Gluten Free Beef and Apple Sage Skillet

Total time35 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time25 min

4.8

(7)

Sweet, savory, and warmly spiced, this skillet dinner is the kind of weeknight meal that feels far more special than the effort it takes to pull together. Ground beef gets browned until deeply caramelized, then reunited with tender apple slices, silky onion, and a fragrant hit of fresh sage — a combination that sounds unexpected but absolutely delivers. Turmeric, ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon add an earthy, aromatic depth, while bone broth and apple cider vinegar create a light pan sauce that ties everything together beautifully. Coconut aminos stand in for soy sauce, keeping the whole dish naturally free of gluten without any specialty swaps that feel like a compromise. The technique is straightforward — one skillet, a handful of real-food ingredients, and about twenty minutes of active cooking. It's the kind of recipe that works just as well for a quiet Tuesday dinner as it does for impressing someone who claims they don't like "healthy" food. Finish it with a scatter of fresh parsley and dinner is done.

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Ingredients

4 servings

1 ½ lb ground beef (85% lean)
2 tbsp coconut oil, divided
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium apples (such as honeycrisp or fuji), cored and thinly sliced
2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
½ cup bone broth
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp coconut aminos
¾ tsp salt, plus more to taste

For serving

1 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef in a single layer and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned throughout with no pink remaining and an instant-read thermometer reads 160°F (71°C), about 8–10 minutes. Transfer the beef to a plate, leaving any rendered fat in the pan.
2
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tbsp coconut oil to the skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute, watching closely so it does not brown.

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