The Simplest Way To Make the Best-Ever Holiday Ham

We’re all looking for ways to make our lives calmer and cozier for the holidays, and one of the easiest ways to do that is to lean into slow cooker recipes. The handy countertop appliance is the simplest way to make set-it-and-forget-it meals and dishes that serve up the comfort food flavors that we love.

To help us put a little holiday cheer into our Crock-Pot cooking, Parade sat down with Hannah Turton, the social media star and North Carolina native who recently released a new cookbook, Simple Southern Slow Cooker Meals. The book is packed with easy recipes that will help add a little inspiration to your slow-cooker meals.

Turton offers a mix of practical tips, down-home wisdom and the kind of no-nonsense kitchen advice her followers love her for. Whether you’re new to slow cooking or already swear by it, her guidance will make the holiday season (and beyond) feel a little simpler and a lot more delicious.

Keep reading to get the scoop on some of Turton’s favorite festive slow-cooker recipes that are perfect for this time of year, including her go-to advice on making the best-ever holiday ham right in your slow cooker.

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The Perks of a Slow Cooker Holiday Ham

Turton’s secret ingredient for all of her dishes is “time.” The slow cooker lets flavors meld and deepen, turning simple pantry staples into something rich and memorable. It’s the definition of low effort, high reward because the cooking process is largely hands off, but you still end up with a dish that tastes like you hovered over the stove all day.

“Slow cookers are really the unsung heroes of Southern cooking,” she tells Parade. “They let you focus on what really matters: being with your people.” And in Simple Southern Slow Cooker Meals, Turton invites readers to reclaim not only their holidays but also their time.

Among all the recipes in her collection, she has a clear favorite for the holiday season: her Slow-Cooker Holiday Ham. And she doesn’t hesitate to call it a game-changer.

“It’s so easy to throw on in the morning, and it frees up oven space for other holiday classics,” she says. “Using the slow cooker allows the ham to marinate in juicy flavors for an extended period of time, resulting in a mouthwatering and tender dish.”

How To Make the Best Slow-Cooker Ham

This slow-cooker ham starts with a 6- to 7-pound smoked, spiral-cut ham, which is the perfect slow-cooker size. Turton likes to use a spiral-cut ham because the pre-sliced meat allows the glaze to work its way in between the slices, flavoring the ham from the inside out.

Once you have your ham, place it cut side down in the Crock-Pot, then coat it with brown sugar and finish with maple syrup and pineapple juice for a sweet, glossy glaze. Turton suggests being generous with both the pineapple and brown sugar.

“If you’re a pineapple lover like myself, throw some extra rings on top as it cooks,” she suggests. “And to make it burst with even more flavor, add an extra cup of brown sugar.”

As it cooks low and slow, the ham absorbs all that flavor while freeing up your oven for other dishes. Once done, Turton likes to simmer the cooking liquid on the stove until it thickens, then she pours it back over the ham before serving.

The result is a sticky-sweet Southern-style ham that looks impressive without demanding any holiday-day micromanaging. It’s exactly the kind of recipe busy home cooks need this time of year.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Buying and Cooking a Costco Ham

3 More Great Holiday Slow Cooker Recipes

Turton knows the holidays are all about balance, especially when you’re juggling main dishes, sides and desserts. That’s why she loves making side dishes in her slow cooker too.

“I love making side dishes in the slow cooker for the holidays, especially for traveling purposes,” she said. “Slow cookers are easy to transfer and great for feeding large crowds.”

Two of her favorite side dish recipes hit the sweet spot between comfort and convenience.

1. Cheesy Potatoes

These easy cheesy potatoes, which Turton shared on TikTok, are ultra-soft, slow-cooked Yukon gold potatoes finished with butter, ranch seasoning, heavy cream, sour cream and melted cheese for an extra-rich side dish that really grabs attention. They’re indulgent and packed with comfort-food flavor, making them a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

“For the perfect slow-cooker potatoes, remember to stir often to avoid sticking,” Turton advises. “And you can never add too much cheese.”

The potatoes are cooked in the Crock-Pot with butter and ranch seasoning until tender. Heavy cream, sour cream and shredded Colby Jack cheese are stirred in at the end to create a creamy, cheesy finish. Serve warm, topped with chopped chives if desired.

That combination of creamy, cheesy and hearty makes it an ideal complement to slow-cooked ham or any holiday spread.

Related: How To Make Roasted Potatoes 10x Better, According to Gordon Ramsay

2. Momma’s Cream Corn

Turton’s Momma’s Cream Corn is a simple Crock-Pot side made with frozen corn slow-cooked in butter, cream cheese and a touch of seasoning for a rich, creamy texture. It’s classic comfort food that comes together effortlessly and pairs perfectly with just about any meal, making it an excellent holiday side dish.

Turton says the most surprising ingredient in this recipe is sugar, but you shouldn’t skip it! It balances the salt and richness from the butter and cream cheese while enhancing the corn’s natural sweetness.

She has shared this recipe on TikTok before, and it always gets a lot of attention.

3. Hassle-Free Hot Chocolate

No Southern holiday meal is complete without something sweet, and Turton’s Hassle-Free Hot Chocolate is a dessert and a drink in one.

“It’s a Christmas classic in my house,” she shares. “I always add a candy cane to mine to really get into the Christmas spirit.”

This simple hot chocolate is made with whole milk, chocolate chips, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla, whisked together and cooked on low in the Crock-Pot until smooth and melted, which takes about two hours. Turton then turns off the slow cooker to avoid burning. But her favorite trick is turning leftovers into something unexpected.

“I make little milkshakes by throwing it into the fridge for a couple hours and pouring it over shaved ice with a splash of milk,” she says. “It’s like a frozen hot chocolate—and it’s so good.”

It’s a simple idea that captures what Turton’s cooking is all about: taking familiar flavors and giving them a fun twist that’s easy, cozy and delicious.

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Related: How To Make Hot Chocolate 10x Better, According to a Cooking Show Champion

Source:

• Hannah Turton, food content creator and the author of Simple Southern Slow Cooker Meals.