Ultimate Ham Balls Recipe: Sweet & Savory Baked Cocktail Meatballs for Any Occasion
Get ready to impress your guests with our family’s absolute favorite ham balls recipe! These delicious cocktail meatballs are incredibly juicy, bursting with flavor, and surprisingly easy to make, especially when you use a food processor for quick prep. The best part? You have the flexibility to bake these irresistible ham balls in your choice of two mouthwatering sauces: a classic sweet and tangy pineapple glaze or a rich, savory tomato sauce. Whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed a crowd-pleasing appetizer that will disappear fast!
Ham balls are more than just a recipe; they’re a beloved Midwestern tradition, a staple at potlucks, holiday gatherings, and game day parties. They hold a special place alongside other cherished appetizer recipes like Swedish meatballs, cheesy sausage meatballs, and comforting crock pot honey garlic meatballs. Our recipe honors this tradition while giving you the versatility to tailor the flavors to your preference.
Table of Contents
- Why This Ham Ball Recipe is a Family Favorite
- Essential Ingredients for Perfect Ham Balls
- Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Ham Balls
- Expert Recipe Notes & Tips
- Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Storing and Reheating Leftover Ham Balls
- More Crowd-Pleasing Party Appetizers
- Ham Balls Recipe Card
This cherished ham balls recipe has been passed down through generations in our family, making an appearance at nearly every potluck and holiday gathering. The original version, from my mother-in-law’s side, featured a delightful sweet and fruity pineapple glaze. However, my own family has always adored these meatballs with a tangy tomato sauce. To ensure everyone’s preference is met, I’ve included both fantastic sauce options in this recipe. Regardless of the sauce you choose, the preparation method for the ham balls themselves remains simple and straightforward, ensuring a fuss-free cooking experience!
Why This Ham Ball Recipe is a Family Favorite
These ham meatballs aren’t just a dish; they’re a tradition that brings everyone to the table. Here’s why they’re consistently requested and loved:
- Two Irresistible Sauce Options: Whether you prefer sweet and tangy flavors or a more savory profile, this recipe has you covered. You can create tropical pineapple-glazed ham balls that sparkle with sweetness, or opt for a rich and zesty tomato sauce that satisfies a different craving. This versatility makes them perfect for any palate and any event.
- Packed Full of Robust Flavor: Despite their simple preparation, these ham balls are incredibly flavorful. The combination of tender ground pork and savory cooked ham creates a juicy, satisfying base. Ingredients like brown sugar and apple cider vinegar in the sauces add layers of mouthwatering sweetness, tang, and depth, ensuring every bite is a burst of deliciousness.
- Effortlessly Perfect for Parties: As a staple at our family gatherings and every game day celebration, these ham balls are designed for entertaining. The prep work takes mere minutes, especially with the help of a food processor, leaving you ample time to focus on other party preparations. They bake beautifully, requiring minimal fuss once in the oven.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Ham Balls
To create these easy baked ham balls and their accompanying sauces, you’ll need a few common pantry staples. Here are some detailed notes on the key ingredients. For a complete, printable list of ingredients and full recipe instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Cooked Ham – Diced up. This recipe is an excellent way to repurpose leftover baked ham from holidays. The ham provides a rich, salty flavor that is foundational to the ham balls. Make sure it’s finely diced or processed for even distribution in the mixture.
- Ground Pork – This adds moisture and binds the ham together, ensuring a juicy texture. For a more adventurous flavor, you could experiment with spicy ground pork sausage, which would add an extra kick to your ham balls.
- Eggs and Breadcrumbs – These are the crucial binding agents that hold our meatballs together, preventing them from falling apart during baking. You can use either seasoned or unseasoned breadcrumbs based on your preference; Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs can add an extra layer of flavor.
- Seasoning – We keep the seasoning simple for the meatballs themselves with just ground black pepper. Generally, I don’t add additional salt to the meatball mixture because diced ham is often quite salty on its own. However, feel free to customize by adding other seasonings like a pinch of Italian seasoning or a dash of homemade pork chop seasoning for a different twist.
For the Flavorful Sauce(s)
One of the best features of this recipe is the choice between two delicious and easy sauce options. Both are traditional for Midwestern ham balls, offering a delightful contrast: a sweet and tangy pineapple sauce (as pictured) and a sweet-savory sauce made with condensed tomato soup. Both recipes share a few common ingredients that create their signature balance:
- Brown Sugar – This is key for achieving that perfect sweet balance in both sauces. Whether you use light or dark brown sugar, it will contribute a rich, molasses-like sweetness that complements the ham beautifully.
- Crushed Pineapple (or Tomato Soup) – For the sweet pineapple sauce, you’ll need canned crushed pineapple, and importantly, do not drain the juices! The juice is essential for the sauce’s consistency and flavor. If you opt for the savory tomato sauce, you’ll simply swap the pineapple for a can of condensed tomato soup, which forms a robust base.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – This ingredient introduces a crucial tang that cuts through the richness of the ham and balances the sweetness of the sugar. If apple cider vinegar isn’t on hand, white vinegar or red wine vinegar can be used as a suitable substitute.
- Mustard – Yellow mustard is my go-to for its classic flavor and bright acidity, which enhances the overall taste profile of both sauces. Feel free to use brown mustard or Dijon mustard if you prefer a spicier or more gourmet touch.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Ham Balls
One of the many reasons I adore this recipe is how quickly these ham balls come together – they can be mixed, portioned, and ready for the oven in approximately 10 minutes. This efficiency leaves you plenty of time for other tasks, whether it’s setting up for a party or just enjoying a moment of calm. Follow these easy steps to create your own batch of delicious ham balls. Detailed, printable instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture. Begin by adding your cooked ham, cut into small chunks, to a food processor. Pulse it until the ham is finely minced into small, consistent pieces. This step is crucial for achieving the perfect texture. Next, add the ground pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, and black pepper to the food processor. Pulse the mixture just until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture comes together. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough meatballs.
- Shape the Ham Balls. Once your mixture is ready, it’s time to form the ham balls. A small cookie scoop is ideal for this, as it helps create uniformly sized meatballs, ensuring they cook evenly. Roll the scooped mixture gently into neat balls. Arrange your shaped ham balls in a single layer in a large baking dish or a 13×9 inch casserole dish, leaving a little space between each one for even baking.
- Prepare and Apply the Sauce. Now, it’s time to create your chosen sauce. Whether you’re making the sweet pineapple glaze or the savory tomato sauce, the process is delightfully simple: just add all the sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk them together until smooth and well combined. Once your sauce is ready, pour it evenly over the arranged ham balls in the baking dish, ensuring each meatball is nicely coated.
- Bake to Perfection. Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Bake the ham balls for approximately 1 hour. To ensure they cook evenly and brown beautifully on all sides, remember to stir them gently every 20 minutes or so. During baking, the fat from the ground pork will render into the sauce, contributing to its richness and helping to brown the meatballs. Once they are cooked through and the sauce is bubbly and thickened, remove them from the oven. Serve these baked ham balls immediately and savor every juicy, flavorful bite!
Expert Recipe Notes & Tips
To ensure your ham balls turn out perfectly every time, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Avoid Over-Processing the Meat Mixture. When using your food processor, it’s crucial to mince the ham first, then add the other ingredients and pulse just until combined. Overworking the meat mixture can lead to two undesirable outcomes: firstly, you might end up with a ham puree, which won’t give you the desired texture. Secondly, excessive blending can make your meatballs dense, rubbery, and tough, rather than juicy and tender.
- Add a Spicy Kick. If you love a bit of heat, it’s incredibly easy to infuse these ham balls with some spice. Simply blend a pinch of cayenne pepper, some chili flakes, or a teaspoon of homemade Cajun seasoning directly into the ham ball mixture before shaping. This will add a delightful warmth that complements both the sweet and savory sauces.
- Experiment with Different Sauces. While this recipe offers two fantastic traditional sauce options, don’t hesitate to get creative! Beyond the pineapple and tomato sauces, you can dress your ham balls in virtually any sauce you enjoy. For a quick and easy alternative, try a store-bought jarred marinara sauce, similar to how I prepare my Instant Pot meatballs. Other great ideas include a sweet chili sauce, barbecue sauce, or even a creamy mushroom sauce.
- Make Ahead Option. For ultimate party convenience, you can prepare the ham balls mixture, shape them, and even coat them in sauce a day in advance. Store them covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, just pull them out and pop them into the preheated oven. You may need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time if cooking from cold.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
These ham balls are a universal crowd-pleaser and truly shine as fantastic Super Bowl food or at any festive gathering. Their bite-sized nature makes them perfect for mingling and easy snacking. Here are some of our favorite ways to serve them:
- Classic Appetizer Spread: Serve them directly from the baking dish, providing a jar of cocktail skewers for guests to easily pick them up. Pair them with refreshing beverages like beer margaritas.
- Hearty Game Day Feast: To round out a robust appetizer spread, I often include other fan favorites such as crispy sheet pan chicken nachos, flaky crescent roll pizza, a savory party mix, and a platter of loaded air fryer potato skins.
- Potluck Perfection: These ham balls travel exceptionally well and can be kept warm in a slow cooker, making them ideal for potlucks or family reunions.
- As a Main Dish: Don’t limit them to appetizers! Serve larger ham balls alongside mashed potatoes and green beans for a comforting family dinner.
- For Dessert: For a themed party, follow up with fun treats like these adorable football cupcakes!
Storing and Reheating Leftover Ham Balls
These ham balls are just as delicious the next day, making them great for meal prep or enjoying after a party. Here’s how to properly store and reheat them:
- Refrigerate. Any leftover baked ham balls, along with their delicious sauce, should be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh and flavorful for up to 4 days.
- Reheat. To reheat, you have a couple of options. For best results, warm the ham balls and sauce in a 350ºF (175ºC) oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are heated through and the sauce is bubbling. Alternatively, for a quicker reheat, place them in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until hot.
- Freeze. Baked ham balls freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect for future impromptu gatherings or quick meals. I recommend a two-step freezing process: first, spread the cooked ham balls (without sauce, or with minimal sauce clinging to them) in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for a few hours until solid. This prevents them from sticking together. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or a freezer-safe airtight container with the sauce (if desired). They can be kept frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw the ham balls in the refrigerator overnight before reheating using the methods described above.
More Crowd-Pleasing Party Appetizers
If you’re planning a party or just looking for more delicious small bites, here are some other fantastic appetizer recipes that are sure to be a hit:
- Braunschweiger Dip
- French Bread Pizza
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Cheesy Artichoke Dip
- Pulled Pork Sliders
- Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Juicy Ham Balls with Sweet Pineapple or Savory Tomato Sauce
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Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound cooked and diced ham
- 1 ¼ pound ground pork
- ¾ cups breadcrumbs
- 2 whole eggs
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sweet Pineapple Sauce
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 9-ounce can of crushed pineapple, do not drain
- 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
Savory Tomato Sauce (Alternative)
- 1 10-ounce can of condensed tomato soup
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC).
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In a food processor, add the cooked and diced ham and pulse until it is mostly ground into small, fine pieces. Then, add the remaining meatball ingredients (ground pork, breadcrumbs, eggs, and black pepper) and pulse just until the mixture comes together. Be careful not to overprocess, as this can make the meatballs tough.1 pound cooked and diced ham, 1 ¼ pound ground pork, ¾ cups breadcrumbs, 2 whole eggs, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
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Using a small cookie scoop or your hands, scoop the meat mixture and shape it into small, uniform balls. Arrange them in a single layer in a casserole dish or a 13×9 inch baking dish.
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Next, prepare your chosen sauce. You can opt for the sweet pineapple sauce (as shown in photos) or the savory tomato-based sauce. To prepare, simply mix all the ingredients for your chosen sauce in a bowl until well combined. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the meatballs in the baking dish.½ cup light brown sugar, 1 9-ounce can of crushed pineapple, 3 teaspoons cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
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Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and cook for about 60 minutes. It’s important to stir the ham balls every 20 minutes or so to ensure they cook evenly and brown nicely on all sides. As they bake, the fat from the meat will render into the sauce, creating a rich, flavorful glaze.
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Once cooked through and bubbling, remove the ham balls from the oven and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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