Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (2024)

Our Dr. Pepper Ham is a fantastic holiday entree that’s easy to make in your slow cooker. It has a Dr Pepper glaze with brown sugar, and pineapple, so it’s sweet, tangy, and finger licking good!! Since oven space is always limited during the holidays, this crockpot ham recipe is the perfect solution.

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (1)

Jump to Recipe

Cooking with Dr. Pepper (or any cola, for that matter), is a great way to create a flavorful glaze for ham. Our popular ham with cola glaze inspired us to make this Dr Pepper ham slow cooker recipe!

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Dr Pepper Ham for Holidays or Anytime

If you’re looking for something different than the classic Thanksgiving recipes everyone else makes, this is a great one!

This recipe is perfect for a holiday meal at Easter or Thanksgiving, or a special occasion. Because it’s simple to make and can even be cooked ahead, it’s also perfect for a weeknight meal.

And since it’s made in the slow cooker, your oven is available to use for making casseroles, another or other side dishes.

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (2)

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Precooked Ham

The reason this crockpot ham recipe is so quick is because we use a fully cooked piece of meat. This way, you’re just heating it up in the slow cooker. This cuts the cooking time way down!

We use a spiral sliced ham, mostly because it looks so beautiful on the table. You can use any type you want, as long as it’s fully cooked.

  • Dr. Pepper

The best liquid to cook the ham in is Dr. Pepper, but you can swap it out for a different dark soda, like Mr. Pibb, cherry cola, or root beer.

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Need a use for your leftover ham?
Use your leftovers to make a fantastic Ham and Brie Breakfast Casserole for a weekend brunch!
Or, our recipes for Hashbrown and Ham Casserole and Ham Tater Tot Casserole are both great breakfast or breakfast for dinner ideas!

Kitchen Tools Needed

Our Favorite Tools To Make Dr. Pepper Ham

Notes for Making Dr Pepper Ham in Slow Cooker

  • Wait to make the glaze.
    It’s nice to be able to make things ahead of time, especially for a holiday meal. But, for the best flavor in your Dr. Pepper ham, you want to be sure that there’s carbonation in the soda.
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Pro Tip
Forplenty of extra glazeto use,doublethe pineapple juice, brown sugar, and Dr. Pepper mixture in the recipe. Use half of the glaze over the meat as it cooks, and save the other half for drizzling over the crockpot ham when you’re ready to serve.

  • Use a basting brush to apply the glaze.
    Pour the glaze over the ham in the slow cooker. If you have a spiral sliced ham, be sure to also brush some of the glaze between the slices.
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  • Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temp.

As mentioned earlier, you will be using a fully cooked ham. So, to avoid it from becoming dry, it’s important to avoid slow cooking for too long.

The total cook time will depend on how much it weighs. On average, you will need to slow cook a Dr. Pepper ham on the Low setting for 4-6 hours, or on High for 3-4 hours.

To be sure it is hot and safe to eat, cook your ham until it reaches an internal temperature of 145ºF. I recommend checking the temperature every 2 hours, if possible.

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  • Cover until ready to serve.

Take the ham out of the slow cooker and drizzle it with more of the Dr. pepper glaze. Then, cover it with foil and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Glazed Ham Recipe Variations

  • Brown sugar swap with molasses or honey
  • Pineapple juice– can swap with apple cider or orange juice
  • Dijon mustard– can use yellow mustard or honey mustard
  • Add spices– like cloves, allspice, or nutmeg.
  • Sweeter glaze – use more brown sugar.
  • Spicier glaze – add somecayenne pepperorblack pepper.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Dr. Pepper ham withmashed potatoes, fresh green beans, or any of your favorite holiday side dishes. Our favorite sides with ham are:

  • Instant Pot Rice A Roni
  • Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn
  • Cranberry Sauce

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Fridge:
Leftovers will keep in the fridge, covered, for up to 5 days. Store the leftover glaze in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Reheat in the microwave before using.

Freezer:
Fully cooked and glazed ham can be frozen for up to four months. Make sure to wrap it tightly in a freezer-safe wrap. Thaw completely in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Dr. Pepper Ham:
You can reheat individual slices of ham in the microwave on high power for 30-60 seconds, or until warmed. You can also reheat it in an oven-safe dish, covered with foil. Do this in a 350ºF. oven, until warmed through.

Crockpot Dr Pepper Ham FAQ

How do you keep ham from drying out?

The best way to keep the ham from drying out is to cook it in a slow cooker with some liquid, like Dr. Pepper. You could also cook the ham in a covered roasting pan with some water or broth in the bottom.

If you’re cooking the ham on the stovetop, ensure you add enough liquid to cover it and watch it carefully, so it doesn’t boil dry. Basting the ham with the pan juices or a little additional liquid will also help keep it moist.

Why did my ham turn out mushy?

Mushy meat is likely due to overcooking it. When cooking ham, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.

It should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145ºF. It will start to dry out and become tough if it gets much above that.

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (12)

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (13)

Dr Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe)

Renae

4.93 from 14 votes

Tender and juicy Dr. Pepper Ham made in a crock pot is an easy holiday entree. This is a classic glazed ham recipe, and everyone loves the glaze!

PrintPin

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Calories: 329

Equipment

  • crock pot - or other brand of slow cooker

  • microwave safe bowl - – for mixing the glaze

  • Aluminum foil - – for covering the ham

Ingredients

  • 5-8 pounds bone-in fully cooked ham we recommend a spiral cut ham
  • 10 ounces Dr. Pepper or diet Dr. Pepper
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice

Instructions

  • Stir together the sugar, Dr. Pepper, mustard, and pineapple juice in a small, microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. (*see notes about doubling ham glaze for later use)

  • Place ham in the pot of the slow cooker. Pour the the glaze over the ham. If your ham is spiral sliced, be sure the glaze gets between the slices.

  • Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until ham, reaches an internal temperature of 145º. I recommend checking the internal temperature of the ham every 2 hours as different slow cookers can vary with cooking times.

  • Remove ham from the slow cooker and tent with foil. Drizzle ham with leftover cola mixture. Let rest 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

*For plenty of extra glaze to use on top of the cooked ham, double the Dr. Pepper and pineapple glaze mixture called for above. Use half of the glaze for cooking the ham, and save the other half for drizzling over the cooked ham once it’s done.

Refrigerate ham for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 4 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 2201mg | Potassium: 550mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 2mg

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (14) PIN THIS POST!

This post, originally published in December 2022, was updated with new content in February 2023.

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Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Does ham need to be submerged in a slow cooker? ›

Pour in the cola, and make sure the ham joint is submerged in the liquid. Cover and cook for 5-6 hours on medium/high. I find that 5 hours is enough in my slow cooker. You want the gammon joint to be cooked through and tender but still retain its shape.

How long to cook a 3 lb fully cooked ham? ›

Bake in a preheated 325F oven for 10-14 minutes per pound, or until a meat thermometer registers 135F. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. If the ham came with extra glaze, follow the package directions for adding it and cooking the glaze.

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham? ›

If the ham is labeled "fully cooked" (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F. If the ham is labeled "cook before eating," heat in an oven set no lower than 325 F to an internal temperature of at least 145 F.

How do you heat up a precooked ham without drying it out? ›

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

Low: 7-8 hours to reach the simmer point. High: 3-4 hours to reach the simmer point.

Should everything be submerged in a slow cooker? ›

Reduce liquid when using a slow cooker

It should just cover the meat and vegetables. Don't overfill your slow cooker, or it may start leaking out the top, and the food won't cook so well. Half to two-thirds full is ideal – certainly no more than three-quarters.

How many pounds of ham for 3 adults? ›

With a bone-in ham, plan on one-third to one-half pound of meat per person (or two to three servings per pound), or more if you want leftovers. For a boneless ham, figure about quarter-pound per person, or more for leftovers.

When to put glaze on ham? ›

The glaze should not be applied until the final hour to 30 minutes, in order to avoid burning the sugars. What you're going to do with the glaze ingredients is just combine most of them into a paste, and then apply it to the ham. After that, the heat in your oven will take care of everything.

How to cook a 4 pound boneless ham? ›

Cook-before-eating ham: To cook a fresh ham, preheat the oven no lower than 325°F and cook the meat until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 160°F. Anticipate the cooking time to take approximately 18-25 minutes per pound for bone-in ham and 24-35 minutes per pound for boneless ham.

How do you tell if a precooked ham is done? ›

For cooked hams that have been repackaged in any other location outside the plant or for leftover cooked ham, heat to 165 °F (73.9 °C). Cook all raw fresh ham and ready-to-eat ham to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F (62.8 °C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source.

How do you keep a precooked ham moist? ›

Put Liquid in Your Pan

The best way to keep your ham from drying out is to utilize the drippings that come in the package. Pour the juice from the package onto the ham. If there isn't a lot of juice in your package, you may want to add your own liquid.

Do you rinse a precooked ham before cooking? ›

Whether you are cooking a bone in or boneless ham, pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees. Start by removing the packaging from the ham (and bone guard if you're cooking a bone in ham), and you can rinse the ham before cooking if desired.

Can you eat a precooked ham without baking it? ›

Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), as they are already fully cooked.

How long to cook a 10 lb fully cooked ham? ›

Pre-Cooked and Bone-In Ham

If the ham is a half ham weighing five to seven pounds, it should heat at 325°F for 22-25 minutes per pound. If it is a whole ham weighing between 10 to 14 pounds, heat the ham at 325°F for 18-20 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should be 140°F.

Do precooked hams need to be heated? ›

Both whole or half, cooked, vacuum-packaged hams packaged in federally inspected plants and canned hams can be eaten cold, right out of the package. However, if you want to reheat these cooked hams, set the oven no lower than 325 °F and heat to an internal temperature of 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

Does ham need to be fully submerged in water? ›

This step isn't necessary when boiling a ham as the boiling process automatically removes any excess salt, but it is a foolish errand to bake a salt cured ham without soaking.. It may sound complicated, but all you need to do is immerse the ham in cold water, ensuring that it's all sitting below the water level.

Should the meat be covered in liquid in a slow cooker? ›

When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Does ham need soaking? ›

If necessary, soak the gammon (ham) in cold water to reduce saltiness, according to butcher or packet instructions (most do not need this anymore as curing methods have changed). Weigh to calculate the cooking time. Place in a large pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil.

Does a slow cooker need water in the base? ›

You DO NOT have to put water in your crockpot in order to use the liners, HOWEVER, it is HELPFUL if you are cooking certain foods for a long period of time(like set- up in the morning, then return after work) such as rice for instance, putting some water at the bottom of the slow cooker and the liner prevents the food ...

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