A beautifully lacquered baked ham serves as the centerpiece for many an Easter or Christmas table and with so many tasty options available online, holiday cooking can be so much easier. Lower the stress of preparing the holiday feast by having the main event, the ham, delivered right to your door. Just heat and serve. And don't worry about it being too big, because in the South, we know how to repurpose leftovers—think stuffed ham and cheese casserole, ham and potato soup, or a big ole’ pot of collard greens.

Choosing the best baked ham online can be challenging—there are glazed and non-glazed options, spiral-cut and whole, boneless and bone-in, and large or small hams. Whether you serve dinner for two or plan a family gathering for the holidays, one will be the perfect pick for you. 

When shopping for a baked ham, Michael Saperstein, co-owner of Sunshine Provisions in South Florida says to look for uncured, heritage, or natural on the label. He adds, “Glazed or non-glazed is a personal preference. The better the ham though, the less glaze needed so you can taste the quality of the pork and smoke. A boneless ham is always easier to slice.”

But before you shop, the first thing to consider if exactly how much ham you'll need:

　　 What Size Ham Do You Need?

The answer lies in how big a gathering you are cooking for as well as what else is on the table. According to Saperstein, “If you plan on having other proteins in your meal, I suggest 8-10 ounces of bone-in ham per person. If ham is the only protein at the meal, 12-16 ounces per person should suffice.” For boneless ham, he suggests 1/3 pound per person. To make it easier on you, here are the suggested amounts based on the size of your gathering:

Bone-In Ham

6 people: 4.5-6 pounds

12 people: 9-12 pounds

20 people: 15-20 pounds

Boneless Ham

6 people: 2-3 pounds

12 people: 4-6 pounds

20 people: 7-10 pounds

To come up with our list of the best baked hams online, we spent hours researching products and considered factors like bone-in or boneless, glazed or not, size, pre-sliced or not, and more. In addition to Saperstein, we received expert insight on what to look for in a baked ham from Gus Martin, executive chef at Tujague’s in New Orleans.

Our Top Picks Best Overall Ham: Logan Farms Honey Glazed Ham at Goldbelly.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Smoked Ham: The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint Pit Smoked BBQ Ham at Goldbelly.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Bone-In Ham: Snake River Farms Kurobuta Bone-In Ham at Snakeriverfarms.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Boneless Ham: New Braunfels Smokehouse Boneless Honey Cured Ham at Nbsmokehouse.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Spiral-Cut Ham: Bear Creek Smokehouse Spiral Sliced Ham at Bearcreeksmokehouse.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Spicy Ham: Cajun Ed's Specialty Meats Cajun Honey Glazed Ham at Goldbelly.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Ham for Small Gatherings: Omaha Steaks Duroc Boneless Country Ham at Omahasteaks.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Ham Variety Pack: Edward’s Virginia Smokehouse Ham Tasting Collection at Edwardsvaham.com (See Price) Jump to Review

　　 Best Overall Ham

Logan Farms Honey Glazed Ham

View On Goldbelly.com View On Loganfarms.com What’s Great About It Pre-sliced and boneless for easy serving

Hickory smoked and dry cured

Includes honey glaze

Feeds 10-14 people

What Could Be Better No bone-in or whole-ham option

This Jackson, Mississippi, farm has been putting out quality meats since 1984. The fully cooked, boneless and spiral-sliced ham is hickory smoked and lacquered with its thick honey and spice glaze. Logan Farms dry cures them with a low-salt recipe that means there’s no need to reheat the ham before serving.

Though the glaze and method of curing make this a tasty option, we do wish it came in a bone-in or whole-ham option. When shipped to your door, a pouch of their spiced honey glaze is included for you to apply before it graces the table. The gourmet ham serves 10-14 people and is shipped frozen with ice packs to ensure freshness.

Size: 8 pounds | Pre-Sliced: Yes | Glaze: Honey and spice

　　 Best Smoked Ham

The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint Pit Smoked BBQ Ham

View On Goldbelly.com What’s Great About It 48-hour brine ensures maximum flavor

Includes housemade sticky honey ham glaze

Fully smoked and frozen just before shipping

Retains its bone for moistness

What Could Be Better Only comes in one size

Not pre-sliced

Thankfully this legendary Ocean Springs, Mississippi, barbecue and blues joint featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives now ships nationwide on Goldbelly, so you don't have to make the sojourn to Mississippi (though you should).

This 5- to 6-pound, pit-smoked bone-in ham marinates for 48 hours in dark brown sugar, salt, allspice, cloves, celery, and bay leaves before being smoked all night over pecan wood and lavished with a sticky honey glaze.

Though the size is intended to feed 8-12 people, we wish it came in other sizes so we could have it for large family gatherings or intimate holiday dinners. 

Size: 5-6 pounds | Pre-Sliced: No | Glaze: Honey

　　 Best Bone-In Ham

Snake River Farms Kurobuta Bone-In Ham

View On Snakeriverfarms.com What’s Great About It Large bone-in ham

Kurobuta pork is highly marbled for delicious flavor

Cured and smoked over real hardwood

Also comes in boneless and petite versions

What Could Be Better No glaze included

A lot of buzz surrounds Kurobuta hams. The name comes from the Japanese term for “black hog” and refers to heritage breed animals of the Berkshire variety. The pork is highly marbled for flavor and has a rich dark color that makes a beautiful presentation when served.

This meaty ham weighs in at approximately 21 pounds for the large size, but part of that is the bone that runs through it. Don’t worry—once you carve it, that bone makes delicious split pea soup. There is no glaze, perfect for purists like Martin, but it is cured and smoked over real hardwood.

We understand the care and time that goes into raising these animals, but we do wish the ham was a little more economical. And if you don't need to serve 25-30 people or want to deal with carving around a bone, this ham comes in boneless and half options.

Sizes: Ranges from 6-21 pounds | Pre-Sliced: No | Glaze: Not included

　　 Best Boneless Ham

New Braunfels Smokehouse Boneless Honey Cured Ham

View On Nbsmokehouse.com What’s Great About It Cured with local honey

Boneless for easy carving

Available in three different sizes

What Could Be Better Shipping is not included in price

No glaze included

For over 78 years, this Texas smokehouse has been delivering delicious smoked meats, and this boneless, honey-cured ham is no exception. It weighs in at 4 to 5 pounds and can feed approximately 10 people. But if this is too much or not enough, they also offer this ham in a 2- to 2.5-pound version and a more crowd-friendly 7 to 9 pounds.

The fully cooked ham has a secret weapon as well—it’s cured with local honey. It is not pre-sliced, but that also means it’s probably juicier than its spiral counterparts. And because it comes unglazed, you can put your spin on it like a maple-bourbon glaze. Shipping is done through the smokehouse and depends on the cost of the order.

Sizes: 2-2.5 pounds, 4-5 pounds, or 7-9 pounds | Pre-Sliced: No | Glaze: Honey-cured, but no glaze

　　 Best Spiral-Cut Ham

Bear Creek Smokehouse Spiral Sliced Ham

View On Bearcreeksmokehouse.com What’s Great About It Pre-sliced

Retains its bone for moistness and flavor

Available in four different sizes

What Could Be Better Shipping is not included in price

No glaze included

The convenience of a spiral-cut ham makes it an attractive option when faced with daunting holiday dinner prep. And this 6- to 7-pound beauty comes from a smokehouse that knows what they are doing—they’ve been operating in Marshall, Texas, for 80 years. Times have changed since the days of hanging hams with yucca leaves to cure. Though this ham is pre-sliced, it is not glazed. No worries though, we have all the details on glazing and cooking it once it arrives right here.

If you are planning a large Sunday feast for Easter this ham comes in three other sizes: 8-9 pounds, 12-14 pounds, and 14-16 pounds. Unfortunately, shipping is not included in the price.

Sizes: 6-7 pounds, 8-9 pounds, 12-14 pounds, or 14-16 pounds | Pre-Sliced: Yes | Glaze: Not included

　　 Best Spicy Ham

Cajun Ed's Specialty Meats Cajun Honey Glazed Ham

View On Goldbelly.com View On Hebertsmeats.com What’s Great About It Mix of sweet and spicy flavors

Includes an extra packet of honey glaze with authentic Cajun spices

Pre-sliced

What Could Be Better Only one size option

Known for their Cajun specialties, this Tulsa-based specialty meat shop lands the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Authentic Cajun spices like paprika and cayenne pepper join honey in their Cajun honey-glazed ham. It's spiral cut and between 5-7 pounds, plenty to feed up to 10 people, though we do wish there was a whole-ham option for larger gatherings.

Hams are pre-cooked and shipped frozen with dry ice and a packet of their delicious glaze is included. The ham can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, but if you are readying for a holiday feast, a quick trip to the oven yields a golden ham dripping in glaze: the perfect centerpiece for your Easter or Christmas table. And bonus, Goldbelly offers free shipping to all states except Alaska and Hawaii.

Size: 5-7 pounds | Pre-Sliced: Yes | Glaze: Honey and Cajun spice

　　 Best Ham for Small Gatherings

Omaha Steaks Duroc Boneless Country Ham

View On Omahasteaks.com What’s Great About It Available in a 2.5-pound version for gatherings of five or fewer

Tender and easy to cut

Boneless

What Could Be Better Not much opportunity for leftovers

Not pre-sliced

Sometimes you only need a petite ham for smaller gatherings. This one from Omaha Steaks fits the bill, coming in at 2.5 pounds with the option of ordering a two-pack or a 5 pounder if your guest list grows.

We should probably get out of the way that this is not the country ham like Southerners know. It is not a true dry-cured ham, but it is cured with a blend of salt and sugar and then slow smoked over hickory wood for eight hours. Duroc ham has a deep red color and lots of marbling that results in tender, flavorful meat.

The boneless, fully cooked ham is shipped frozen so all you have to do is thaw the ham in the refrigerator 24 hours before heating it in the oven at 275°F, then slice and serve. The good news is shipping is free, but the bad news is you need to spend $169 first, and at this bargain price, you won't meet that threshold.

Size: 2.5 or 5 pounds | Pre-Sliced: No | Glaze: Not included

　　 Best Ham Variety Pack

Edward’s Virginia Smokehouse Ham Tasting Collection

View On Edwardsvaham.com What’s Great About It Includes four different varieties of ham to please every palate

Works well on a charcuterie board

Free shipping in the contiguous U.S.

What Could Be Better No glaze included

For those times when you want a sampler platter and not the whole ham, this tasting collection from the Virginia-based smokehouse provides the variety. Your charcuterie board will shine with the portions of fully sliced smoked sweet ham, smoked and aged petite cooked country ham, smoked boneless Wigwam cooked country ham, and sliced Surryano ham. The Surryano ham is aged over 500 days for extra depth of flavor and sliced paper thin.

The collection should be refrigerated upon arrival and used within 28 days, or if transferred to the freezer, within six months. With this robust selection, there should be no problem pleasing any palate.

Size: 3.5-4.5 pounds fully sliced cooked boneless smoked sweet ham, 2-3 pounds cooked and smoked boneless petite country ham, 2-3 pounds cooked and smoked boneless wigwam ham, two 3-ounce packages of sliced Surryano ham | Pre-Sliced: Yes | Glaze: Not included

　　 The Bottom Line

If you are looking for a ham that is big on convenience while still being a showstopper, we recommend the Logan Farms Spiral-Sliced, Honey Glazed Ham because it is pre-sliced and glazed, doesn’t need to be heated, and serves 10-14 people. If you want a bone-in option that doesn’t skimp on flavor, choose The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint Pit Smoked BBQ Ham. It feeds 8-12 people, marinates in a 48-hour brine for moistness and flavor, and ships free.

　　 Tips for Choosing the Baked Ham Online

Size The answer here depends on whether you opt for bone-in or out. Our experts agree approximately  ½ to ¾ pounds per person if it's bone-in ham, and about ⅓ to ½ pound per person if it is boneless. But don't worry if you buy a little larger ham because that means tasty leftover options. 

Pre-Sliced This is the ultimate in convenience when it comes to hams. Just heat the ham, separate the slices, and serve. The danger with these hams is the tendency for them to dry out, but if you bake them cut side down, tented with foil, you will have the best chance at retaining moisture.

Saperstein added, “I love spiral-sliced 1/2 hams because you can stand them up on a cutting board and slice the pieces off as needed.”

Glaze This is a sticky topic. Three of the eight hams on our list have a honey glaze, including our top pick the Logan Farms Spiral-Sliced. The convenience of glazed ham cannot be overstated, but purists like Martin adamantly endorse non-glazed for its smokier, more savory flavor. He added, “It also lends itself nicely to leftover sandwiches. I also like to use the leftovers to incorporate into red beans or lima beans. A glazed or sweet ham wouldn't go well with red beans, but a nice savory, smoky flavor would be the perfect addition to a comforting bowl of red beans and rice.”

Bone-In or Out Once you understand the various cuts of ham, deciding between bone-in or out becomes easier. A bone-in ham will always have the potential to be the more moist option and is touted for having better flavor and texture than the boneless options. Plus you have the secret ingredient to a yummy pot of soup, greens, or black-eyed peas: a leftover ham bone. If you don't mind carving, a bone-in ham is worth the effort.

For Saperstein a bone-in, spiral-cut ham provides a better presentation with the bone helping with flavor and moistness. Martin prefers bone-in ham because they stay moist for longer, “It tends to keep the flavor and nice moisture when you cut into a bone-in ham.” 

If convenience reigns supreme around the holidays, opt for a boneless ham like the New Braunfels Smokehouse Boneless Honey Cured Ham from our list. With this type of ham, the bone is removed and the ham is pressed into an oval shape. This type of ham makes for the easiest carving, especially if they are spiral-sliced.

Cost As Saperstein says, don’t skimp on quality to get a bargain. “A quality ham should be around $7-$10 per pound. Remember with meat, you get what you pay for.” Heritage and specialty breeds typically cost more, but then you also have to figure in size, glazed or not, bone or not, etc. The best advice is to look for a quality producer and know it will be more expensive than the bargain at the grocery store, but worth it.

　　 Why Trust Southern Living

Carrie Honaker is a food and travel writer who loves ham even when it’s not Easter or Christmas. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she has cooked hundreds of hams from brown-sugar rubbed spiral cuts to smoked bone-in beauties—she knows the importance of a quality cut and the right glaze. To compile this list, Carrie spent hours researching what to consider when shopping for baked hams online, including boneless or bone-in, size, glazed or not, and pre-sliced or not. For expert tips on what to look for in baked hams online, she spoke to Michael Saperstein, co-owner of Sunshine Provisions, as well as Gus Martin, executive chef at Tujague’s in New Orleans.