9 Ham Hock Recipes Full of Southern Flavor

Thrifty Southern cooks know the importance of minimizing waste. Using chicken bones for homemade stock, herb stems for added zest, and ham hocks for incredible savory flavor. Ham hocks, also called pork knuckles, are actually a joint that connects a pig's foot to its leg. You can find smoked ham hocks at the meat department in your grocery store. They add depth to any soup, stew, or side dish. These ham hock recipes are big on flavor but low on effort. Many of our ham hock recipes come together low and slow on the stovetop or in the slow cooker, so each element of the recipe soaks up the smoky ham hock flavor. No Southerner can argue: Collard greens and ham hocks are a match made in comfort food heaven, and we've got several recipes to prove it. Smoked ham hocks are the secret to incredible soups like our Creamy Potato-and-Ham Hock Slow-Cooker Soup and Capitol Hill Bean Soup. Plus, did you know ham hocks are part of the reason why Southern classics like Red Beans and Rice and Field Peas taste so amazing? Trust us: If you're looking for old-fashioned Southern flavor, it's time to try one of these timeless ham hock recipes.