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.
Cooking with Dr. Pepper (or any cola, for that matter) is a great way to create a flavorful glaze for ham. Our popular crock pot ham with cola glaze that uses Coca-Cola 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 everyone else’s classic Thanksgiving recipes, this is a great choice. But my favorite time of year for ham is Easter. Speaking of the holidays, since this is made in the slow cooker, your oven is available for making casseroles or other side dishes.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Effortless Holiday & Special Occasion Meal
This crock pot recipe is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it meal! Whether you’re preparing a Christmas dinner, Easter feast, or just a comforting Sunday meal, this slow cooker ham comes out tender and flavorful with minimal effort. - Irresistibly Sweet & Savory Glaze
This recipe creates a perfect balance of caramelized sweetness and rich, savory depth. The soda enhances the natural flavors of the ham while making it juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. - Perfect for Leftovers
This holiday ham makes amazing leftovers! Enjoy it in sandwiches, breakfast scrambles, or even added to soups. Store any extras in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for future meals.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Precooked Ham – this crockpot recipe is so quick because we use a fully cooked piece of meat. We use a spiral-sliced ham, mostly because it looks so beautiful on the table. 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.
Recipe Variations
- Brown sugar – swap it with molasses or honey
- Pineapple juice – use apple cider or orange juice instead
- Dijon mustard – yellow mustard or honey mustard provides a different flavor
- Add spices – like cloves, allspice, or nutmeg
- Sweeter glaze – use more brown sugar to your taste
- Spicier glaze – add cayenne pepper or black pepper for a spicy kick
Equipment Used in Our Recipe
- Slow Cooker
- Micowave safe bowl
- Aluminum foil
Need a use for your leftover ham?
Use your leftovers to make a fantastic ham cheese breakfast casserole or tater tot ham casserole for a weekend brunch! Another family favorite is our hashbrown and ham casserole.
How To Make Dr. Pepper Ham in Slow Cooker
- Wait to make the glaze.
It’s nice to prepare 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 the soda has carbonation.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
For extra glaze, double the 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 meat 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 spiral-sliced meat, brush some of the glaze between the slices.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temp.
Cook your ham until it reaches an internal temperature of 145ºF. I recommend checking the temperature every 2 hours.
As mentioned earlier, you will be using a fully cooked ham. To prevent it from drying out, follow the cooking times.
The total cooking time will depend on the weight. On average, slow cook the Dr. Pepper crock pot ham on the Low setting for 4-6 hours, or on High for 3-4 hours.
- Cover until ready to serve.
Take it 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.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this with Instant Pot no drain mashed potatoes, candied maple balsamic brussels sprouts, Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn, sweet potato casserole without marshmallows, or any of your favorite holiday side dishes.
A side of honey-glazed carrots or frozen parkerhouse rolls complements the rich, caramelized flavors beautifully. Pair it with a festive beverage like sparkling apple cider or a glass of red wine for an elevated holiday meal. And for dessert, our carrot pie recipe or chocolate chip bread pudding will make the perfect finishing touch!
Make raspberry jello salad an addition to your holiday spread together with this ham recipe!
Recipe FAQs
The best way to keep the ham from drying out is to cook it slowly with some liquid, like Dr. Pepper. You could also cook it 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 it with the pan juices or a little additional liquid will also help keep it moist.
Mushy meat is likely the result of overcooking. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature frequently.
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.
Fridge:
Leftovers will be kept 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. Wrap it tightly in freezer-safe wrap and thaw completely in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating:
Individual slices can be reheated in the microwave on high power for 30-60 seconds, or until warmed. Alternatively, you can reheat it in an oven-safe dish covered with foil in a 350ºF oven until warmed through.
Here Are Our Most Loved Slow Cooker Recipes…
- Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
- Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Teriyaki Ribs
- Crock Pot Cube Steaks Recipe
If you tried this Dr. Pepper ham recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Dr Pepper Ham (Crockpot Recipe)
Equipment
- crock pot (slow cooker) - 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
- How do you keep it from drying out? The best way to keep the ham from drying out is to cook it slowly with some liquid, like Dr. Pepper. You could also cook it 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 it 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 the result of overcooking. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature frequently. 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.
- How to store and reheat leftovers?
Fridge:
Leftovers will be kept 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. Wrap it tightly in freezer-safe wrap and thaw completely in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating:
Individual slices can be reheated in the microwave on high power for 30-60 seconds, or until warmed. Alternatively, you can reheat it in an oven-safe dish covered with foil in a 350ºF oven until warmed through.
- For extra glaze, double the 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.
Recipe Variations:
- Brown sugar – swap it with molasses or honey
- Pineapple juice – use apple cider or orange juice instead
- Dijon mustard – yellow mustard or honey mustard provides a different flavor
- Add spices – like cloves, allspice, or nutmeg
- Sweeter glaze – use more brown sugar to your taste
- Spicier glaze – add cayenne pepper or black pepper for a spicy kick
Nutrition
This post, originally published in December 2022, was updated with new content in February 2023.
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Madelaine Hewlett says
I have made this ham last yeand it was totally delicious Very easy to make And I’m gonna make it again this year in 2025 Also when I went to reheat the ham in the glaze it was totally delicious still not dried out