Buying Christmas Ham in Milwaukee: Your Ultimate Guide

Finding the perfect Christmas ham in the Milwaukee area has never been easier, with options ranging from heritage-breed farm hams to classic spiral-cuts and traditional Polish szynka. Whether you're hosting a North Shore family gathering in Whitefish Bay or a South Side celebration, this comprehensive guide covers every butcher, farm, grocery store, and specialty shop you need to know. Most importantly: order early—the best hams sell out by mid-December, and many specialty providers are already showing limited availability for 2025.

Milwaukee's Christmas ham scene reflects our region's rich heritage, from German-style smokehouses operating since the 1880s to Polish delis carrying on century-old traditions. This guide organizes your options by category so you can quickly find what fits your family's needs, budget, and traditions.

Specialty butchers offer the best quality and personal service

Milwaukee's independent butcher shops represent your best bet for high-quality, locally-smoked hams with the kind of personal service that big-box stores can't match. These shops often smoke their own hams in-house and can answer specific questions about sourcing, preparation, and serving sizes.

Ray's Butcher Shoppe in Greenfield (4640 W. Loomis Road) stands out as a holiday favorite, featured on FOX6 Milwaukee as a one-stop holiday shop. This family-owned operation has been smoking their own hams since 1977, offering spiral-cut, boneless, and bone-in varieties—all non-injected and US-sourced. Their cherrywood smoked ham draws particular praise. Call (414) 423-1322 to reserve, and note their popular Sunday hot ham and roll specials.

Bunzel's Meat Market (9015 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee) has earned the title of Milwaukee's #1 meat market across four generations and 80+ years. They sell hundreds of pounds of ham during the holiday season and offer complete Christmas Dinner packages through their website at bunzels.com. The Saturday hot ham special is legendary among locals.

Usinger's Famous Sausage (1030 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) is a Milwaukee institution dating to 1880. Their German-style Black Forest ham and pit ham come highly recommended for Christmas dinner. Important note for 2025: Usinger's deli shipping for Christmas has already closed—only gift boxes remain available. For future years, order by early December.

For North Shore families, Foxtown Heritage Meats in Mequon (11120 N. Weston Dr.) offers premium options including grass-fed meats, Niman Ranch Pork, and artisanal charcuterie. Their trained butchers can guide you to the perfect ham selection.

Other notable butchers include Kettle Range Meat Co. (Milwaukee and Elm Grove locations) with heritage breed pork and local delivery within 20 miles, Buddy's Meat Market in Bay View offering Badger whole and half hams, and South Milwaukee Sausage and Meats serving hot Badger ham with Wild Flour Bakery rolls on Sundays at $7.99/lb.

Wisconsin farms deliver heritage pork with exceptional flavor

Farm-direct hams offer what mass-produced options simply cannot: heritage breeds raised humanely on pasture with no antibiotics or hormones. These hams cost more—typically $10-19 per pound—but deliver noticeably superior flavor and support Wisconsin's family farms.

Kettle Range Meat Co. serves as Milwaukee's premier farm-to-table connection, sourcing from trusted Wisconsin producers and offering holiday orders now through their website. Their Milwaukee location (5501 W. State St.) and Elm Grove shop both provide in-store pickup and delivery within 20 miles.

Together Farms in Mondovi, WI raises heritage breed pigs in wooded pastures—only about 1% of pigs are raised this way. Their naturally smoked ham roasts run $12.95-14.25/lb for larger pieces (halves and quarters), with whole hams averaging 8 lbs. Everything ships fully cooked with no nitrates. Order at togetherfarms.com or call (715) 210-4740.

Creamery Creek Farms near La Crosse specializes in heritage Duroc pork, known for exceptional marbling. Their bone-in smoked ham at $10/lb (sizes from 3-12 lbs) offers excellent value for farm-quality pork. They ship Tuesdays year-round, but December 22 orders require expedited shipping.

North Pasture Farms from Bruce, WI operates a unique neighborhood delivery model with 17 pickup locations across the Milwaukee metro, including stops in Mequon, Fox Point, Shorewood, Greenfield, and Brookfield. Their pastured pork comes from a small family operation using regenerative practices.

For direct farm store visits, Lutz Family Farms (Amherst Junction) offers free delivery to the Good Hope Park and Ride in Milwaukee, while Willow Creek Farms (Prairie du Sac) raises purebred Berkshire hogs and processes everything in their own USDA-inspected facility with custom wood-smoking.

Grocery stores balance convenience with quality

For families who need reliable quality without the advance planning specialty shops require, Milwaukee's grocery stores offer solid options—especially those carrying Wisconsin-made brands like Nueske's.

Sendik's Food Markets (17 locations) represents the premium grocery option for Milwaukee families. This family-owned Wisconsin chain since 1926 carries Nueske's Applewood Smoked Ham and offers holiday meal packages through order.sendiks.com. Their meat department quality consistently earns praise, and they require just 24-hour advance notice for pre-orders.

Costco (Grafton location serves Milwaukee) delivers unbeatable value: their Kirkland Signature Spiral Sliced Ham runs just $2.29-$2.49/lb—feeding 14-16 people for around $20-30 total. Consumer Reports named it a "popular pick" in 2024 taste testing. Note that Costco closes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Trader Joe's offers a cult-favorite option: their Crate Free Spiral Sliced Uncured Ham at $4.99-$5.99/lb. Reddit reviews consistently praise it as "much better than HoneyBaked at half the price." The hams are antibiotic-free, nitrate-free, and include a glaze packet.

Whole Foods (Milwaukee and Wauwatosa) provides the highest animal welfare standards with 5-Step certified options from Wellshire and Niman Ranch, running approximately $5.58/lb for premium spiral-sliced ham. Their holiday meal packages serve 8-12 people.

Fresh Thyme (Brookfield, Greenfield, Milwaukee) offers holiday meal kits including Kentucky Legend sliced ham with sides serving 6-8 guests. Reserve by December 22 for pickup through the 22nd.

Polish and European delis honor Milwaukee's heritage

Milwaukee's Polish community maintains strong traditions, and several delis offer authentic European-style hams and holiday meats that you won't find anywhere else.

M&P Polish Deli (1215 W. Lincoln Ave.) is a 32-year South Side institution near the Basilica of St. Josaphat. They carry Szynka Staropolska (Old Polish ham), multiple kielbasa varieties, and authentic imported products. The deli case spans an entire wall, and customers often speak Polish. Call (414) 643-7733 to reserve holiday items.

Wioletta's Polish Market (3955 S. Howell Ave.) opened in 2022 under owners Adam and Wioletta Bartoszek, both Polish immigrants. This women-owned, veteran-owned market offers a full deli counter, fresh-baked breads (always warm), and homemade pierogi. Their new restaurant, Wioletta's Polish Kitchen, opened in Oak Creek in October 2025.

Old World Deli in Greendale (7630 W. Grange Ave.) is beloved for their Sunday hot ham and rolls—arrive early as it sells out. Family-owned since 2003, they offer cherry wood smoked Polish sausage, fresh cheeses delivered Fridays, and an authentic European atmosphere. Reviewers note the ham is "more pricey per pound" but exceptional quality.

For German-style preparations, Usinger's (mentioned above) has maintained original family recipes since 1880, while Bunzel's carries over 50 varieties of fresh sausage including Polish sausage alongside their holiday hams.

HoneyBaked Ham and specialty shops offer familiar favorites

For families who want the convenience of a prepared, glazed ham without any guesswork, specialty shops like HoneyBaked deliver consistent results.

HoneyBaked Ham Milwaukee (817 N. Mayfair Rd.) offers their signature bone-in half hams, whole boneless hams, and quarter hams, typically priced at $9-14 per pound ($50-90+ total). Complete holiday meals with ham, turkey, and sides run $174-185. Christmas Eve hours are 7 AM - 4:30 PM, with "Gold Pickup Days" typically December 21-22.

Order 7-10 days in advance for holidays, or at minimum 48 hours for standard orders. Call (414) 258-1145 or visit honeybaked.com. DoorDash and UberEats delivery available.

Badger Ham (3521 W. Lincoln Ave.) has been a Milwaukee original since 1939—over 80 years of family experience. Their baked ham, premium cut baked ham, and smoked honey ham are available at numerous Milwaukee-area delis and bakeries. Use their website's "Find Hot Ham" locator to find retail locations near you. Badger Ham partners with Hunger Task Force and donates 100% of condiment proceeds to charity.

Online ordering brings Wisconsin's best to your door

Mail-order ham has improved dramatically, with several excellent options delivering to Milwaukee—though you'll need to order well in advance and expect to pay premium prices plus shipping.

Nueske's Applewood Smoked Meats (Wittenberg, WI) is Wisconsin's most famous ham producer, smoking meats over glowing applewood embers for up to 24 hours using techniques unchanged since 1933. Their Old Fashioned Boneless Ham runs $51.99-84.99, while spiral sliced bone-in hams with honey glaze cost $84.99-119.99. Warning: Several varieties are already sold out for 2025. Order at nueskes.com or call 1-800-392-2266. You can also find Nueske's locally at Sendik's and Outpost Natural Foods Co-op.

Snake River Farms offers premium Kurobuta (Berkshire) ham—often called "the Kobe beef of pork"—with bone-in half hams starting at $99 and whole bone-in hams from $175. Use code LASTCHANCE for free shipping on orders over $299 with guaranteed Christmas delivery. Most items show out of stock as of mid-December.

Omaha Steaks provides reliable quality at competitive prices, with their 8 lb spiral sliced ham at $79.99 (serves 12). Their complete holiday ham dinners include sides and desserts. Everything ships flash-frozen with dry ice.

D'Artagnan specializes in uncured Berkshire ham from humanely-raised pigs, naturally smoked with real applewood. Spiral cut half bone-in hams run approximately $9.99/lb for 8-10 lb pieces. Recommend delivery Friday or Saturday before Christmas.

Holiday Ham Company (Kansas City) was named "Best Mail Order Ham" by multiple publications and offers 35% less sodium than competitors. Their 7.5-8 lb hams run $89-100. Order by December 19, 2025 for Christmas delivery.

Your Christmas ham ordering timeline

Planning ahead ensures you get exactly the ham you want. Here's what to do and when:

• Now through December 18: Call specialty butchers and Polish delis to reserve your ham. Check Nueske's and farm websites for availability—many items already sold out.

• December 19: Last day to order from Holiday Ham Company for Christmas delivery.

• December 20: Final recommended date for most specialty/large ham orders; call to confirm availability.

• December 21-22: HoneyBaked Ham "Gold Pickup Days" with special promotions; pick up pre-orders from butchers.

• December 22: Fresh Thyme reservation deadline; Creamery Creek last shipping day (expedited only).

• December 23-24: Last-minute grocery store runs—Metro Market and Pick 'n Save open until 5 PM Christmas Eve; Festival Foods open 6 AM-10 PM.

• December 25: All stores closed.

Questions to ask when ordering your ham

When you call to reserve, gather this essential information:

• Size guidance: Plan for ½ to ¾ pound of bone-in ham per person, or ⅓ pound boneless. A 10 lb bone-in ham serves approximately 15-20 people.

• Fully cooked or fresh? Most holiday hams come fully cooked, needing only reheating to 140°F. Fresh (uncooked) hams require longer preparation—confirm what you're getting.

• Bone-in or boneless? Bone-in hams often have superior flavor and make better ham stock, but boneless carves more easily.

• Glaze included? Many hams include glaze packets; ask if you prefer to apply your own.

• Thaw time? Frozen mail-order hams need 2-3 days to thaw in the refrigerator.

• Pickup window? Confirm exact pickup times, especially for Christmas Eve, when hours are limited.

Milwaukee's Christmas ham options reflect our community's rich food traditions—from German smokehouses to Polish delis to farm-fresh heritage pork. Whatever your budget or preferences, there's a perfect ham waiting for your holiday table. The key is simply to order early and order local whenever possible.