Dairy Free Bison and Apple Meatballs
Ground bison is a leaner, richer alternative to beef, and here it gets paired with grated Honeycrisp or Fuji apple for a combination that sounds unexpected but tastes completely natural ā subtly sweet, warmly spiced, and deeply savory all at once. Cassava flour binds everything together without any dairy in sight, so the texture stays tender and cohesive from the inside out. A quick sear in coconut oil builds a gorgeous crust before the meatballs finish in the oven, locking in all that juicy flavor. The real showstopper is the pan sauce ā unsweetened apple cider and bone broth deglaze all those caramelized bits, then a touch of arrowroot starch pulls it into a glossy, restaurant-worthy finish. Fresh rosemary and apple cider vinegar keep the sauce bright so it never tips into cloying territory. Whether you're navigating a dairy-free lifestyle or just looking for something genuinely different on a weeknight, this skillet dinner delivers bold flavor without a single compromise.
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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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