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!

Content Covered Here

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.

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (3)

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.
Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (9)

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.
Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (10)
  • 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.

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (11)
  • 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.

Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (15)
Dr. Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How long to heat up cooked ham in crockpot? ›

Set the slow cooker to its low setting, and cover the pot. Most hams will reheat in between three and six hours, depending on their size. A three pound ham may take two and a half to three hours whereas a six or seven pound ham may take up to six.

Does ham need to be submerged in 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 does it take to cook a fully cooked ham? ›

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the ham on a rack in a large baking pan and add about 1/4- to 1/2 inch of water to the pan. 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.

How big of a ham will fit in a crockpot? ›

You'll want a ham around 7-8 pounds in size. If you go any larger, you may have trouble fitting it into your crock pot. You can always trim off the end to make it fit if needed. The ham is coated in brown sugar, then doused in maple syrup and pineapple juice to form a sweet glaze that simmers away along with the ham.

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

Allow 20 minutes per pound when calculating how long to bake a fully cooked ham. For example, if the ham weighs 8 pounds, the cooking time would be 2 hour and 40 minutes. A fully cooked half ham will weigh approximately 3 to 4 pounds. Cooking time for a 3 pound ham would be 1 hour.

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.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Does meat in a slow cooker need to be covered with liquid? ›

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. 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.

Can you put meat in the crockpot without liquid? ›

If your slow cooker is 3/4 full, no extra liquid is required. However, if you're cooking a smaller amount of food, add 1-2cm of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl to ensure there's enough liquid for cooking. Don't add too much liquid, because as the food cooks, it produces its own liquid.

How do you know when ham is cooked enough? ›

Cook all raw fresh ham and ready-to-eat ham to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F, as measured with a food thermometer, before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

Can you heat a fully cooked ham in the slow cooker? ›

Make sure that the ham will fit into your slow cooker. Place the ham in the appliance and add the glaze ingredients. You can also just add some co*ke or Pepsi, chicken broth, or water; about 1 cup will do it. Cover and cook on low for 5-8 hours, until ham is thoroughly heated.

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

Bake the ham in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 140°F, basting every 30 minutes with 1/2 cup of the glaze.

What size ham do I need for 4 adults? ›

For the typical brined and smoked boneless ham, plan for each person to eat between 1/3 and 1/2 pounds.

How much meat does a crockpot hold? ›

You can easily fit around 5 lbs. of boneless chuck roast in the seven quart, probably 7–8 or more for pulled beef, and easily cook 2–3 lbs. of chuck for beef stew and still have tons of room for potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms, beef stock, etc. I've cooked 7–8 lb.

How do you reheat a cooked ham without drying it out? ›

Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover top of ham with loosely wrapped aluminum foil to keep moisture in. Bake at 275 degrees F at 10 minutes per pound–or until meat thermometer reads 135 – 140 degrees.

Do you have to heat up a fully cooked ham? ›

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.

Can you reheat in a slow cooker? ›

Information. Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 °F. Then the hot food can be placed in a preheated slow cooker to keep it hot for serving—at least 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 5465

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.