Ham Balls
📜 Collection: Dwayne Collection | ✍️ Attribution: Sharon | 📂 Category: Entrees A classic midwestern comfort food, these sweet and savory ham balls are made with a blend of ground ham, pork, and beef, then baked in a rich brown sugar tomato glaze.
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Inactive / Chill Time | Yield / Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mins | 1 hr | None | 16 servings |
🔪 Key Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Shallow baking dish
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Foil
Ingredients
Ham Balls
| Measurements | Ingredients | Prep / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 1/2 lbs. | Ground Ham | ground twice with pork and beef if possible |
| 2 lbs. | Ground Pork | lean, ground twice with ham and beef if possible |
| 1 lb. | Ground Beef | lean, ground twice with ham and pork if possible |
| 3 | Eggs | beaten |
| 3 cups | Graham Cracker Crumbs | None |
| 2 cups | Milk | None |
Sauce
| Measurements | Ingredients | Prep / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 cups | Tomato Sauce | None |
| 3/4 cup | Vinegar | None |
| 2 1/2 cups | Brown Sugar | None |
| 2 tsp. | Dry Mustard | None |
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ham Balls
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the 2 1/2 lbs. ground ham, 2 lbs. ground pork, 1 lb. ground beef, 3 eggs, 3 cups graham cracker crumbs, and 2 cups milk. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Shape the mixture into golf-ball-sized portions and place them in a shallow baking dish.
Step 2: Sauce and Bake
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the 2 cups tomato sauce, 3/4 cup vinegar, 2 1/2 cups brown sugar, and 2 tsp. dry mustard until smooth.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the ham balls in the baking dish.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for the first part of cooking. Uncover for the remaining time, baking for a total of 1 hour until the ham balls are cooked through, caramelized on top, and the sauce is bubbling.
💡 Make-Ahead & Storage: The ham balls can be shaped and placed in the baking dish a day ahead; cover and refrigerate, then add the sauce just before baking. Leftovers freeze beautifully in the sauce.
Original Recipe Scan
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