Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Prep takes just 10 minutes: Slice the onion, arrange the ingredients and let the slow cooker handle the main cooking stage.
• It starts with fully cooked ham: The thick-cut ham steaks only need to heat gently until hot and tender.
• The flavor is sweet and savory: Brown sugar and pineapple complement the ham, while onion adds a savory element.
• The sauce cooks with the ham: Pineapple juice, brown sugar and softened onion create the sauce directly in the slow cooker.
• Dijon mustard is optional: You can include the tablespoon of Dijon or leave it out.
• Two cooking schedules are supplied: Use LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2 hours.
• You can make the glaze thicker: The recipe includes an optional stovetop reduction using some of the cooking liquid.
• It serves 4–6: The supplied recipe provides a practical family-size serving range.

Ingredients

• 3 thick-cut fully cooked ham steaks
• 1 large onion, sliced
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup pineapple chunks with juice
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, optional
• Black pepper to taste

Ingredient Notes

Fully Cooked Ham Steaks

The recipe calls for three thick-cut, fully cooked ham steaks. Since the ham is already cooked, the slow-cooker stage warms it gently while allowing it to absorb the flavors of the sauce.

Onion

Slice one large onion and spread it over the bottom of the slow cooker. The ham steaks sit directly on top, allowing the onion to soften underneath during cooking.

Brown Sugar

Half a cup of brown sugar is sprinkled evenly over the arranged ham steaks. It provides the primary sweetness in the glaze.

Pineapple Chunks and Juice

The ingredient list calls for 1 cup of pineapple chunks with juice. In the directions, the pineapple chunks go over the ham along with about ½ cup of the pineapple juice.

Dijon Mustard

One tablespoon of Dijon mustard is optional. If you choose to use it, whisk it into the pineapple juice before pouring the juice over the ham.

Black Pepper

Add black pepper to taste. No fixed amount is supplied, so season according to preference rather than assigning an unsupported measurement.

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Small whisk or spoon if using the Dijon mustard
• Serving spoon for the onion and pineapple sauce
• Small saucepan if making the optional thicker glaze

How to Make Slow Cooker Ham Steaks

1. Add the Onion

   Place the sliced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker.

2. Arrange the Ham Steaks

   Arrange the ham steaks over the onions, overlapping slightly if needed.

3. Add the Brown Sugar and Pineapple

   Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the ham. Add the pineapple chunks and about ½ cup of the pineapple juice. If using Dijon mustard, whisk it into the juice before pouring it over the ham.

4. Slow Cook

   Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2 hours, just until the ham is hot and tender.

5. Spoon Over the Sauce

   Spoon the sweet onion and pineapple sauce over the ham before serving.

6. Make a Thicker Glaze if Desired

   For a thicker glaze, transfer some of the cooking liquid to a small saucepan and simmer for a few minutes.

7. Serve

   Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables, or dinner rolls.

Tips for the Best Results

• Start with fully cooked ham steaks: That is the type specifically called for in this recipe.
• Use thick-cut steaks: The supplied recipe specifies thick-cut ham rather than thin slices.
• Put the onion on the bottom: Spread the sliced onion in the slow cooker before arranging the ham on top.
• Overlap the ham only if needed: A slight overlap is specifically allowed when arranging the three steaks.
• Distribute the brown sugar evenly: Sprinkle it across the ham before adding the pineapple.
• Measure the pineapple juice for the slow cooker: The directions call for about ½ cup of juice along with the pineapple chunks.
• Mix optional Dijon with the juice: Whisking it into the pineapple juice distributes it before the mixture goes over the ham.
• Do not cook beyond the supplied doneness cue unnecessarily: The recipe says to cook just until the fully cooked ham is hot and tender.
• Reduce the liquid separately for a thicker finish: Move some cooking liquid to a saucepan and simmer it for a few minutes rather than changing the main slow-cooker method.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Uncooked Ham in Place of Fully Cooked Ham Steaks

This recipe specifically calls for thick-cut fully cooked ham steaks. Its cooking times and doneness cue are written for that ingredient.

Putting the Onion on Top

The supplied method places the sliced onion on the bottom of the slow cooker and arranges the ham steaks over it.

Forgetting That Dijon Is Optional

You do not have to add the Dijon mustard. If you do use it, whisk the tablespoon of mustard into the pineapple juice first.

Adding an Unsupported Amount of Pineapple Juice

The ingredient is listed as pineapple chunks with juice, while the directions specify adding about ½ cup of that pineapple juice to the slow cooker.

Expecting a Thick Glaze Directly from the Slow Cooker

If you want a thicker glaze, the supplied recipe instructs you to transfer some cooking liquid to a small saucepan and simmer it for a few minutes.

Ignoring the Different LOW and HIGH Cooking Ranges

Use LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2 hours. The stated recipe summary also lists a broad cook time of 2–4 hours, but the detailed directions provide the more specific setting-based ranges.

Substitutions and Variations

With Dijon Mustard

For the optional Dijon version, whisk 1 tablespoon of mustard into the pineapple juice before pouring it over the ham.

Without Dijon Mustard

Simply omit the mustard and continue with the brown sugar, pineapple chunks and pineapple juice as directed.

Thicker Pineapple Glaze

Transfer some of the cooking liquid to a small saucepan after slow cooking. Simmer it for a few minutes to create the thicker glaze variation included with the recipe.

No substitutions for the ham, brown sugar, onion or pineapple were supplied. Replacing those ingredients would therefore create an editorial variation rather than reproduce the original recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Spoon the softened onion, pineapple and sweet cooking sauce over the hot ham steaks before serving. If you made the optional reduced glaze, spoon that over the ham as the finishing sauce.

The original recipe specifically suggests mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables or dinner rolls. Choose one or combine several of these supplied options to round out the meal.

Storage and Reheating

Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the supplied recipe, so this article does not assign a storage duration or reheating method that was not provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the ham steaks already cooked?

Yes. This recipe specifically calls for three thick-cut fully cooked ham steaks.

How long do ham steaks cook in the slow cooker on LOW?

Cover and cook them on LOW for 3–4 hours, just until the ham is hot and tender.

How long do ham steaks cook on HIGH?

The supplied HIGH setting is 1½–2 hours, again cooking just until the fully cooked ham is hot and tender.

Why does the recipe also list a cook time of 2–4 hours?

The supplied summary gives a broad cook-time range of 2–4 hours, while the detailed directions specify LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2 hours. This article preserves both pieces of source information rather than replacing them with a new estimate.

How much pineapple juice should I add?

The directions call for about ½ cup of the pineapple juice along with the pineapple chunks.

Is Dijon mustard required?

No. The tablespoon of Dijon mustard is explicitly optional.

How do I add the Dijon mustard?

If using it, whisk the Dijon into the pineapple juice before pouring the juice over the ham.

Can the ham steaks overlap in the slow cooker?

Yes. The supplied directions say the steaks may overlap slightly if needed.

How can I make the glaze thicker?

Transfer some cooking liquid to a small saucepan and simmer it for a few minutes. The source does not specify an exact reduction time.

What can I serve with Slow Cooker Ham Steaks?

The recipe suggests mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables or dinner rolls.

How many servings does this recipe make?

The supplied yield is 4–6 servings.

How much preparation time do I need?

The supplied prep time is 10 minutes.

Related Recipes

• Slow Cooker Ham Recipes
• Ham Steak Recipes
• Ham and Pineapple Recipes
• Slow Cooker Comfort Food
• Easy Slow Cooker Dinners

Recipe Card: Slow Cooker Ham Steaks

Ingredients

• 3 thick-cut fully cooked ham steaks
• 1 large onion, sliced
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup pineapple chunks with juice
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, optional
• Black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place the sliced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Arrange the ham steaks over the onions, overlapping slightly if needed.
3. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the ham. Add the pineapple chunks and about ½ cup of the pineapple juice. If using Dijon mustard, whisk it into the juice before pouring it over the ham.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2 hours, just until the ham is hot and tender.
5. Spoon the sweet onion and pineapple sauce over the ham before serving.
6. For a thicker glaze, transfer some of the cooking liquid to a small saucepan and simmer for a few minutes.
7. Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables, or dinner rolls.

Recipe Notes

• Use thick-cut fully cooked ham steaks.
• Place the sliced onion beneath the ham in the slow cooker.
• The steaks can overlap slightly if needed.
• Add about ½ cup of the pineapple juice along with the pineapple chunks.
• Dijon mustard is optional; whisk it into the pineapple juice if using.
• Cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2 hours, just until the ham is hot and tender.
• For a thicker glaze, simmer some of the cooking liquid in a small saucepan for a few minutes.
• Serve with the sweet onion and pineapple sauce spooned over the ham.
• The supplied yield is 4–6 servings.
• The supplied prep time is 10 minutes.

Storage and ReheatingSpecific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the supplied recipe.