
Slow Cooker Pineapple Citrus Glazed Ham
This ham is slow-cooked in a sweet pineapple-citrus glaze that keeps it exceptionally tender and flavorful. It’s a simple, hands-off way to prepare a beautiful centerpiece for family meals or holidays.
Cook Time: 6 hrs
Ingredients
- 7–8 lb. smoked, precooked butt portion ham (see note on spiral ham)
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 20 oz. canned pineapple rings — reserve 3/4 cup juice
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
Instructions
- Remove the pineapple rings from the can and refrigerate until ready to use. Reserve 3/4 cup of the pineapple juice.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the reserved pineapple juice, orange juice, brown sugar, ground cloves, and cinnamon. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a light boil.
- While the juice mixture is heating, make a slurry by mixing 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water. Stir the slurry into the bubbling glaze and continue stirring until the glaze thickens and the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and set the glaze aside.
- Place the ham in a 7–8 quart slow cooker. If desired, score the fat in a diamond pattern (do not cut into the meat). Scoring helps the glaze penetrate the surface but is optional.
- Pour the prepared glaze over the ham, cover, and cook on low for 6–8 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (since the ham is precooked). Cooking time will vary with ham size and slow cooker model—start checking toward the end of the recommended time.
- When the ham is done, you may grill the pineapple rings on a griddle or panini press for a few minutes per side and use them as a garnish for slices of ham (optional). Carve and serve warm.
Notes
If you use a spiral-sliced ham, reduce the cooking time significantly—about one-third to one-half of the time listed—because spiral hams heat and dry out faster than a whole butt portion. Always monitor internal temperature to avoid overcooking.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3–5 days. For longer storage, freeze portions in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags; frozen ham can be thawed for quick meals like sliders, casseroles, or hashes.
Suggestions and Serving Ideas
This ham pairs beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, or sweet roasted sweet potatoes. Leftover ham works well in ham-and-potato breakfast hash, Amish golden stew, ham-and-cheese sliders with poppy-seed topping, or casseroles. Below are some recipe ideas for using leftovers:
- Amish Golden Stew
- Ham and Potato Hash
- Amish-style Mashed Potatoes
- Poppy Seed Ham Sliders
- Cheesy Bacon Scalloped Potatoes
Quick Recipe Overview
Ingredients needed: smoked butt portion ham, butter, canned pineapple rings and reserved juice, orange juice, brown sugar, ground cloves, cinnamon, and cornstarch. The glaze is cooked briefly on the stove and thickened with a cornstarch slurry, then poured over the ham and slow-cooked until heated through.
Cooking Steps at a Glance
- Reserve 3/4 cup pineapple juice and refrigerate the rings.
- Melt butter and combine with pineapple juice, orange juice, brown sugar, cloves, and cinnamon; bring to a light boil.
- Whisk in a cornstarch slurry and simmer until thickened, then set aside.
- Place ham in slow cooker, score fat if desired, pour on glaze, and cook on low until warmed through (about 6–8 hours for a 7–8 lb. butt portion).
- Optional: grill pineapple rings and serve as a garnish.
Do you need the pineapple rings?
The grilled pineapple rings are optional. They add a pretty presentation and a bit of fruit for kids, but you can skip them if you prefer. The glaze alone provides plenty of flavor.
Feel free to pin this recipe for later and share photos on Instagram by tagging @thismom.cooks (Marilyn Peight). Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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