Did you know you could cook a ham in the slow cooker? Yes, it’s true, and I promise you, it will come out so juicy and tender you will never cook your holiday ham any other way.

The key to cooking ham in the slow cooker is using a semi-boneless smoked half ham. Make sure it’s a whole ham and not a pre-sliced spiral cut ham. Trust me, if you use a pre-sliced ham it will be dried out and inedible, and that’s the last thing you want. The whole ham, which can be found at your local Publix, is the ticket when using the slow cooker. It doesn’t dry out, and it absorbs the flavors of the maple syrup, brown sugar, ground cinnamon and cloves.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Maple Glazed Ham calls for 5 ingredients! That’s it! Of course, the main star is the ham, followed by the maple syrup. I used an entire 8-ounce bottle of maple syrup. Don’t skimp on the amount of syrup. Maple syrup can be expensive but totally worth the flavor. And after all, it’s not like you will be making this recipe every week, it’s for a special occasion.

Make sure you shop at one of the many farmer’s markets in Lake Nona to grab fresh, locally sourced produce to compliment the ham. A few side-dish ideas: roasted carrots, sautéed green beans, Brussels sprouts or even a kale salad would taste delicious with the ham.

If you’re entertaining this Easter (or for any holiday) and are planning on baking your ham, stop the madness now and throw the ham into your slow cooker. You will thank me later, I promise!

Visit Katie’s Cucina to find the full recipe.

Other recommendations to go along with this recipe are the Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes and Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole.