Baked Ham Shank

by KetoFocus.com

This baked ham shank recipe uses just one surprising ingredient—apple cider vinegar—to create the most tender, tangy, crave-worthy ham your family will beg for every holiday. Simple yet bold, it transforms an ordinary ham into a yearly tradition.

If you’re looking for the easiest, most flavorful ham recipe to round out your Easter menu, this baked ham shank is it! It pairs perfectly with creamy mac and cheese and a slice of carrot cake to finish things off. The best part? It only takes one ingredient—apple cider vinegar. No rubs, glazes, or extra steps. Just one bottle poured over the ham, and you’re done. It’s the kind of effortless main dish that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen.

Juicy, tender slices of ham on a bed of greens next to apple and a roasted ham.

This is the simplest ham recipe you’ll ever make. You place the ham shank in a roasting pan, pour an entire bottle of apple cider vinegar over it, cover it tightly, and let it bake low and slow. As it cooks, the vinegar creates steam, soaking into the meat and delivering a deep, tangy flavor that balances the richness of the ham beautifully. The result is juicy, fall-apart tender meat with a subtle zing that keeps everyone going back for seconds.

I’ve made this ham for countless gatherings, and without fail, someone always asks for the recipe. It’s become a yearly tradition in my family—so much so that even my husband, who usually doesn’t care for ham, looks forward to it every year. There’s just something about that apple cider vinegar magic that turns a basic ham into something crave-worthy.

No measuring, no mixing, no stress. This is the kind of recipe you can throw together while juggling a dozen other dishes or wrangling a house full of guests. And despite how easy it is, the flavor is anything but boring. It’s proof that sometimes the simplest recipes really are the best.

Baked Ham Recipe Video

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Baked Ham Shank Ingredients

  • 10 lb half ham shank (smoked & cured)
  • 16 oz apple cider vinegar
  • aluminum foil

Baked Ham Shank Directions

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Apple vinegar ham on a platter with ham slices in front.

What type of ham should I buy?

When you head to the store to buy ham, the options can be a little overwhelming—spiral cut, ham shank, butt portion, pork shoulder, pork butt, smoked, glazed, cured—it’s a lot to sort through.

For this recipe, you’ll want to look for either a ham shank or a butt portion—both are cuts from the back leg of the pig. The shank is from the lower part of the leg and is usually leaner with a bit more bone, while the butt portion comes from the upper leg and tends to be meatier and a little juicier.

Then there’s what my mom always used: a picnic ham, also called a picnic shoulder. Despite the name, it’s not technically a true ham—it’s from the pig’s shoulder, not the hind leg—but it’s often sold cured and smoked like ham and is usually more affordable. Picnic hams and shoulders are higher in fat, which can make them especially flavorful and tender.

The most important thing to look for, no matter which cut you choose, is that it’s cured and smoked. That’s what gives ham its familiar salty-sweet flavor.

Funny backstory for you: The first time I made this recipe on my own, I didn’t know that. I couldn’t find a picnic ham at my store, so I grabbed a plain pork shoulder—not realizing it was raw and unseasoned. The result was more like a giant, flavorless pork chop, and my husband still jokes about that Easter dinner.

So take it from me: whether you use a ham shank, a butt portion, or a picnic shoulder, just make sure it’s labeled cured and smoked. These cuts are already seasoned and can stand on their own, but when you add just one ingredient—apple cider vinegar—you take it to another level with tangy, bold flavor your whole family will remember.

Storage information

Storage

Wrap leftover ham tightly in a layer of plastic wrap followed by foil and refrigerate for up to one week.

Freezing

For longer storage, double-wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and freezer paper or place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2–3 months.

Reheating

To reheat, preheat your oven to 325°F. Arrange sliced ham in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet, then loosely cover with another sheet of foil to retain moisture. Warm for 8–10 minutes, or until heated through.

Baked Ham Shank: FAQS

How do you know when ham is done cooking?

You’ll know the ham is done when it’s heated all the way through and incredibly tender. For a fully cooked ham shank, you’re mostly just warming it up and infusing it with flavor, so you're aiming for an internal temperature of about 140°F.

What do I do with the leftover cooking liquid?

Dump it out.

Will the ham taste too vinegary?

Nope! Don't worry, this ham will not taste like vinegar. It will have the slightest tang that offsets the sweet, salty flavor from the smoked, cured ham.

Nutritional information & Macros

Nutrition Information

Baked Ham Shank

Servings: 24

Amount Per Serving
Calories 300
Fat 22g
Protein 22g
Total Carbs 4g
Net Carbs 4g

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