Description
Apple Chicken Meatballs are juicy, flavorful bites made with ground chicken, shredded apple, and warm spices. They’re healthy, easy to make, and perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or holiday entertaining.
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 medium apple, peeled and shredded (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith works well)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ¼ cup grated onion (or finely minced)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground sage
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil (for baking or pan-frying)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, shredded apple, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, and seasonings. Mix gently until just combined.
- Form Meatballs: Roll mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place on prepared baking sheet.
- Brush with oil: Brush or spray lightly with olive oil.
- Bake: Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until cooked through (165°F internal temp). Alternatively, pan-fry in a skillet with olive oil until golden and cooked through.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- These pair well with honey mustard, barbecue sauce, or cranberry dipping sauce.
- For a gluten-free version, use almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Can be made ahead and frozen — just reheat in the oven before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Dish
- Method: Baking or Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
