Crock Pot Ham with Cola Glaze

Front shot of Crock Pot Ham with Coke on a blue and white plate on a wooden surface

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Crock Pot Ham with Cola Glaze

Keep it simple for the holidays! A Crock Pot Ham with Cola Glaze is a classic Southern dinner recipe to feed a crowd!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Southern

Keyword Coca Cola Ham, crock pot ham, Ham with Cola Glaze

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 3 10

Total Time 3 35

Servings - 12 people

Calories 398.9kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Equipment

Slow Cooker

Ingredients

8-9 lb. bone-in fully cooked ham (sliced or unsliced is fine)
12 ounces cola (1 can)
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, divided
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
4 garlic cloves, smashed and then peeled
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

Place ham in a slow cooker. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine cola, brown sugar, mustard, cinnamon, cloves and garlic. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes (to allow glaze to reduce), whisking frequently. Remove garlic cloves.
Pour glaze over the ham. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, or until a thermometer registers 140 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the ham. Transfer ham to serving platter.
Pour liquid from the slow cooker into a medium saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch with 4 teaspoons of cold water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook (stirring regularly) for 6-8 minutes (or until thickened). Pour glaze over ham and serve!

Notes

Prep ahead: You can make the Cola glaze in advance, place it in a jar with a lid, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-5 days before using with the ham.
How do you keep a spiral ham moist? You can use either a spiral-sliced ham (which I've shown here), or an unsliced ham. If using the sliced ham, make sure that you baste the ham glaze in between the slices as much as possible to keep the meat moist. The slow cooker also helps to hold in the moisture!
How much ham per person? It's safe to estimate about 3/4 pound per person for a bone-in ham. So, this 9-lb. bone-in ham would feed about 12 people.
How long does it take to heat a ham in a Crock Pot? It will require about 3-4 hours on LOW to warm your fully-cooked ham. Every slow cooker cooks meat at a slightly different temperature; however, so it's important to use a meat thermometer to know exactly when your ham reaches 140 degrees F.
Can I put a frozen ham in the Crock Pot? Yes, if you have enough time, you can cook a frozen ham in the slow cooker. It will just take about twice as long! And while it will technically work, food safety experts do not recommend cooking frozen meat in a Crock Pot. This is because it takes too long for a slow cooker to reach a safe temperature of 140 degrees F when frozen meat is involved. This gives bacteria a chance to grow.
How long will Crock Pot ham keep in the refrigerator? Wrapped tightly, the ham will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Can I freeze slow cooker ham? Yes! Allow the meat to cool to room temperature, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months.
Can leftover ham be reheated? Yes! Reheat the ham in a 325-degree F oven for no more than 10 minutes per pound, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 135-140 degrees F. If I’m reheating just a small portion of ham (such as a few slices), I like to wrap it in foil before placing it in the oven (this keeps it nice and moist).

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