Crock Pot Ham with Coke

This Crock Pot Ham With Coke makes the most tender, wonderfully sweet and savory ham that’s perfect for serving as the centerpiece for any holiday or dinner celebration.

Why We Love Crock Pot Ham With Coke

1. Uses the slow cooker instead of oven- perfect for holiday prep!
   For a super easy main course, this recipe uses pre-cooked ham heated in the slow cooker to free up oven space.
2. Unique and delicious pineapple glaze
   The pineapple glaze creates a mouthwatering and memorable ham dish that the entire family will love.
   

Ingredient Notes

• pre-cooked ham– we recommend a spiral cut for its ease of serving and lovely table presentation. And a wet-cured ham provides the best flavor!
• Coca-Cola– If you prefer Dr. Pepper over Coca-Cola, you will love our Crock Pot Dr. Pepper Ham recipe!

Ham With Coke Glaze – Tips For Success

1. Microwave glaze ingredients.
   This helps everything to combine better. Be sure to stir the glaze after microwaving.
2. Coat ham thoroughly in glaze.
   Once ham is in the slow cooker, pour the glaze over the entire ham to prevent it from drying out during the cooking process.
3. Allow ham to rest after cooking.
   Remove the roast from the Crock-Pot and transfer the ham to a plate. Drizzle some of the cola pineapple glaze mixture from the crock over the ham. Cover loosely with foil while it rests for 10-15 minutes before serving. This helps the juices to redistribute throughout the ham.

TFN Tip:
For plenty of extra glaze to use on top of the ham, double the Coke and pineapple glaze mixture called for in this precooked ham in the Crockpot recipe. Use half of the glaze for cooking the ham, then save the rest to drizzle over the cooked ham before serving.

To make an extra glaze for the Crock Pot Ham with Coke: Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with the cold mixture. Then, heat in the microwave until it’s bubbly. Drizzle it right over the ham before serving.

What are the Different Types of Ham?

Let’s start with “what are hams?“. Hams are legs of pork preserved through smoking or curing (or both!).

• Wet curing uses salt, nitrates, sugar, and seasonings to preserve the ham. Curing is what flavors ham gives it that reddish-pink coloring.
• Dry-cured hams are rubbed with a mixture of salt, spices, and other ingredients producing a saltier ham. Dry curing takes several months. This means the ham is usually drier and chewier – almost like a soft jerky. Probably not a good match with this coca-cola pineapple ham glaze!

After curing, hams are smoked in a smokehouse, adding flavor and color to the meat. Smoking also provides an added measure of preservation.

TFN TIP:
Find out what type of ham you have by checking the label on your ham. You’ll want the best ham for this Crockpot Ham with Coke recipe!

City Ham vs. Country Ham

The primary difference between city ham and country ham is how the meat is cured. City hams are wet-cured and smoked. Country hams are dry-cured and smoked. Dry curing produces a saltier ham.

Shank End vs. Butt End

• Shank end is the type of ham often served for Christmas or Easter dinners. The shank comes from the lower end of the leg. This cut has more fat and tends to be less tender.
  
• The butt end is a leaner cut of ham. However, its name is a little misleading. Butt end ham comes from the upper end of the leg. It’s easy to cut because it has one main bone through the ham.

Boneless vs Bone-In Ham

• A bone-in ham gets more flavoring from the bone and tends to be a more moist ham. Plus, the bone can be used in soups and beans as a flavoring.
  
• Boneless hams are processed with a uniform round, oval shape. These hams are slightly less flavorful but are easily sliced for serving.
  
• For this Coca-Cola Ham in slow cooker recipe, you definitely want to use a wet cured ham – although the exact cut is up to you.
  
• You can also find bone-removed hams. These hams have the bone removed without the processing that boneless hams go through.

Fully cooked vs. Partially cooked

• Most hams are precooked or fully cooked (but check yours to be sure). Reheat them to an internal temperature of 145º Fahrenheit to avoid drying them out.
  
• Our favorite ham for this recipe is precooked spiral-cut ham. Not only is it the easiest to serve, but it looks lovely on the table.
  
• While it can be a challenge keeping pre-cooked hams from drying out, re-cooking them in the Crock Pot with this cola mixture and pineapple glaze is ideal. The result is a wonderfully moist, sweet, and tender ham that’s perfect for enjoying on any special occasion!

Crock Pot Ham with Coke FAQ

Serving Suggestions For Coca Cola Ham

Serve this sweet and smoky ham with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (a no-drain recipe), Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing, or roasted or steamed veggies for a satisfying dinner.

Add a side of Old Fashioned Yeast Rolls or Easy Drop Biscuits, which are perfect for Sunday suppers or celebrating the holidays!