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.

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 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.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Precooked Ham – this crockpot ham 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.

Glazed Ham 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 pepperorblack pepper for a spicy kick

Need a use for your leftover ham?
Use your leftovers to make a fantastic Ham and Brie Breakfast Casserole or Ham and Tater Tot Casserole for a weekend brunch! Another family favorite is our Hashbrown and Ham Casserole.

Notes for Making 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

Forextra glaze,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 spiral-sliced ham, 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 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.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Dr. Pepper ham withInstant Pot no drain mashed potatoes, candied maple balsamic Brussels sprouts, Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn, cranberry sauce, or any of your favorite holiday side dishes. Our favorite sides with ham are:

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. Wrap it tightly in freezer-safe wrap and thaw completely in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Dr. Pepper Ham:
Individual slices of ham 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.

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 slowly 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 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.