Hazelnut Free Apple-Sage Turkey Meatballs
These savory-sweet meatballs are the kind of weeknight dinner that feels far more special than the effort involved. Ground turkey gets lifted by grated Honeycrisp apple, fresh sage, ginger, and a whisper of Ceylon cinnamon, creating a flavor profile that's warm, aromatic, and genuinely craveable. The trick of squeezing the grated apple nearly dry before mixing keeps the texture light and cohesive rather than dense — a small step that makes a real difference. After a hard sear in coconut oil, the meatballs finish in a glossy pan sauce built from unsweetened apple cider, bone broth, and fresh thyme, which deepens every flavor already in the mix. Tree nut concerns can make rich, saucy dishes tricky since many store-bought sauces and spice blends sneak in unexpected ingredients, but every component here is straightforward and easy to verify. The arrowroot-thickened sauce clings beautifully to each meatball and is every bit as satisfying as anything made with flour or cream. Serve them over roasted vegetables or simply on their own with a spoonful of that cider pan sauce pooled underneath.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the meatballs
- 1 ½ lb ground turkey
- 1 medium apple (such as honeycrisp or fuji), peeled and finely grated
- 2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup green onions (green tops only), thinly sliced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp arrowroot starch
For searing
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
For the pan sauce
- 1 cup apple cider (unsweetened, unfiltered)
- ½ cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch, mixed with 1 tbsp cold water
- 1 tbsp cold water (for arrowroot slurry)
For serving
- fresh sage leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater, then squeeze the grated apple firmly in a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible — the apple should feel nearly dry. This keeps the meatballs from becoming dense or wet.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, squeezed grated apple, sage, garlic, green onion tops, ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, salt, and arrowroot starch. Mix with your hands until just combined and uniform — do not overwork the mixture.
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