Whenever you plan to serve a big pork dish like a ham for Easter or Christmas dinner, you are faced with a lot of questions. Where should I buy the ham? What kind of ham should I buy? Should it be bone-in or boneless? How much ham should I give each person? It’s likely that your holiday meal has been a little smaller lately, but small get-togethers with family and friends are beginning to return to normal. These questions are just as important when you’re cooking for three people as they were when you were cooking for twenty. It can be stressful to have a lot of family and friends over, and the costs of food, wine, and decorations can add up quickly. We don’t want you to spend more than you have to, so let’s figure out how many pounds of ground or boned ham each guest will need. From Our Shop.
Holidays and gatherings are times for enjoying delicious food with family and friends. For many hosts, a baked ham is a classic centerpiece to feed a hungry crowd. But if you’re planning to serve a 9 pound bone-in ham, how many people can it feed? This handy guide breaks it down.
Ham Servings Estimates
Most experts recommend allowing around 3/4 pound of bone-in ham per person. This accounts for hearty appetites while also leaving some leftovers behind.
Based on a 3/4 pound per serving estimate, a 9 pound baked ham should provide about 12 servings. However this will vary a bit depending on the size of your crowd.
Here’s a breakdown of estimated servings for a 9 pound ham
- 8-10 people – Enough for hearty servings plus a little leftover
- 10-12 people – Smaller servings with limited leftovers
- 15-20 people – Thin slices/shredded ham goes farther for a crowd
For large gatherings, adding ham sandwiches, omelets, or soups into the next day’s menu can help stretch a 9 pound ham even farther.
Serving Tips for Maximizing Ham
Here are some tips to help a 9 pound ham satisfy your hungry guests:
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Offer a selection of sides and appetizers so people fill up on more than just ham alone.
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Use a sharp knife and electric slicer to cut paper-thin slices for serving. This makes the ham seem more abundant.
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Keep the ham platter replenished so it looks bountiful throughout the event.
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Serve ham sandwiches the next day on rolls and biscuits to use every last bit.
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Use the bone and trimmings to make bean soup, split pea soup or ham stock for later use.
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Have back-up deli meat, turkey or roast beef on hand in case you need extra meat.
With some smart serving strategies and stretchy leftover recipes, a 9 pound bone-in ham can be a fabulous feast for gatherings of 12-20+ people. Just be sure to capture those happy memories and smiles in lots of photos!
How much ham per person?
If you want a bone-in ham (which is heavier), plan on about half a pound per person. If you want a boneless ham, plan on about a third of a pound per person. At the end of the day, some people will eat less than planned and some will eat more than planned. It will even out. Take it easy if you’re making a lot of side dishes. For example, if you texted your roommates, “ham party at 3 p.m.,” don’t make too many. m. on Sunday,” consider buying more. And add an extra pound or two if you know you’ll want leftovers for ham sandwiches, breakfast omelets and quiches, or small ham croquettes.
For an even easier shopping trip, write down these amounts for both a bone-in and a boneless ham:
Bone-In Ham
- 4 people: 2-3 pound bone-in ham
- 6 people: 3-4 pound bone-in ham
- 8 people: 4-5 pound bone-in ham
- 10 people: 5-6 pound bone-in ham
- 12 people: 6-7 pound bone-in ham
Boneless Ham
- 4 people: 1.5-2 pound boneless ham
- 6 people: 2-3 pound boneless ham
- 8 people: 2.75-3.5 pound boneless ham
- 10 people: 3-4 pound boneless ham
- 12 people: 4-5 pound boneless ham
You should go to the store once you know how many people you want to serve and how much ham you want. You can choose a fresh ham, which has pale pink flesh, a cured ham, which has pinker flesh and may be ready to eat or need some cooking (they’ll be marked), or a smoked and cured ham, which is the same as a cured ham but has a smokey flavor added to it. You can buy hams whole, cut in half, or spiral-cut, which means they are already sliced. You can also get hams with or without bones. Smoked ham with bones tends to have the most flavor. You can also make your own brown sugar and bourbon or apricot glaze to go with the ham.
Okay, so how the heck do I cook ham?
If you want to start from scratch, try the glazed ham recipe from Your Best Baked Ham contest winner Kayb. If you want to start from a lower level, try Food Editor Emma Laperruque’s apricot and Dijon-glazed spiral ham (aka precooked!) recipe.
To be honest, I like sliced ham on a plate, but it won’t make me leave the appetizers. A ham sandwich bar, on the other hand, absolutely will. For one of the best sandwiches since the PB&J, put out potato buns, pickles, mayo, Swiss cheese, apricot or strawberry jam (yes, jam on ham! go for it!), and a pile of sliced ham.
How long does it take to cook a 10 pound ham?
FAQ
How many people will a 9 lb Honey Baked Ham feed?
How many servings in a 9 lb spiral ham?
Is a 10 lb ham enough for 16 people?
How big of a ham do I need for 12 adults?
How much ham does each person eat?
When picking a ham, plan for about 1/2 pound per person for a bone-in ham and about 1/3 pound for a boneless ham. Keep in mind that some people may eat more or less, but this should even out.
How many people can a 10 pound Ham feed?
A 10-pound ham can be ideal for many family get-togethers and holiday celebrations. Depending on the size of your gathering, it can feed up to approximately 20 people. It is estimated that each person will consume about 1/2 pound of meat, so 10 pounds should provide plenty for everyone.
How much bone-in Ham is needed for 6 people?
For 6 adults, you will want to ensure that each person receives about ½ pound of bone-in ham. Therefore, you will need a bone-in ham that is about 3-4 pounds if it is already cooked. If the ham is raw with a bone, buy a ham that is 4-5 pounds in size.
How much Ham should a 12 pound group eat?
Remember that an adult typically eats around one pound of ham, so a 12-pound ham should feed the group adequately. If you have other main dishes, appetizers, or sides, you may want to consider a larger ham; estimate two to three pounds per person if these are part of the meal.