Beef Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
Ground bison is the star here ā a lean, richly flavored alternative to beef that brings serious depth without any of the heaviness. Grated Honeycrisp or Fuji apple gets squeezed dry before mixing in, which keeps the texture tight and tender while adding a subtle natural sweetness that plays beautifully against the warm spices. Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric give these meatballs a gently aromatic quality that feels cozy and a little unexpected in the best possible way. Cassava flour holds everything together, making this completely grain-free without sacrificing that satisfying, cohesive bite. The real magic happens in the pan sauce ā unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze all those caramelized bits from the skillet, then reduce into a glossy, rosemary-kissed glaze thickened with arrowroot. Every component is intentional and clean, so if you're navigating a beef-free kitchen, you're not compromising on flavor or comfort here. Serve them straight from the skillet with a scatter of fresh parsley and prepare for people to ask for the recipe.
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Learn more āIngredients
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
- Ā½ tsp ground ginger
- Ā¼ tsp ground turmeric
- Ā¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
For the pan sauce
- 1 cup apple cider (unsweetened, no additives)
- Ā½ 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 400Ā°F (205Ā°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 ā 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 ā do not overwork the mixture.
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