Farmhouse Ham Balls Delight (Printer-Friendly)
Smoky ground ham and pork baked in a sweet and tangy brown sugar glaze for a savory treat.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meat
01 -
2 pounds ground ham
02 -
1/2 pound ground pork
→ Binding Agents
03 -
2 large eggs
→ Vegetables
04 -
1 medium onion, finely minced
→ Dairy
05 -
1 cup whole milk
→ Pantry
06 -
1 cup crushed saltine cracker crumbs
07 -
1 teaspoon salt
08 -
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Glaze
09 -
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
10 -
1 tablespoon dry mustard
11 -
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
12 -
1/2 cup water
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 -
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground ham, ground pork, lightly beaten eggs, minced onion, milk, crushed cracker crumbs, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly by hand until evenly incorporated, approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
03 -
Shape the mixture into uniform balls using 2 to 4 tablespoons of meat each. Roll and press each ball firmly with your hands to ensure cohesion.
04 -
Arrange the meatballs in a single layer within the prepared baking dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
05 -
While the meatballs bake, combine brown sugar, dry mustard, apple cider vinegar, and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes until the glaze thickens slightly.
06 -
Remove partially baked meatballs from the oven. Pour the hot glaze evenly over them. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center reads 160°F.
07 -
Allow the meatballs to rest for 5 minutes before serving to enhance juiciness and flavor.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
Use a cookie scoop to ensure uniform meatball size for even cooking.
02 -
Leftover meatballs and glaze can be stored refrigerated up to 5 days or frozen up to 3 months.
03 -
Reheat gently and consider serving with crushed pineapple for a flavor variation.