Crock Pot Pineapple Ham with Dr Pepper

Crock pot pineapple ham is a classic. This Crock Pot Dr Pepper Ham recipe puts a tasty twist on this classic. Slow cooker Dr Pepper Ham cooks up perfectly, and topped with the most delicious glaze ever, makes it superb in taste and flavor!

I know what some of you are thinking…Dr Pepper and ham? What can these two possibly have in common? I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. One bite and I was convinced that Dr Pepper can really showcase the flavor of an already tasty meat. 

When you discover what’s in Dr. Pepper, marrying it with ham is not far fetched. There are 23 flavors in Dr Pepper like cherry, almond, vanilla, blackberry and orange just to name a few. Throw in crushed pineapple and the flavors are explosive!

Smoky ham with the sweetness of the pineapple and a kick of Dr Pepper melds together beautifully, resulting in the most tender ham with flavors that run deep.  

What if I don’t have Dr Pepper?

Not a problem at all. If you’re not fond of Dr. Pepper or don’t have any on hand, any dark soda pop will do just fine! Root Beer, Coke or Pepsi will work in a pinch. Dark soda tenderizes and caramelizes the ham; not to mention that it gives it a little bit of a richer color too.

Can you cook a ham in a crock pot?

The answer is a definite YES! I can almost guarantee using a crock pot will be your new favorite way of cooking ham. To start with, it frees up your oven for other things. The crock pot is like your best babysitter. It can be like having grandma and mom all rolled into one!

This slow cooker Dr Pepper ham recipe takes minimal effort, but brings out the flavors to the max! If you want to “wow” your family and friends, this ham dish will definitely do the trick!

Dr Pepper Crock Pot Pineapple Ham Recipe

When my husband smells the ham and knows I’m making this Dr Pepper crock pot pineapple recipe, he gives me a certain kind of look. His face lights up because he’s been down this road before, and knows he’s in for a hearty, satisfying meal. That same look crosses my son’s face too. There’s no need for words.

Ham is delicious. Pineapple is delicious. Dr Pepper is delicious. Roll them all into one, and you’ve got a ham that even the pickiest of eaters won’t shy away from. On the other hand, we all know people that will eat just about anything you put in front of them.😊  I have no doubt these individuals will get immense pleasure out of this Dr Pepper crock pot ham. 

No matter the occasion, this recipe is a serious crowd-pleaser and is perfect for potlucks. It’s also ideal for a quiet weeknight or weekend family dinner.  

Come the holidays, if ham isn’t on the table, something big is missing. Breeze through Easter and Thanksgiving by making this wonderful ham dish in your crock pot. With only a few ingredients, you can make one of the most delicious hams on the planet!

Dr Pepper Ham Glaze

Glaze is the finishing touch to an already delicious ham. I’ve experimented with glazes over the years and have discovered Dr Pepper ham glaze to be one of the absolute best!

Dr Pepper has a way of flavoring ham that compares to no other. It’s simply out of this world. Those are my husband’s words. 😉

That being said, root beer glaze is fabulous too. Root beer has its own unique taste that makes the glaze special. 

Using Dr Pepper and root beer for glazes is something I’m really passionate about. My pulled pork recipe is a fine example of that. It’s definitely worth a look.

Making glaze a day or two in advance is something I highly recommend. By storing the glaze in an airtight container, and letting it sit your fridge for up to two days, gives it time for the flavors to blend really well together.

When it’s time to put the ham in the oven, remove the glaze from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature, so it will be easy to spread.

If spreading is difficult, simply heat it in the microwave, or in a small saucepan on your stove. Easy peasy!

Root Beer Glazed Ham

You can’t go wrong with root beer glazed ham either. My son makes this pulled pork recipe on occasion and prefers root beer glaze to any other.

I urge you to try both glazes and see which you enjoy most. I’d be curious to hear about your experiences, so don’t hesitate to chime in. 

Pineapple Ham Glaze

Who doesn’t love pineapple ham glaze? It’s an all-time favorite and one you can always count on.

Being such a fan of Dr Pepper and root beer glazes, I tend not to use pineapple ham glaze so much. That being said, when it comes to making a ham glaze with brown sugar and pineapple, you can’t go wrong. It’s a definite keeper!

This recipe calls for ⅓ cup of pineapple juice. Add as much or as little crushed pineapple as you like; about  ½ to ¾ of a cup is the recommended amount. Feel free to use the whole can of crushed pineapple with the juice as it measures about 1 cup which is also perfectly fine!

How to Cook a Ham with Pineapple

Cooking ham with pineapple is not complicated. Keep reading and I’ll show you just how easy and stress-free it can be.

Crock Pot Dr. Pepper Ham Ingredients

Five simple ingredients is all it takes to make a delicious slow cooker Dr Pepper ham. Aside from the ham and Dr Pepper, more than likely you have the other ingredients at your fingertips.

And if you’re already a Dr Pepper fan like me, you probably have it on hand also.

• boneless spiral sliced ham
• crushed pineapple with juice OR apple juice or orange juice
• brown sugar or brown sugar and honey
• Dr Pepper or Root Beer
• Dijon and/or grainy mustard, if desired

Did I mention just how crazy simple this Dr Pepper ham slow cooker recipe is? If the ingredients sound a bit funky, let me assure you just how well they all go together.

Dr Pepper adds a unique, fun flavor and taste that you’re not going to find in other ham recipes.

Again, any dark pop will work, namely Coke and Pepsi, but root beer and Dr Pepper are sweeter and give the flavor of ham an added twist. I do the same with pulled pork too.

How to Cook a Ham in a Crock Pot

1. Discard the plastic packaging that surrounds your ham, including the plastic covering the bone.
2. Place ham into the slow cooker and coat it with half of the glaze mixture.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
4. Carefully remove the ham from the slow cooker and onto a foil-lined sheet pan.
5. Pour the remaining glaze over the ham.
6. Set the oven to broil and place ham in the oven for about five to seven minutes. Watch closely as you want the sugar to caramelize, but not burn.

Serve!

How Long to Cook Ham in Crock Pot

As mentioned, cover and cook in slow cooker on low for 4 hours.

How Long to Cook Ham in Oven

1. In a saucepan, bring glaze to a boil until it’s been reduced and syrupy.
2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
3. Wrap ham, cut side down, tightly in tinfoil and place it in the oven on the lower middle rack for approximately 1-½ to 2 hours. When using the foil method, calculate about 17 minutes per pound to figure out the timing.
4. Center of the ham must reach an internal temperature above 100 degrees.
5. Remove foil and add a third of the glaze.
6. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and drench with remaining glaze.
8. Loosely tent the ham with foil and let it rest for 30 to 40 minutes, before slicing and serving.

How to Get the Brown Sugar Glaze on Crock Pot Pineapple Ham to Crystalize

The beauty of getting the sugar glaze to crystallize on the ham is that you don’t have to do a thing! Once it gets hot, the sugar crystallizes producing that gorgeous glaze we all love and crave.

BBQ sauces are also made this way. Brown sugar gives it that sticky coating that goes so well with various meats.

How do you heat up a pre-cooked ham without drying it out?

Low and slow is the key. If the heat is too high, you end up with a dry ham that’s crispy on the outside and mealy in the middle. Kinda gross, huh.

Heating crock pot pineapple ham on low heat allows it to thoroughly heat through without cooking it further, giving you a tender, juicy ham that’s just as good as it was the day you made it.

To heat leftover ham, adding a bit of liquid creates steam and ensures it doesn’t dry out. 

How do you make a dry ham moist?

By wrapping slow cooker Dr Pepper ham in aluminum foil helps keep it moist. It’s a simple way of deepening the flavor and keeping the glaze and liquid in tact while cooking.

Steam is produced as the meat heats up resulting in a tender, juicy ham.

Tips for Making Crock Pot Pineapple Ham with Dr. Pepper

Dr Pepper slow cooker ham isn’t hard to do, but there are a few things to keep in mind. In my opinion, if you want delicious ham, it’s all about the process. 

Since there aren’t a ton of ingredients in this crock pot Dr Pepper ham recipe, pay close attention to the directions. Once you combine the brown sugar, pineapple, honey, and Dr Pepper, bring it to a boil. This is key to helping it form into that beautiful glaze.

Getting the sauce nice and bubbly allows it to fully incorporate, setting the stage for a delicious glaze that’s going to make the slow cooker Dr. Pepper ham taste so darn good.

Letting the Glaze Rest and Thicken Up

Glaze needs to thicken before adding it to the ham. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how long it takes to start to cool down.

If it’s still runny, give it a little more time. As it cools, it will start to thicken up and that’s when it’s time to coat the ham with half the mixture.

Covering the Ham in the Slow Cooker

People tend to question this step in the recipe, because they don’t think the ham needs to be covered with a lid. With a slow cooker, a lid is required to trap the heat and keep it as hot as possible.

By leaving the lid off, heat will escape and the ham won’t heat up the way it’s supposed to. Covering the ham traps moisture, sealing in flavor, while keeping it nice and moist at the same time.

Broiling the Ham

Last, but not least in making this crock pot Dr. Pepper ham recipe is broiling the ham and glaze. After adding another layer of glaze, take the ham out of the crock pot and get ready to pop it into the oven.

During this part of the Dr. Pepper ham slow cooker process, be very careful, because the top of the ham and the glaze can burn. If that happens, nothing can be done to get that burnt flavor and taste out.

Be extremely mindful of this last step. This is where the whole thing can either come together nicely or turn into a flop.

Can You Freeze Ham for Later?

You bet! I freeze ham all the time and it’s such a great way of making fabulous food last longer, giving me something delicious and wonderful to look forward to later on.

Just remember, once adding ham to the freezer, it will need to be consumed within a reasonable amount of time. To keep track, put a date  on the outside of the resealable bag. Also write the “best by” date as well. 

Let’s be honest—so many things get added to the freezer, and it can be hard to keep them all straight!

 Ways to Use Up a Leftover Ham?

Ham is so versatile and reheating it all by itself is lovely, but there are countless ways of using it in other recipes.

Ham salad is always a great choice. Finely chop up the ham and mix it with other delicious ingredients. Dice it up and add it to soups, casseroles, or add it to an omelet for a delicious breakfast.

Pan-fried ham is such a delight. Toss it onto a hot skillet and allow it to get hot and crispy on the outside. Mmmm. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Don’t forget the classic ham sandwich, too. This sweet, delicious crock pot pineapple ham is extra tasty with as little mayo on the bread.

Whatever way you decide to use leftover ham, it’s going to turn out well as it goes with just about anything you can think of. 

More Easy Ham Recipes

Ham recipes are not in short supply. Here are few of my specialties.

• Easy Ham Side Dishes That’ll Have You Hungry For More
• Hambone Bean Soup—A Hearty Winter Classic
• Easy Cream Cheese Corn Casserole with Bacon and Ham
• Instant Pot Ham

Try This Dr Pepper Crock Pot Pineapple Ham

Sweet, caramelized glaze with delicious pineapple in every bite and a kick of a little extra flavor with the help of Dr Pepper, this crock pot Dr Pepper ham recipe is one you will want to make over and over again.

Smoky ham partners perfectly with the sweetness of brown sugar, pineapple, and Dr Pepper, creating a delightfully sweet, tender ham that pairs perfectly with all the classic holiday sides.

By serving this fabulous ham with a helping of mashed potatoes and veggies like green beans, broccoli, or asparagus, you can make an easy, well-rounded meal that satisfies everyone around the table. 

This ham recipe comes highly recommended. Make it once, and I guarantee it will become part of your regular recipe rotation.