25 Extra Flavorful Ham Hock Recipes 

Ham hocks are a super underrated cut of pork. If your favorite way to prepare meat is so it’s fall-off-the-bone tender, or if you like meat for adding flavor to various dishes, then take a look at these 25 extra flavorful ham hock recipes. 

What is a ham hock? It’s a piece of meat that comes from the bottom half of the pork leg, right where the joint meets the foot. This particular cut of meat is not very big, but it packs a major flavorful punch. That’s because its thick bone has lots of collagen, fat, and skin surrounding the meat. When it’s cooked, all of those elements work together to make a pork flavor that’s out of this world. 

Choose any of these recipes. You can’t go wrong. Stay simple and show off the piece of meat in all its glory with a Braised Ham Hock or see how it thrives next to greens and veggies with these Southern Green Beans or Southern Collard Greens With Ham Hocks.

Enjoy!

1. Braised Ham Hocks 

Braised recipes may take some time, but they are always worth it. Take this braised ham hock recipe as an example. After a quick sear, the savory ham hock braises for 2-3 hours. When the braising is complete, the meat is so tender it falls off the bone. It may seem like a process to prepare the recipe, but after one bite, you’ll see that it is all worth it. 

2. Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup 

When I am craving something so filling and comforting, I turn to make this Crock Pot ham and bean soup. The combination of the beans and the ham is truly perfect on the tongue. Since the soup is made in the Crock Pot, there are loads of time for the flavors of the veggies to blend seamlessly with the ham. If you feel like a creamier or richer soup, mash up half of the beans while they finish cooking. It will give the soup more body and fill you up even more. 

3. Southern Green Beans 

If you have never had classic Southern green beans, get ready to fall in love. Traditional Southern green beans are a staple on the table for all occasions. These Southern green beans may take all day to prep, but the flavor will be worth it. Ham hocks sit in a chicken stock broth filled with snapped green beans, onions, garlic, spices, and vinegar. As the slow cooker goes to work, the green beans and ham hocks suck up all the goodness of the broth. This dish will convince anyone to eat their vegetables, no problem. 

4. Smoked Ham Hock With Pinto Beans 

Upgrade your classic baked beans recipe with this smoked ham hock with pinto beans. This hearty dish is perfect for your next barbeque alongside burgers, ribs, or hot dogs. The ham hocks cook until the meat starts to fall off the bone. The luscious meat is then combined with pinto beans and barbeque sauce to make a side dish that is ready to steal the show. If you want to take these beans to the next level, enhance the seasoning with brown sugar, paprika, pepper, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. 

5. Southern Collard Greens With Ham Hocks

Low and slow is the motto for cooking these Southern collard greens with ham hocks. This dish is the ultimate side dish to any main course. While it takes a while to cook, the preparation for the dish couldn’t be easier. Cook your ham hock so it is nice and tender, then combine it with the collard greens and seasoning. Then it is time to simmer and let the cooking do the work for about 2 hours. The simple side dish will find a spot on everyone’s plate. 

6. Ginger Beer Ham Hocks

Ham hocks may not have a ton of meat on the bone, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be a main course. Just look at this ginger beer ham hock, for example. The ham hocks slow cooks in a broth of ginger beer, bay leaves, root ginger, and peppercorns until the meat falls off the bone. The recipe isn’t done just yet! The ham hock then gets slathered in a sweet mustard sauce and grilled to create a perfect caramelization. 

7. Baked Ham Hock and Cheddar Croquettes

The combination of ham hock and cheddar is a true match made in heaven. Taste the pairing for yourself with these baked ham hock and cheddar croquettes. The bite-sized croquettes are super gooey on the inside and bake up nice and crispy on the outside.  A creamy mixture of ham hock, cheddar cheese, onions, flour, and milk come together to form the filling for these little balls of goodness. The ham mixture is then breaded all over with panko breadcrumbs to make a crust for the croquettes.

8. Ham Hock, Leek, and Potato Gratin

If you are looking for a tasty dish but don’t feel like making a mess in the kitchen, this ham hock, leek, and potato gratin has you covered. The gratin is made in one pot, making the dish super simple to put together. The base of this dish features ham hock and leeks inside a creamy milk-based sauce. Potatoes covered in panko breadcrumbs and mozzarella finish off the top of this super straightforward and luscious dish.

9. Pea, Asparagus, & Ham Hock Tart 

This pea, asparagus, and ham hock tart will truly delight your tastebuds. The dish is basically a crossover between a tart and a quiche. Eggs mix with peas and asparagus to form the base. Ham hock is then sprinkled on top of the egg mixture so it evenly distributes during baking. All of this is encased in a patsy shell that bakes up flaky behind belief. It is the perfect springtime dish for brunch or lunch out in the sun.

10. Roasted Ham Hock With Crispy Crackling 

If you prefer your meat to have nice and crispy skin, get ready to go all in on this roasted ham hock with crispy crackling. Now this crisp on the skin is next-level crunchy. It’s basically like having a giant pork rind or crackling on top of the tender ham hock meat. That signature crisp on the meat forms from the cooking preparation. The ham hock is thoroughly rinsed, scored, and baked in a whole lot of lard. It may not be the healthiest dish to make, but it is a tasty treat to have every once and a while.

11. Pressure Cooker Split Pea Soup With Smoked Ham Hock

Here is a soup that you will want to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — it is that good. This split pea soup with smoked ham hock is made in the pressure cooker. The pressure cooker cooks everything in the pot much faster but gives it the taste that it has been simmering on the stove all day long. Do yourself a favor and make this soup at the beginning of the week so you can enjoy it all week long.

12. Leek and Ham Hock Gratin with Rösti Topping

This leek and ham hock gratin is a standout because of the rösti topping. If you’ve never heard of a rösti, get ready to become a fan. A rösti is made out of shredded potatoes that are lightly sauteed or pan-fried in a light oil. It is very similar to a hash brown. In this dish, the rösti is the topping to the leek and ham hock gratin. It is a great dish to save for the winter, as it is super comforting to eat on a cold and chilly day. 

13. Smoked Ham Hock and Sweet Potato Stew

Smoked ham hock and sweet potato stew is a recipe that the whole family will love to eat for dinner. It is super hearty thanks to the smoked meat, however, develops a lighter flavor with the addition of the sweet potatoes. Instead of adding sweet potatoes in at the end, they cook alongside the meat in the stew at a low and slow temperature. Some of the potatoes break down while this happens, adding an extra creaminess that complements the ham in the best way possible.

14. Polenta Croquette Filled With Leeks and Ham Hock

Sink your teeth into polenta, leeks, and ham hock when you indulge in these croquettes. The little croquettes take appetizers to an entirely new level. In this mini bite, polenta acts as the crust for the croquettes. The filling is made out of a Béchamel sauce mixed with leeks and ham hocks. After cooling, each ball of filling is covered in polenta and fried until golden brown. To make the dish even better, top the croquettes with tomato jam.

15. Slow Cooker Ham Hocks With Peanut Sauce

This slow cooker ham hock with peanut sauce is a melt-in-your-mouth dish. In this dish, the ham hock cooks for 6 hours at a low temperature alongside fish sauce, chicken stock, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, pepper, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, kecap manis, and chili flakes. The low and slow cook of the ham hocks in the slow cooker makes the meat super tender and succulent. The dish gets topped with a smooth peanut sauce that brings out the brightness of the ingredients. 

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16. Slow Cooked Pork & Beans with Smoked Ham Hock

Even if you are not the best cook in the kitchen, you’ll be able to nail this slow-cooked pork and beans dish. The dish throws all the ingredients into a slow cooker and lets the appliance do all the work. After a few hours, everything will be perfectly tender, and the meat from the ham hock will fall off the bone. If the slow cooker isn’t your thing, feel free to make this in a Dutch oven. It is just as easy, but you may need to keep a closer eye on the cooking process. 

17. Ham Hock, Sausage, and Cider Raised Pie

This ham hock, sausage, and cider pie knock any sweet pie out of the water. The recipe alone is a meat lover’s dream come true. The pie is not only filled with ham hock but loads of sausage as well. Don’t worry, there are some tasty vegetables in there too. The meat and veggies cook alongside a sauce containing cider, giving the pie a light and airy component.

18. Smoked Ham Hock Bean Cabbage Soup

Here is another soup that will warm you up on a cold winter’s night. This smoked ham hock bean cabbage soup is based on the rustic dish called Garbure. It is a thick soup that is super filling and very hearty. This soup is all about building layers and layers of flavor. The broth adds flavors from the vegetables, beans, and the slow cook of the ham hock. All of the ingreidents leach out into broth for a soup that will be pretty impressive on the tastebuds. 

19. Oven Braised Ham Hock

This recipe lets all the light shine on the ham hock. The dish features a braised ham hock that shows off the meat of the unique cut of pork. The braise uses the low and slow method to make the piece of meat super tender and juicy. The cook time may test your patience, but one bite of the ham will tell you it is all worth it.

20. Crispy Gnocchi With Ham Hocks & Shredded Greens 

Ham hocks and gnocchi are the combination that you never knew you needed. Pasta isn’t typically the go-to when you think about ham. However, since gnocchi is a potato base and ham hocks are typically served alongside potatoes, it just makes sense. Along with the gnocchi and ham, crunchy Brussels sprouts are added to the dish for a bite of texture.

21. Ham Hock Terrine 

This ham hock terrine is the ultimate show-stopper. Pull this one out at your next dinner party and show off all of your skills and hard work in the kitchen. So, how does the terrine keep its one-of-a-kind shape? It’s all in the gelatin. The viscous mixture blooms and then is added to the hot stock. As it cools overnight in the pan with the ham and vegetables, it forms a lovely rectangular shape. Don’t rush the process, however, or else you’ll be left with a pile of mush!

22. Ham Hock Rillettes With Pistachio Salt 

Start your dinner party off on the right foot by serving up these ham hock rillettes with pistachio salt. This ham-based spread starts by cooking the ham hocks until they are nice and tender. Then, the meat is shredded up and combined with butter, parsley, and thyme. It is then left overnight for the flavors to develop even more. When ready to serve, spread some of the ham mixture on top of a piece of crusty bread and top with toasted pistachios.

23. Ham Hock Minestrone

You’ve heard of classic minestrone, but have you ever heard of minestrone made with ham hock? This recipe takes everything you love about classic minestrone and ups the flavors. The shredded ham hock meat plays double duty in the soup. The flavor and seasoning from the meat help elevate the broth, and the meat adds a nice bite of protein to the soup. This recipe will easily become your new go-to soup dish. 

24. Ham Hock and Lentil Soup 

Not sure what to make for lunch this week? This ham hock and lentil soup has got you covered. There may not be a lot of ingredients in this soup, but that doesn’t mean it is lacking in flavor. The soup takes basic vegetables and cooks them alongside yellow lentils. Ham hock gets mixed in right before the soup simmers to add in all of those delicious pork flavors from the bones and the meat.

25. Dauphinoise Potatoes with Ham Hock and Mustard

This Dauphinoise potato dish with ham hock and mustard will be the side dish of your dreams brought to life. The side dish takes Vivaldi potatoes and layers them between loads of ham hock and a creamy mustard and herb mixture. Do your best to scatter the ham pieces evenly around the potatoes. That way, you’ll have tasty pieces of ham hock in every single bite.