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You are here: Home / Recipes / Dinner

Classic Iowa Ham Balls

By Susie Weinrich · Date Dec 16, 2020· 93 Comments · May contain affiliate links.

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Ham Balls are a classic Midwestern meatball recipe. It is even more specific to Iowa and Nebraska. It is an unusual recipe that turns out so incredibly delicious. Ground beef and ground ham are mixed with graham crackers crumbs and formed into meatballs, they are then baked with a tomato brown sugar glaze.

I grew up in Iowa and this is a recipe that we had often! It is a typical Sunday night family dinner recipe.

Ham Balls baked in a brown sugar and tomato sauce in a glass baking dish

Ground Ham for Ham Balls

Ground ham can be hard to find in the grocery store. Actually I don’t think I have ever seen it in the store, unless you are in Iowa!

We are talking ground ham here, not ground pork! Ground pork is made from the shoulder (aka. pork butt). The ham is cut from the leg and is dry or wet cured and sometimes smoked. Ham has the distinct flavor that you are looking for in ham balls.

ham ground in the food processor

You will want to purchase a 1-1.25 lb. ham steak or bone-in ham steak. Once it is ground you will want it to be the consistency of ground beef. You have a couple options to make ground ham.

  • Grab a ham steak at the grocery store and ask the meat counter to grind it for you.
  • If you have a meat grinder attachment to your stand mixer you can grind the ham steak that way.
  • I prefer to “grind” it in my food processor. Cut the ham steak into 2 inch chunks then pulse the processor about 40-50 times. You will have perfectly ground ham! (see the photo above)

Graham Cracker Crumbs

Unless you have had these Ham Balls you are probably thinking that graham cracker crumbs are a really odd choice! Just trust, they add a sweetness to the ham balls that perfectly compliments the salty ham and the tangy vinegar in the sauce.

If you need to make graham cracker crumbs you can crush a couple plain graham crackers into a fine crumb. Or you can pulse them a few times in your food processor.

How To Make Ham Balls

This ham ball recipe is pretty simple, it is just a matter of mixing the ingredients and baking.

Baked Ham Balls in a glass baking dish

In a large bowl lightly mix together 1 lb ground beef, 1 lb ground ham, 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, ¾ cup milk, and 1 egg.

Form large meatballs, about ⅓ cup in size, and place in a 9×13 baking dish. You should have about 12-15 meatballs.

showing the correct size for a ham ball

In another bowl mix together 1 can tomato soup, ½ cup white vinegar, 1 cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon dry mustard. Whisk it all together and then pour the sauce over the meatballs.

pouring the tomato brown sugar sauce over the ham balls

Place in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour, basting the top of the meatballs with the sauce once or twice during cooking.

Let the meatballs cool for about 5 minutes and then serve with mashed or baked potatoes and veggies.

a 9x13 baking dish full of Iowa Ham Balls

Other Meatball Recipes

If you love meatballs here are a few other recipes to try:

  • Instant Pot BBQ Meatballs
  • Baked Chicken Meatballs
  • Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs
  • Easy Meatball Sub Sandwiches

Ham Ball Recipe

ham balls in a pan with glaze baked over top

Ham Balls

Ham Balls are a classic midwestern meatball recipe. Ground ham and ground beef are mixed together with graham crackers and topped with a tomato brown sugar sauce.
4.87 from 65 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 5 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

  • 9×13 baking dish

Ingredients

Ham Balls

  • 1 lb ground ham - see note about finding and/or making ground ham**
  • 1 lb ground beef - 85/15
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs - finely ground
  • 1 egg
  • ¾ cup milk

Sauce

  • 1 10 ¾ oz. can condensed tomato soup
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°
  • Combine the meatball ingredients. In a large bowl lightly combine the 1 lb ground ham, 1 lb ground beef, 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, ¾ cup milk, and 1 egg.
    Make large meatballs. Form the mixture into large meatballs, about ⅓ cup in size each. Place into a 9×13 baking dish. You will have about 12-15 meatballs.
  • Whisk together the sauce ingredients & pour over meatballs. In another bowl whisk together the can of condensed tomato soup, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon dry mustard. Pour the sauce over the meatballs.
  • Bake 1 hour. Bake in the oven, uncovered, for 1 hour, basting the tops of the ham balls with the sauce once or twice during cooking.
  • Cool & eat! Let the meatballs cool for about 5-10 minutes and then serve with mashed or baked potatoes and veggies.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Ground Ham
Do not buy ground pork, you want ground ham. This can be hard to find in the store. You can buy a ham steak or bone in ham steak and grind it to the consistency of ground beef. 
  • Have the butcher grind it for you.
  • Use a meat grinder attachment to a stand mixer.
  • Grind in a food processor by cutting the ham steak in 2 inch chunks and pulse the processor 40-50 times. (this is the method that I use)
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Originally Published December 2019, Copy Updated and Republished December 2020

About Susie Weinrich

Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

Comments

    4.87 from 65 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Becky says

    May 21, 2025 at 9:33 pm

    5 stars
    These ham balls are the best. Easy to make and the family loves this. We use an ice cream scoop and it makes two 9 x 13 pans of meatballs. We used homemade ketchup in place of tomato soup.

    Reply
    • Susie Weinrich says

      May 22, 2025 at 7:12 am

      Love that you make your own ketchup. Impressive!
      Thank you for the wonderful comment and rating.

      Reply
  2. Victoria OBrien says

    April 18, 2025 at 5:20 pm

    5 stars
    I cooked the sauce about 15 min in the stove and then poured it over the meatballs….

    Reply
  3. Sandra K Kraft says

    February 03, 2025 at 6:15 pm

    Just made them and can’t wait to try them I made jumbo ones and I turned it up to 400 and baking for 50 mins instead

    Reply
  4. JR says

    December 26, 2024 at 4:54 pm

    4 stars
    Very easy to make and a great way to use left over ham. Looking forward to making it again and adding some additional ingredients.

    Reply
  5. Ashley says

    December 24, 2024 at 10:42 am

    Love this recipe! I use a combo of ham loaf and ground pork. It’s fantastic!

    Reply
  6. Diane says

    December 20, 2024 at 10:54 am

    4 stars
    I made half this recipe for just my husband and I. It was wonderful and we had enough for 2 meals. I believe you can freeze this if you need to for another time. Its an easy recipe and full of flavor. I love that it isn’t as sweet as most ham ball or ham loaf recipes I’ve tried. Thank You for sharing your recipe. I will definitely be making this again and maybe for company.

    Reply
  7. Leah says

    September 16, 2024 at 12:23 pm

    5 stars
    Made this 3 or 4 times now. I crave these meatballs. While I prefer to make as written, I get a ham and pork mixture at my locker. To two of those I add 1 lb ground beef, also from my local locker. The rest of the recipe is as written, making small adjustments for the added lb of meat. Just so good! Especially better since I buy my meat at the locker for local farmers. The taste is so much better!! Thank you for this recipe!!

    Reply
    • Susie Weinrich says

      September 17, 2024 at 7:41 am

      That is amazing that you have a local locker!! I bet that does make for extra delicious ham balls!

      Reply
  8. Bill says

    September 03, 2024 at 10:39 am

    5 stars
    Is this a joke? You literally removed the flavor lmao

    Reply
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