Many people do not know the beauty of the ham ball. I grew to love them over the years and this weekend I cooked up a huge batch. There are many iterations of the ham ball or ham loaf and my history with them has crossed several states.
Growing up in Ohio it was more the ham loaf culture. When my Daddy passed away there were a lot of great casseroles and dishes that were passed on to our family. One that I distinctly remember was Marge Linkhorn’s Ham Loaf. I LOVED it and it along with Anne Smith’s Hot Chicken Salad Casserole are food items that I remember from those weeks in 1994 after my Daddy’s death.
Fast forward a few years to our time in Freeport, Illinois and we found ourselves at Trinity UMC where a huge fundraiser was their Ham Ball Supper. Members gathered in the kitchen creating these little balls of yumminess. The church cookbook carried the recipe that was followed – one submitted by one of the many saints of the church – Mildred McCulloch. This recipe uses a brown sugar vinegar sauce and it is my favorite one. Brown sugar for the win.
Our move to Iowa found us in another region where Ham Balls were revered. This recipe holds a little different twist in the sauce and includes a tomato soup addition. My friend Val from Corn Beans Pigs and Kids made Ham Balls one day with our mutual friend Jeni of JeniEats. You can find her post and recipe by clicking here.
I had some leftover Christmas ham in the freezer that was calling my name so I went to work and got a huge batch going. There is something comforting about a plate of ham balls. Don’t ask me to explain because I simply can not. A lot of memories come up when I make them and it may be silly but silly I am.
It’s a simple recipe thanks to Mildred McCulloch and I hope you enjoy making and enjoying them as much as I do.
Ham Balls
1 1/2 pounds ground pork
1 pound ground ham
2 cups cracker crumbs
2 eggs
1 cup milk
Sauce
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp dry mustard
Mix sauce ingredients together and cook for 3 minutes.
Mix crackers with the meat, add milk and eggs and mix well. Form into small balls and baste with sauce. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Can be reheated easily in a crock pot.
18 Comments
Leave a commentSweet Beth Anne, too crazy that I grew up in Iowa and lived there until I was nearly 40, and I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of ham balls! Maybe it’s because I was mainly along the Mississippi River…. Learning that your dad died in 1994 makes me think of how very long your mother lived without him. Blessings to you and all those wonderful memories! Annette
Funny how different regions have different takes on them as well. My mom was alone for many years— it stretched her in a lot of ways she never could have imagined but she rose to the challenge. Thanks for stopping by! Miss seeing you!
Love love love ham, ham loaf, ham balls etc!!!! Yum!
They really are the best!
Beth Anne- you have been so creative lately! I’ve never heard of ham balls…ham loaf, yes. Sounds cozy and yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
See— Ohio was ham loaf country. I like the balls better. My most difficult task— converting recipe to triple it. 102 ham balls!
They look delicious! Was at a local butcher the other day and thinking ham balls sounded good – grocery stores don’t have ham loaf mix here – but I bet they’d grid some up for me.
I made 102 ham balls! 😊 Just used my little food processor for the ham and it worked great!
Nope, never heard of ham balls (or ham loaf) either. Grew up in Michigan. Not sure how you even get ground ham??
Some stores sell the ham loaf mixture but I use a food processor to grind my own. Easy peasy. The Iowa recipe uses graham crackers so there are a lot of variations!
I’ve never seen a ham ball. Not in these parts of Minnesota anyway. But I’m glad they bring you comfort.
What? Really? Well gee whiz— did they stop at the Minnesota/Iowa line? Isn’t that something. Hmmm. Now I am so sad for you. 😊
Oh my that sounds and looks soooo good. I am definitely going to try it. I too have never heard of it. I am assuming you can freeze them sense you made so many? Thanks so much for sharing. Have a good week.
Yes— you can definitely freeze them! I use the food processor to chop the ham up and it works great! Let me know if you try them!
I need to try your brown sugar sauce now the next time I make them!
Anxious to try these in the next few days.
Good with a side of rice!
I think we “talked” about ham balls once before, but I love ’em!