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Bone in ham is the quintessential holiday meal! Made to serve a crowd, you can find out how to cook a ham with the bone in here on this post! It’s pretty simple and only requires a few steps!

Ham is that one holiday dish that everyone seems to love. My large, extended Italian family almost always has two offerings at big holiday meals and ham is always one of them. Thanksgiving? Move over turkey, there’s ham too. Christmas lamb? We also need a ham. And an Easter ham is just a given no matter if I’m celebrating with that extended group of 50 loved ones (Yes, 50) or my little family of four. If you love ham to find out how to cook a ham with the bone in right here!

Finding a ham

First things first, bone in ham is a popular choice for the holidays. However, you can also get a boneless ham and no matter which you are cooking, the steps are pretty much the same.

I also want to add these are instructions for how to cook a ham with the bone in that has already been cured, smoked or baked. This means these hams are actually already cooked. In fact, in the United States you would be hard pressed to find a raw ham sold in the grocery store or even buy a ham company like Honey Baked Hams. Unless you buy a ham straight from the farm, most come pre-cooked. Cooking a pre-cooked ham in the oven is done to improve temperature, flavor and texture.

Why bone in ham?

So why would you want a bone in ham over a boneless ham? It’s all about flavor. Bone in hams will be more juicy than boneless hams, which tend to dry out easier in the cooking process. The bones helps to produce more tender meat and better overall flavor. The bone also slows down the cooking process and this can provide more time for the fat to render, again giving you a superior flavor.

Plus, when the ham is eat and done, the bone can be used to make soup!

Things you need to cook a bone in ham

When learning how to cook a ham with the bone in there are a couple items you will need to make the ham a success.

A 9×13 or larger baking pan. This is for baking the ham (clearly) and usually this size will fit most hams. That’s pretty much the size pan I used here for my ham. Mine might be a little larger but not much. I have an 10 lb. ham in it.
Foil paper. You should line the bottom of the pan with foil paper and then you will also need to cover the ham for cooking.
A ham glaze. Most hams come with a glaze packet. However, we can do better than that! Try my delicious Honey Ham Glaze {HERE} that has a light sweetness to let all the flavors shine.
A spoon or baster for the glaze.

That’s pretty much it. This is not a big prep recipe or instructions that require an excess of equipment.

How much ham do I need per person?

Before you can get cooking, you really need to know what size of ham to purchase. For boneless hams, you want to make sure you have enough for 1/2 lb. of ham per person and 1/4 lb. of ham per child. For the bone-in ham, this increases a quarter of a pound to 3/4 lb. per adult to make up for the weight of the bone.

As a note, I like to buy a few extra pounds. You never know who will be more hungry that day and I always like to have extras for soup.

How long to cook a ham

How to cook a ham with the bone in can vary when it comes to cooking time. It’s all based on weight and if you’re making a bone in ham, they are usually heavier than a boneless ham. No matter what, preheat the oven to 325. This is the temperature you need for a pre-cooked or cured bone-in or boneless ham.

For a bone-in ham that’s fully cooked you can bake the ham covered with foil for about 12 minutes per pound. I cooked my 10 lb. ham for 120 minutes. You want to ensure the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees. Anything over that will start drying out the ham. You can use a meat thermometer to measure the temperature. Stick into the thickest part of the ham but avoid touching the bone.

How do I cook a ham with the bone in and keep it from drying out?

When cooking a bone-in ham, make sure to keep an eye on the temperature. For my glaze recipe {HERE}, I recommend removing the ham from the oven a couple times to baste it with the glaze. Basting will help to keep it more moist and this also give you a chance to check the temperature.

Additionally, I recommend covering the ham with foil. This allows the ham to heat through without scorching the top and the edges, especially if you’re using a heavily sugared glaze. Sugared glazes caramelize nicely but they can burn more easily.

Can I make a bone in ham in the slow cooker?

Yes you can! If you prefer to make the ham in the slow cooker, just make sure check the day before that the ham actually fits in the slow cooker. Then you can add it to the pot, glaze it and set it on low for 4 hours. Check it once or twice to baste it with the glaze. Personally, I prefer the oven cooking method because I feel like the oven helps the ham to retain moisture. However, I understand the allure of the Crock Pot.

Storing and recooking

Before storing the bone-in ham, remove the ham from the bone. I do not recommend keeping the bone beyond the first two days. Either throw it away or use it for soup like my Ham Bone Soup {HERE}.
You can store a ham in an air tight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days.
You can also freeze the ham in plastic bags. Just make sure to remove as much air from bag as possible. It can be stored like this for about one month. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 12 hours before reheating.
You can reheat the ham in the microwave or in the oven. Heat the oven to 325 degrees and heat the ham for

Looking for some side dish ideas, desserts or appetizers?

If you’re looking for some other dishes to have along with your ham, check out these recipes to make a full meal.

Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip {HERE}
Garden Herb Cream Cheese Toasts {HERE}
Smoked Salmon Crostini {HERE}
Honey Roasted Carrots & Beets {HERE}
Creamy Red Skinned Mashed Potatoes {HERE}
Roasted Green Beans with parmesan {HERE}
Blackberry Lavender Lemon Ice Box Cakes {HERE}
Bailey’s Chocolate Cake {HERE}
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cakes {HERE}

Thank you so much for joining me today, friends! I hope you feel like you’ve learned how to cook a ham with the bone in and that you will come back again. You can find full, printable instructions for how to cook a ham with the bone in below. Happy eating.