What to Do with Ham Hocks: 12 Delicious Ways to Cook with These Pork Cuts

If you love bacon, you’ll be head over heels for ham hocks. Smoky, salty, collagen-rich and inexpensive, ham hock is the ultimate cured pork product. As it turns out, having a ham hock or two on hand can help you make a tasty meal quickly if you know how to use it right. Let us teach you about ham hocks by showing you what they are, how to cook them, what they’re often used for, and some great ham hock recipes. Read on to learn about some of the best ham hock recipes and cooking tips you may not have known about.

Ham hocks are an underrated pork cut that can add incredible flavor to dishes when used properly. But what exactly should you do with ham hocks besides just tossing them in the slow cooker? Here are 12 delicious ways to make the most of these smoky, succulent cured pork cuts.

First, let’s look at what ham hocks are. Ham hocks come from the lower portion of a pig’s hind legs, around the knee/ankle joint. They contain a section of leg bone surrounded by meat, skin, fat and connective tissue.

Ham hocks are salt-cured and often smoked as well, giving them a pronounced salty, smoky pork flavor They also contain a high collagen content which requires long, moist cooking methods to break down and impart richness

These characteristics make ham hocks ideal for adding deep, meaty flavor to soups, beans, stocks and more. But their versatility doesn’t end there. With the right techniques, ham hocks can be used in a wide range of soulful dishes.

Best Uses for Ham Hocks

Unlike bacon or pancetta ham hocks are not especially meaty. Their magic lies in their ability to infuse dishes with savory smoky flavor rather than serving as a meat focus. Here are some of the best ways to incorporate ham hocks

Soups and stews – Simmer ham hocks for hours until fork tender. They’ll give the broth a silky texture and smokiness. Favorites are ham and bean, pea and ham, and potato and ham soups.
Beans and legumes – Slow cooking ham hocks with beans allows their smoky essence to permeate the beans. Try black, pinto, navy or lima beans.
Greens – Braise bitter greens like collards or mustard greens with ham hocks for flavor contrast.
Gumbo and jambalaya – Add ham hocks when making these Louisiana classics for authentic flavor.
Stock – Use ham hocks to make intensely flavored ham or pork bone stock for cooking grains, making soup and more.
Rice and grain dishes – Incorporate ham hock meat into dishes like jambalaya, ham and cheese grits, and dirty rice.
Sandwiches – Chop ham hock meat and add to biscuit or cornbread sandwiches along with veggies.
Eggs – Dice ham hock meat and fold into scrambled eggs, frittatas, and stratas.
Pasta – Toss ham hock bits into pasta bakes like mac and cheese for pops of flavor.

With so many possibilities, ham hocks deserve a spot in every home cook’s arsenal! Keep reading for 12 specific ways to cook with ham hocks.

12 Satisfying Ham Hock Recipes

Black-Eyed Pea Soup – Simmer ham hocks with black-eyed peas, onions, carrots and kale. The hocks impart a lovely smokiness.
Red Beans and Rice – Braise ham hocks with vegetables then add kidney beans and broth. Serve over rice for a New Orleans classic.
Ham and Potato Soup – Boil cubed potatoes with ham hocks, onions, celery, broth and cream. Puree some of the soup for body.
Collard Greens – Slow cook ham hocks with seasoned collards for the quintessential Southern side. Flavorful pot likker is an added bonus.
Navy Bean Soup – Ham hocks, navy beans, veggies and seasonings make a hearty soup perfect for meal prepping. Ladle over biscuits.
Cajun Jambalaya – Make an easy one-pot jambalaya by browning ham hock meat, sautéing trinity veggies, and simmering with rice and broth.
Smoky Baked Beans – Bake navy beans low and slow with ham hocks and onions for maximum depth. Stir in BBQ sauce at the end.
Ham Bone Stock – Simmer ham hocks in water with aromatics to create a richly flavored ham stock. Use for cooking rice, soup bases and more.
Split Pea Soup – Cook split peas, onions, carrots, celery and ham hocks together for this cozy classic. The hocks add savoriness.
Ham and Cheese Grits – Make creamy stone-ground grits using ham stock. Fold in chopped ham hock meat and sharp cheddar for an indulgent breakfast.
Dirty Rice – Sauté ham hock meat, liver and trinity veggies. Stir in rice and broth to simmer until fully cooked.
Ham Hock Hash – Sauté potatoes, ham hock bits, peppers and onions. Top with a fried egg for a hearty ham hock breakfast hash.

With these flavor-packed recipes, you’ll never run out of ways to cook with ham hocks again! Their rich, meaty flavor takes sides, soups, stews and more over the top.

Buying Quality Ham Hocks

For the best results, look for ham hocks with:

Good marbling and ample meat
Little to no drying on the exterior
Vacuum-sealed packaging
Indicator that they are fully cooked

High-quality ham hocks from reputable butchers will provide maximum flavor and juiciness. Poor quality hocks can be dry and stringy with minimal meat.

For exceptionally tasty ham hocks, order online from S. Clyde Weaver, an acclaimed Pennsylvania smokehouse. Their skinless, cured, smoked ham hocks offer incredible flavor and collagen-rich texture for soul-warming dishes.

Now that you know the myriad ways to cook with ham hocks, it’s time to grab some and start simmering! From soups to stews, beans, stocks, grains and more, ham hocks bring smoky satisfaction.

what do you do with ham hocks

Brown Ale Glazed Ham Hock and Brussels Sprouts

Keep the greens coming with this brown ale glazed ham hock and Brussels sprouts recipe. Using brown ale to glaze your ham hock will give it a unique flavor unmatched by any other meat you’ve tried before. The braising process will also make the meat more tender and delicious overall. Tossing some Brussels sprouts in the brown ale braise makes this dish a bit more healthy, too. Who said veggies have to be boring?

Collard Greens With Ham Hocks

With a smoky pork flavor and a hint of sweet cane syrup, these collard greens are unlike any other veggies you’ve ever had before. Instead of suffering through your greens, you can enjoy the process by jazzing them up with a ham hock flavor boost. Whether you’re from the South or just want a little bit of homestyle comfort food, this collard greens with ham hocks recipe is for you.

BEST HAM HOCKS | How to Prepare and Cook THE MOST TENDER Fresh Ham Hocks the SOUTHERN WAY

FAQ

What is a ham hock used for?

Use ham hocks to add richness and smoky, porky flavors to dishes by cooking them low and slow in soups, stews, stocks and braises. Once the meat has cooked, you can shred or chop it and then add it back to the soup or stew; or reserve it to use in salads, quiches or casseroles.

Do you eat meat off ham hock?

You can braise a ham hock, trim it up and serve it as a meat course. But most commonly it is used as a flavoring ingredient. That is why so many hearty winter soups and stews call for the ham hock as an essential part of the dish. When I’m making soups with ham hocks I take the time to score the thick skin of the hock.

Should ham hock be soaked before cooking?

Low sodium broth is best for this recipe – the ham hocks are quite salty so if you use regular broth, the salt might overwhelm the dish. If you’re worried about the salt content of the ham hocks, soak them in water for at least half an hour before cooking. This will help remove some of the salt.

How to eat ham hocks?

There is not enough meat on a ham hock for a substantial meal, but its intense flavour makes it something of a delicacy, and it is often given a sweet glaze to contrast with the smoky saltiness of the meat. It should be cooked low and slow until the meat is falling off the bone, then shredded and eaten hot or cold.

Where can I buy ham hocks?

They can be hard to find in grocery stores, so check to see if they’re available, or go to a local butcher. These budget-friendly pork hocks—ham hocks—are simmered to perfection with potatoes or sweet potatoes, carrots, and turnips or rutabagas.

Are ham hocks the same as Ham Shanks?

The hocks can be sold as fresh pork hocks, but they’re generally referred to as ham hocks when they’re cured with salt (similar to bacon) and smoked to create a deeply rich flavor. Ham hocks are sometimes confused with ham shanks, which are meatier and come a little higher on the leg towards the hip or shoulder.

Do ham hocks taste good?

Other dishes you may be familiar with that rely on ham hocks for their rich and smoky flavor are split pea soup and certain navy bean recipes. You can buy them fresh, but hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked — that’s what gives them that delicious, bacon-y flavor. In general, ham hocks are not hard to find.