Made with a combination of ground meats and topped with a sweet tomato and brown sugar glaze, old fashioned ham balls are the perfect addition to your Easter brunch menu.
Easter Brunch Menu Blog Hop
Spring is in the air, and Easter is just over a month away! If you’re planning to host a holiday brunch this year, then this post is for you.
Today, I’m happy to join five fellow blogging friends to share some of our favorite Easter recipes with you. Pull together your menu with ease by using some of these delicious brunch ideas, guaranteed to be a hit with the whole family.
These dishes range from drinks to dessert, so every course is covered. Before we dive into the menu, I want to say a big thank you to my dear friend Pasha, from Pasha Is Home for her work to coordinate this blog hop.
If you haven’t visited Pasha’s beautiful blog before, do yourself a favor and check it out. You won’t regret it!
Welcome To MWLS
To those friends who may be new here, welcome to Midwest Life and Style! I’m Jen. A wife, mom of two, and lifelong Nebraskan.
Here at MWLS, I love to share helpful decorating tips, seasonal decor, simple DIYs, homemade recipes, and more.
If you enjoy these things too then I’d love to have you join me and subscribe to my weekly newsletter. When you do, you’ll get updates with all of the latest posts sent straight to your inbox.
Okay. Enough of the introductions. Let’s get to the menu, and one of my favorite Easter dishes, old fashioned ham balls.
Old Fashioned Easter Ham Balls
Ham balls have become a staple on our Easter brunch menu. They take a bit of time to prep, but are totally worth the effort!
If you’ve never had ham balls before, then your tastebuds are in for a treat. Once you have them, you’ll never go back to a plain old baked Easter ham again.
Ingredients For Old Fashioned Easter Ham Balls
For The Ham Balls
- 2 lbs. ground ham
- 1 and 1/2 lbs. ground pork sausage
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 4 eggs
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tbsp. dried, minced onion
For The Sauce
- 1 can tomato soup (10.75 ozs.)
- 1/3 cup distilled vinegar
- 1 tsp. dry mustard
- 1 cup brown sugar
How To Make Ham Balls
First, pre-heat your oven to 350℉. Next, grease a pair of 9 x 13 baking dishes and set them aside.
Then, in a large mixing bowl, use your hands to combine the ground ham, pork sausage, and lean ground beef. Next, stir in the eggs, rolled oats, minced onion, and milk.
Once the meat mixture is combined, begin to form your ham balls. I like to use an ice cream scoop to help form my ham balls. This keeps the size and shape uniform. You can also use a medium-sized cookie scoop, or just use your hands to roll and shape the balls.
Place the ham balls in the greased baking dishes in rows until each dish is full. Then place your baking dishes in the oven, uncovered, and bake the ham balls for 45 minutes or until they are cooked through.
How To Prepare The Sauce For Old Fashioned Easter Ham Balls
While the ham balls bake, prepare your sauce. In a small mixing bowl, pour in the tomato soup, vinegar, dry mustard, and brown sugar. Use a whisk to stir until the sauce is smooth.
When the ham balls have finished baking, pour the sauce over them. Then return them to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Oh…and one tip on the sauce. It’s my family’s favorite part of this dish! It’s a little bit savory. A little bit sweet. And the brown sugar helps it caramelize while it bakes.
Yummo!
To make sure there is plenty of extra sauce to ladle over the ham balls once they are done, I like to double the recipe.
When the sauce is hot and bubbly, remove the ham balls from the oven and serve with your favorite side dish. We love to eat ours with cheesy potatoes and a fresh spring salad.
Can You Make Ham Balls In Advance?
Yes! If you’d like to save a bit of time on Easter morning, you can make the ham balls in advance. Just follow the instructions to mix the meat and form your balls, but do not add the sauce until you are ready to bake them.
You can store the ham balls in the fridge overnight in a covered baking dish. Or, if you like to plan way ahead, you can put your ham balls in an air-tight storage container and keep them in the freezer for up to three months. If you freeze them, be sure to defrost them before baking. Then add the sauce as directed.
How To Store Your Leftover Ham Balls
This recipe makes enough for a crowd. Depending on how many guests you have for Easter brunch, you may have some leftovers. To store your leftover ham balls, let them cool, and then place them in a covered storage container. The extras can keep in the fridge for 3-5 days.
To reheat, just place the ham balls in a microwave-safe dish and warm them in the microwave in 30-second increments until they are heated through.
Let’s be honest. Sometimes leftovers are just meh. (I know you know what I’m talking about.) But, I think these ham balls taste even better the next day. You can serve them as is. Or, if you like to get a bit creative, you can put some ham balls on a hoagie bun and make a sandwich.
More Easter Dinner Recipes
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, today! If you try this recipe, let me know! I love to hear from my readers, so don’t forget to drop a comment and say “hi”.
Be sure to follow along with me over on Pinterest for more Easter recipe ideas. And don’t forget to check out some of my other faves, like these easy bunny cinnamon rolls, or this bacon and egg potato bake.
Next, go visit my friend Aliya at Open Doors Open Hearts to get the recipe for her lemon ricotta cookies.
And, don’t miss all of the other Easter recipes prepared by the rest of my friends. Just scroll below and click on each of the links to go to their blog and see the recipe.
Enjoy!
More Inspiration for Your Easter Brunch Menu
Simple Easter Brunch Menu Ideas You Will Love // Pasha is Home
Old Fashioned Easter Ham Balls // Midwest Life and Style
The Best Lemon Ricotta Cookie Recipe with Sourdough Discard // Open Doors Open Hearts
Best Easter Brunch Drink The Bunny Mary // White Arrows Home
29 of the Best Ideas for a Healthy and Delicious Easter Dinner Menu // Simply 2 Moms
5 Healthy Easter Menu Ideas your Family Will Love // She Gave It A Go
Recipe for Old Fashioned Easter Ham Balls
Old Fashioned Easter Ham Balls
Ingredients
For The Ham Balls
- 2 lbs. ground ham
- 1 and ½ lbs. ground pork sausage
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 4 eggs
- 4 c. rolled oats
- 2 c. milk
- 2 tbsp. dried, minced onion
For The Sauce
- 1 can tomato soup (10.75 ozs.)
- ⅓ c. distilled vinegar
- 1 tsp. dry mustard
- 1 c. brown sugar
Instructions
- First, pre-heat your oven to 350℉. Next, grease a pair of 9 x 13baking dishes and set them aside.
- Then, in a large mixing bowl, use your hands to combine 2 lbs. ground ham, 1 and 1/2 lb. pork sausage, and l1 lb. lean ground beef. Next, stir in 4 eggs, 4 c. rolled oats, 2 tbsps. dried, minced onion, and 2 c. milk.
- Once the meat mixture is combined, begin to form your ham balls. Place the ham balls in the greased baking dishes in rows until each dish is full.
- Place your baking dishes in the oven, uncovered, and bake the ham balls for 45 minutes or until they are cooked through.
- While the ham balls bake, prepare your sauce. In a small mixing bowl, pour in one can of tomato soup, 1/3 c. distilled vinegar, 1 tsp. dry mustard, and 1 c. brown sugar. Use a whisk to stir until the sauce is smooth.
- When the ham balls have finished baking, pour the sauce over them. Then return them to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Notes
I would love to see what you make! If you try any of my recipes, be sure to tag me in your photos!
IG: @midwestlifeandstyle + #midwestlifeandstyle
Did You Enjoy This Recipe? PIN It for Later!
Good Morning,
My cousin raves about your recipes. We are having fa.ily in for Easter a week early. I plan on serving your crabcakes. Do you think the hamballs would work as a second meat entree?
Also, do you have a recipe for Poor Mans cake, it is a Baltimore thing g from the 40’s and 50’s. Thanks for doing what you do.
Hi Ann,
Thank you you for taking the time to comment. I’m so glad your cousin enjoys my recipes. Your crabcakes sound amazing! I think the hamballs would be a wonderful second meat option. They are so flavorful and offer a unique take on the traditional Easter Ham. They taste just as good as leftovers, and you can easily freeze the leftovers as well if needed.
I have never heard of Poor Man’s cake, but now I am going to resarch it! If you are intersted in any other sweet treats, you can find all my dessert recipes here: https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/recipes/dessert-recipes/
Thank you and Happy Easter!
My mom used to make ham loaf, but I like this meatball version much better. And I like the idea of having it for brunch rather than dinner. Pinned, and definitely trying!
Yes, I have had a loaf version too, but we prefer the meatballs. We make them every Easter. YUM! I hope you enjoy them.
My husband LOVES ham loaf, but I never make it. I’m afraid I’m going to mess it up…so silly I know! BUT I think these ham meatballs are the perfect way to get my toes wet! I’M MAKING THESE FOR EASTER THIS YEAR!!! Be prepared for your phone blowing up in case I need someone to hold my hand through the process!!! Justin is gonna love it!! You’re the best!!
Yeah! They are SO good. And you really can’t mess it up. Super easy! I’ll be ready on standby to answer all of your ham ball questions. 😉
Oh my gosh, I’ve never heard of ham balls before and now I’m dying to make them! Where do you find ground ham? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in my grocery stores? This one is definitely pinned to make SOON!!!
Oh, that is a good question and I’m glad you asked. I just buy a small, pre-cooked ham. Then cube some and grind it in my food processor. I freeze whatever I don’t need so I have the ground ham on hand for the next time I make the recipe.
Jen,
I cannot wait to make these, I’ve never had ham balls before.
Thanks for introducing me to a new Easter menu idea.
Joyfully,
Brendt
You are so welcome, friend Ejoy!
My family will love these! Thanks for the inspiration and recipe! These will be a crowd pleaser!
Thank you, Kristin. I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine does.