Slow Cooker Coca Cola Ham
This sweet-savory Slow Cooker Coca Cola Ham is simple and delicious, full of flavor and perfect for the holidays, special dinners, or entertaining for any occasion. Pair with a couple of sides and you can easily host a crowd with no stress.
When it comes to cooking a big meal, I like something that’s foolproof and delicious, and most importantly…a crowdpleaser. This Slow Cooker Coca Cola Ham is exactly that. It’s super tender, full of sweet and savory flavors, and comes out perfectly every time, I kid you not. And it’s all made in a one pot crock pot, so it frees up prime oven space for the sides, and has minimal clean up too.
Smoky ham is bathed in a sticky-sweet glaze that gets caramelized and golden thanks to the star ingredient, coca cola. The end result? There’s truly nothing like it. This Crock Pot Ham with Coke takes minimal effort to make, with a huge flavor payoff, and it’s sneakily impressive once it hits the table. None of your guests need to know how easy it was to make, let that be your little secret!
If you like this easy one pot main, try these other delicious recipes. This flavorful Slow Cooker Butter Chicken is always a winner, and we love these Beef and Ricotta Stuffed Shells, too.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Minimal Prep: This recipe takes just a few minutes to prep, then it’s completely hands-off cooking. Let the slow cooker do the work for you. It’s super easy with big flavor pay off.
- Great for a Big Group: This big, delicious ham is perfect for serving at holidays or feeding a crowd. It’s easy enough to whip up for a large group, and special enough to feel impressive.
- Super Tender: The star ingredient, Coca Cola, creates the most tender and moist ham you’ll ever taste.
- Frees Up Oven Space: Cooked on the counter in a slow cooker, this recipe keeps your oven wide open for other dishes, which is premium space when entertaining.
Ingredients
- Ham: Use a fully cooked, bone-in ham, for tender, smoky flavor and an impressive presentation.
- Coca Cola: Any brand works, use your favorite. This is the star ingredient for that sweet, signature flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark works, depending on how much molasses flavoring you like.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a tang that balances out the sweetness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: A touch of acidity to compliment the other ingredients.
- Ground Cloves: Warm and spiced, gives the ham a classic holiday taste.
How To Make Slow Cooker Coca Cola Ham
1. Place the ham in the basin of a slow cooker.
2. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, Coca-Cola, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and ground cloves. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved.
3. Pour the glaze over the ham. If the ham is pre-sliced, spoon some of the glaze in between the slices.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 4–6 hours, basting with the cooking juices every few hours.
5. Remove the ham from the slow cooker and let it cool slightly until it can be handled. Slice and serve.
6. Optional: For a caramelized finish, preheat the broiler. Transfer the ham to an oven-safe dish, brush with some of the leftover liquid, and broil for about 5 minutes, glazing once more if desired.
Expert Tips
- Use Regular Coke: To achieve the best, deepest caramelization and “crust” on the ham, use regular coke, not diet. It has the best quality sugar content.
- Avoid Overcooking: Because the ham is already fully cooked, you really don’t need to cook the ham longer than the recipe calls for, otherwise it’ll dry it. And be sure to baste it regularly to keep it moist.
- Cover With Foil: If the edges of the ham start to look dry, tent it loosely with foil. This will lock in the moisture and keep it from drying out, while still letting it cook.
- Baste Regularly: Baste the ham from time to time to keep it extra moist and to give it an even deeper flavor.
- Use Cloves Sparingly: They have a classic, spiced, holiday taste, but a little goes a long way – they’re strong!
Variations
- Swap Out Coke: Try a different soda or cola, like Dr. Pepper or Cherry Coke for a slightly sweeter, deeper flavor.
- Use Fruit Juice: Try pineapple juice or orange juice for a fruitier glaze. You can even use a combination of cola or fruit juice.
- Add Fruit: Pineapple slices or maraschino cherries would be a delicious addition to this ham. They’re both classic, traditional pairings that add great flavor and a festive look.
- Add Heat: Use a pinch of cayenne pepper of a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
- Try a Different Sweetener: Add maple syrup or honey in the glaze for a different, sweet flavor. Any variety of either works nicely.
What To Serve With Crock Pot Coca Cola Ham
This ham is sweet, savory and perfect as a main, and we love serving it with our favorite side dishes:
- Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Maple Glazed Carrots
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Green Bean Casserole
Storage
This ham is just as delicious the next day. Store leftover ham in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a 350° oven, covered, until warmed through, or in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Save that sweet glaze, too!
You can freeze leftover ham, as well. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight once you’re ready to serve, then reheat as instructed above.
FAQs
Definitely! It’s a classic, Southern method that results in a tender, savory-sweet ham. It’s absolutely delicious and foolproof.
Not necessarily, as the ham releases a lot of moisture on its own as it cooks, but adding additional liquid helps keep it moist and tender while also adding flavor.
A fully cooked ham usually takes around 4-6 hours in the crockpot. Since it’s already cooked, the goal is to heat it through without drying it out.
More Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Garlic Creamy Chicken Pasta
- Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
- Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Ham
Ingredients
- 5 –8 lb fully cooked bone-in ham
- 1 can Coca-Cola
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Place the ham in the basin of a slow cooker.
- In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, Coca-Cola, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and ground cloves. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Pour the glaze over the ham. If the ham is pre-sliced, spoon some of the glaze in between the slices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 4–6 hours, basting with the cooking juices every few hours.
- Remove the ham from the slow cooker and let it cool slightly until it can be handled. Slice and serve.
- Optional: For a caramelized finish, preheat the broiler. Transfer the ham to an oven-safe dish, brush with some of the leftover liquid, and broil for about 5 minutes, glazing once more if desired.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a 350° oven, covered, until warmed through, or in the microwave in 30 second intervals.
- Save that sweet glaze, too!
- Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight once you’re ready to serve, then reheat as instructed above.
