Pork and Apple Meatballs
January 1, 2018
These pork meatballs are the perfect addition to any dish. Incorporating apple gives you a bite of sweetness and freshness. Count these in as a new, freezer friendly, favorite weeknight dinner.
Meatball Mania
These Pork Meatballs are a big hit in our home with everyone – especially my kids! (and that doesn’t happen very often) Not only are they easy to throw together, they’re so versatile when it comes to incorporating them into an easy dinner. Whether you serve them on their own, with noodles, or rice, they’re big crowd pleasers!
I get lots of questions about easy meals to freeze and meatballs are at the very top of that list. They’re the ultimate make-ahead meal and I always like to have a bag chock full of frozen meatballs on hand in my freezer.
Here are my best tips for freezing meatballs. (note – my recipe below typically feeds my family for 1 meal, so I tend to double or even triple this recipe if I’m stocking up my freezer.)
- Once your meatballs come out of the oven, allow them to fully cool on the sheet tray, then place the sheet tray directly into your freezer until they’re frozen– about 1-2 hours.
- Once frozen, divide the meatballs among freezer bags, seal them tightly, label, and return to the freezer.
- Include the directions on your freezer bag in addition to the date they were frozen. This will make preparation easier for everyone in the household.
- When it comes to cooking frozen meatballs, I typically reheat them on a sheet tray covered with foil in a 350º F oven for 10-12 minutes. The foil helps them to hold moisture.
You’re the Apple of my Eye!
Let’s talk about apples! For years we went apple picking as a family every year while living in New York. Not only have I missed the tradition, but I have missed having loads of apples to incorporate into recipes.
When it comes to apples, do you prefer them in savory dishes, salads, on sandwiches, or in sweets? All of the above is also an acceptable answer!
If you have an excess of apples on hand, check out my other apple recipes, like my Apple Bacon Cheddar Sandwiches, my Apple Cheddar Grain Bowl, or my Balsamic Pork Tenderloin with Butternut and Apples!
Happy apple eating!
Print
Pork and Apple Meatballs
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 tart apple, peeled and grated
- 1/2 white onion, grated
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups old-fashioned egg noodles, cooked
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup Italian parsley, chopped
Instructions
Preheat the oven to low-broil and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all meatball ingredients. Mix to combine, but avoid over-mixing. Once combined, portion into golf ball-sized meatballs and place onto lined baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until they begin to turn golden brown.
Serve over buttered egg noodles tossed with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.