Description

This Ham Balls Recipe is a deliciously sweet, savory, and slightly tangy dish that’s perfect for family gatherings, holiday meals, or just a cozy dinner at home. Made with ground ham, and a unique graham cracker binder, these ham balls are baked to perfection in a rich, caramelized glaze. Whether served with mashed potatoes, rice, or dinner rolls, this dish is guaranteed to be a hit!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Ham Balls:

2 cups ground ham (leftover ham works great!)

1 pound ground chicken

1 cup crushed graham crackers

½ cup milk

1 egg

¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the Sweet & Tangy Glaze:

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup ketchup

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

Instructions

Preheat & Prep – Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Mix the Ham Ball Mixture – In a large bowl, combine the ground ham, ground chicken, crushed graham crackers, milk, egg, and black pepper. Mix everything together until well incorporated.
Form the Ham Balls – Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized portions and place them in the prepared baking dish, making sure they are not too close together.
Make the Glaze – In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and mustard until smooth.
Pour and Bake – Pour the glaze evenly over the ham balls. Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes, basting with the glaze once or twice during baking.
Serve and Enjoy – Let the ham balls rest for a few minutes before serving. Spoon extra sauce over the top and enjoy with your favorite sides.

Notes

If you don’t have graham crackers, you can substitute crushed Ritz crackers, saltines, or panko breadcrumbs with a teaspoon of brown sugar for a similar flavor.
These ham balls freeze beautifully! Freeze before or after baking and reheat when ready to serve.
If the mixture feels too dry, add a little extra milk; if too wet, add a few more cracker crumbs.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 3 ham balls
Calories: 320
Sugar: 18g
Sodium: 680mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 18g
Cholesterol: 65mg

Keywords: ham balls recipe, baked ham balls, sweet and savory ham balls, holiday ham balls, ground ham recipe