Jul 09 2026
RestaurantsThe Iowa TaproomIowa Ham Balls Recipe

Iowa Ham Balls Recipe

Inspired by The Iowa Taproom
Time1h
Serves6

Served with sweet and sour sauce over grilled pineapple.

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Ingredients

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Ham Balls

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Grilled Pineapple

Method

Ham Balls Preparation

  1. 1

    Preheat the Oven

    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

  2. 2

    Mix Ingredients

    In a large mixing bowl, combine ground ham, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, chopped onion, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

  3. 3

    Form Balls

    Shape the mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  4. 4

    Bake Ham Balls

    Bake the ham balls in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until they are cooked through and golden brown.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Preparation

  1. 5

    Combine Ingredients

    In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and mustard.

  2. 6

    Cook Sauce

    Stir the mixture until the sugar has dissolved and bring it to a simmer. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.

Grilled Pineapple Preparation

  1. 7

    Prepare Pineapple

    Brush the pineapple slices with olive oil and sprinkle with cinnamon.

  2. 8

    Grill Pineapple

    Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the pineapple slices for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until grill marks appear and the slices are warmed through.

Serving

  1. 9

    Plate the Dish

    On a serving platter, place the grilled pineapple slices and top each with ham balls. Drizzle the sweet and sour sauce over the ham balls and serve immediately.

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