Farmhouse Ham Balls Delight (Printer-Friendly Version)
Juicy ham and pork balls baked with a sweet brown sugar glaze for a tasty, home-style meal.
# Ingredients Needed:
→ Meat and Dairy
01 -
2 pounds ground ham
02 -
1/2 pound ground pork
03 -
2 large eggs
04 -
1 cup whole milk
→ Vegetables
05 -
1 medium onion, finely minced
→ Dry Goods
06 -
1 cup crushed saltine crackers
07 -
1 teaspoon salt
08 -
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Glaze
09 -
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
10 -
1 tablespoon dry mustard
11 -
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
12 -
1/2 cup water
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
02 -
In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mix ground ham, ground pork, lightly beaten eggs, finely minced onion, milk, crushed saltine crackers, salt, and pepper by hand until fully incorporated.
03 -
Shape the mixture into balls measuring approximately 2 to 4 tablespoons each, rolling and pressing firmly to ensure they hold together. Place them evenly spaced in the prepared baking dish.
04 -
Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to set their shape.
05 -
While the meatballs bake, combine brown sugar, dry mustard, apple cider vinegar, and water in a medium saucepan. Heat and stir until the glaze comes to a boil.
06 -
Remove the partially baked meatballs from the oven, baste them generously with the hot glaze, then return the dish to the oven and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
07 -
Allow the ham balls to rest for about 5 minutes before serving to enhance flavor and juiciness.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
Using a cookie scoop ensures evenly sized meatballs which aids in uniform cooking.
02 -
Leftover ham balls can be refrigerated up to 5 days or frozen up to 3 months with extra glaze for moisture retention.
03 -
Reheating glazed ham balls with crushed pineapple adds a pleasant flavor variation.