Slow Cooker Ginger Ale Pineapple Ham

This slow cooker ham is the easiest way to get a glazed, tender holiday centerpiece without tying up the oven. A spiral-sliced ham simmers with pineapple chunks, brown sugar, and ginger ale until the glaze turns thick and glossy.

The sweet-tart pineapple and fizzy ginger ale cut through the salty ham, making each slice irresistible. Just layer the ingredients, set the slow cooker, and walk away. Perfect for Easter, Christmas, or any Sunday supper when you want a special meal with almost no effort.

A spiral-sliced ham is already fully cooked, so the slow cooker simply reheats it gently while building a caramelized glaze. Pineapple chunks add bright fruitiness, brown sugar brings deep molasses notes, and ginger ale contributes a subtle spice and fizz that helps the glaze cling to every slice.

The result is a tender, juicy ham with a sweet-savory crust that tastes like you spent hours basting. This recipe is forgiving, hands-off, and always a crowd-pleaser. Serve it straight from the slow cooker or transfer to a platter for a polished presentation.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

The slow cooker creates a moist, steamy environment that gently reheats the ham without drying it out. Unlike roasting, which can easily overcook the edges, the low, even heat keeps every slice juicy.

The spiral cuts allow the brown sugar and ginger ale to seep into the meat, seasoning it from the inside out.

The combination of brown sugar and ginger ale forms a simple syrup that reduces slightly during cooking, creating a thick, pourable glaze.

Pineapple adds natural acidity that balances the sweetness and helps tenderize the ham. Because the ham is already cooked, the timing is forgiving — you can hold it on warm for an extra hour without ruining the texture.

Notes and substitutions

Choose a spiral-sliced ham that fits comfortably in your slow cooker. A 6 to 8 pound ham usually fits a 6-quart cooker. If the ham is too tall, trim the bottom or use a larger cooker. The ham is fully cooked, so you are just heating it through — don't worry about reaching a high internal temperature.

Use canned pineapple chunks in juice or syrup. Drain them well to keep the glaze from thinning. Brown sugar can be light or dark; dark brown sugar adds more molasses flavor. Ginger ale adds a mild ginger kick, but any lemon-lime soda will work. For a less sweet glaze, reduce the brown sugar to 3/4 cup.

• ginger ale: Use a lemon-lime soda or apple juice for a slightly different but equally sweet glaze.
• brown sugar: Coconut sugar or maple sugar can replace brown sugar, though the color and flavor will shift slightly.
• pineapple chunks: Use crushed pineapple if a smoother texture is preferred; drain it well before adding.
• spiral-sliced ham: A bone-in or boneless fully cooked ham works, but adjust cooking time to reach the same internal temperature.

Equipment

• 6-8 quart slow cooker
• small bowl
• measuring cups
• fork