Chicken Free Apple & Sage Beef Meatballs
Ground beef gets a seriously fragrant upgrade here, with fresh sage, grated apple, warm Ceylon cinnamon, and a hint of ginger folded right into the mix. Squeezing the moisture out of the grated apple before combining everything is a small but crucial step ā it's what keeps the meatballs tender and well-structured rather than dense or soggy. A hot coconut oil sear builds a deep, caramelized crust on every side, and then the real magic happens in the pan sauce: unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze all those browned bits, and a touch of arrowroot-thickened apple cider vinegar pulls it into a glossy, lightly sweet glaze. For anyone avoiding poultry, this is the kind of satisfying, protein-forward comfort food that doesn't ask you to compromise on flavor or texture. The ingredient list leans on whole, recognizable pantry staples ā no hidden broths or fillers to second-guess ā so what you see is genuinely what you get. Finished with a scatter of fresh sage leaves, these meatballs are elegant enough for a dinner party but honest enough for a Tuesday night.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
For the meatballs
- 1 Ā½ lb ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 medium apple (such as honeycrisp or fuji), peeled and finely grated
- 3 tbsp cassava flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- Ā½ tsp ground turmeric
- Ā½ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
For searing
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
For the pan sauce
- Ā¾ cup apple cider (unsweetened)
- Ā¾ cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Grate the apple on the fine side of a box grater, then squeeze the grated apple firmly in your hand or in a clean kitchen towel over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible ā this keeps the meatballs from becoming dense and wet.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, squeezed grated apple, cassava flour, garlic, chopped sage, ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, and salt. Mix with your hands until just combined and uniform ā do not overwork the meat.
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