Description
Cozy up with these irresistible Apple Sage Turkey Meatballs, a delicious twist on traditional holiday fare. Lean ground turkey is blended with savory herbs and sweet apple for a memorable dish perfect for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or a wholesome weeknight dinner. These meatballs offer a lighter take on classic turkey, are comforting, and can be served as a main course or appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated apple (Honeycrisp or Gala recommended)
- 1/4 cup finely diced shallots or yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning)
- Optional Glaze or Sauce: Cranberry sauce, Maple mustard glaze (2 tbsp maple syrup + 1 tbsp Dijon mustard), or Classic gravy
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Grate the apple and squeeze out excess liquid using a paper towel to avoid soggy meatballs.
- Mix the Meatball Mixture: Combine ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, grated apple, shallots, garlic, sage, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Shape Meatballs: Use your hands or a small scoop to form 1.5-inch meatballs. This recipe yields about 18–20 apple sage turkey meatballs.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the apple sage turkey meatballs on all sides until golden brown, about 5–7 minutes total.
- Finish Cooking: Option 1: Transfer meatballs to a 375°F (190°C) oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Option 2: Cover the skillet with a lid, reduce heat to low, and cook for another 8–10 minutes.
- Serve: Drizzle with your chosen glaze or sauce, such as cranberry sauce, maple mustard glaze, or classic gravy.
Notes
- Use 93% lean ground turkey for the juiciest results; leaner options can lead to dry meatballs.
- Always squeeze excess moisture from the grated apple before mixing to prevent soggy meatballs.
- Allow the meatball mixture to rest for 5–10 minutes before shaping to help breadcrumbs absorb moisture.
- Mix the ingredients gently to keep the apple sage turkey meatballs tender.
- Freeze extra batches of cooked or uncooked meatballs for convenient weeknight meals or meal prep.
- For gluten-free apple sage turkey meatballs, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Seared & Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
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