History

Tennessee country ham follows a 200-year-old tradition: pork hind legs are salt-cured for several weeks, smoked, then aged six to 18 months. The result is a dry, salty ham closer to Italian prosciutto than to wet-cured American ham. Loveless Cafe's country-ham program has run since 1951 in Nashville. Edwards in Surry, Virginia and Newsom's in Princeton, Kentucky are the regional producers Nashville restaurants source from most often.

Common allergens: None typical

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4 as a sideHands-on 15 minTotal 15 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 4 thin slices country ham (aged 6-12 months)
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • Soft biscuits to serve
  • 120ml strong black coffee

Method

  1. Heat oil in a heavy pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Add ham slices and fry 2 minutes per side until browned at the edges.
  3. Remove ham to a plate, tent with foil to keep warm.
  4. Pour the hot coffee into the same pan, scraping the fond. Reduce 1 minute.
  5. Serve ham with the redeye gravy alongside split biscuits.

Tip from the editors. Country ham is intensely salty. Do not season further; serve with neutral biscuits and let the ham speak.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat tennessee country ham

Tennessee country ham in Nashville

Loveless Cafe ★ 4.2

Country breakfast with biscuits$13-22south-nashvilleMon-Thu 08:00-21:00, Fri-Sun 07:00-21:00OpenTable

Loveless Cafe on Highway 100 in Nashville has served scratch biscuits, country ham and redeye gravy since 1951, anchoring the Natchez Trace's tourist circuit.

Order: Country ham with redeye gravy and biscuits

Tip: Lines build by 09:00 weekends; put your name down and shop the on-site Hams & Jams Country Market while you wait.

8400 Hwy 100, Nashville, Tennessee 37221

Husk Nashville ★ 4.6

Modern SouthernChef Brian BaxterA la cartedowntownBook 2 weeks ahead

Sean Brock's Rutledge Hill institution in Nashville cooks ingredient-driven Southern food on a wood hearth, recommended in the 2025 Michelin Guide American South.

Order: Cornbread skillet, then whatever the menu lists from the wood hearth.

Tip: Lunch is quieter with the same kitchen. Book the porch seats in spring; they overlook downtown.

37 Rutledge Street, Nashville, TN 37210 Book →

Monell's Dining and Catering ★ 4.4

Meat-and-three$$germantown

Monell's family-style Southern dining in Germantown, Nashville has run since 1995, seating strangers at communal tables in a Victorian house north of the Capitol.

Signature: Family-style Southern lunch, Skillet fried chicken

Order: The full family-style spread: fried chicken, country ham, mac and cheese, greens.

Tip: Reservations available; tables seat ten. Sunday brunch is the marquee meal, books a week ahead.

1235 6th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208 Book →

More cities are in research. Want tennessee country ham covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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