Artificial Flavors Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
These meatballs bring together lean, richly flavored ground bison and freshly grated apple for a combination that feels both rustic and a little unexpected. Squeezing the moisture out of the grated apple before mixing is a small step that makes a big difference, keeping the texture tender and cohesive rather than dense. Every ingredient here — from the fresh thyme and Ceylon cinnamon to the cassava flour and coconut oil — is whole and recognizable, which means no synthetic flavor enhancers or mystery additives hiding in the mix. The pan sauce is where things get really special: unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze all those caramelized bits from the skillet, then apple cider vinegar and fresh rosemary round it out into something glossy and deeply savory. Arrowroot starch thickens the sauce cleanly without any processed thickeners or artificial anything. If you've ever scanned a meatball ingredient label and felt defeated by the list of unpronounceable additives, this recipe is the reset you've been looking for — real food, real flavor, nothing manufactured.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the meatballs
- 1 lb ground bison
- 1 medium apple (such as honeycrisp or fuji), peeled and grated
- 2 tbsp cassava flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
For the pan sauce
- 1 cup apple cider (unsweetened, no additives)
- ½ cup bone broth (homemade or aip-compliant brand)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 tsp arrowroot starch
- 1 tbsp cold water
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater, then squeeze the grated apple firmly in your hands over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible — this keeps the meatballs from becoming dense and wet.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground bison, squeezed grated apple, cassava flour, garlic, parsley, thyme, ginger, turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, and salt. Mix with your hands until just combined and uniform — do not overwork the mixture.
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