Turkey Apple Meatballs with Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze

Get into the fall vibes with Turkey Apple Meatballs and a delicious Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze. It’s officially fall, and this recipe combines the savory taste of ground turkey with sweet apples and a rich, tangy glaze, perfect for cozy dinners or special occasions. These meatballs offer a seasonal twist on a classic favorite, bringing warmth and flavor to your table.

I made these meatballs for the ATC Instagram way back in 2021, and honestly I’ve been thinking about them ever since!

Original Recipe Photo:

These Turkey Apple Meatballs have an incredible seasonal apple flavor and they’re infused with caramelized onions, fresh sage, cinnamon, and nutmeg. They’re dressed in this gorgeous, sticky, and sweet Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze that I just want to drape over everything! I hope you love them!

What ingredients are needed for Turkey Apple Meatballs with Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze?

• ground turkey
• apple – I used a Honeycrisp apple
• panko breadcrumbs
• caramelized onions
• 1 egg
• parmesan cheese
• Dijon mustard
• fresh parsley
• milk
• garlic
• salt and pepper

What ingredients are needed for the Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze?

• apple cider- If you can’t find it quite yet, apple juice will also work!
• bourbon
• brown sugar
• apple cider vinegar
• maple syrup
• butter
• spices: apple pie spice, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon
• garnish with fresh fried sage

How do you make the Turkey Apple Meatballs?

Please refer to the recipe card for precise measurements.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs, gently mix – don’t overwork the meat.
3. Using a cookie scoop, form the meatballs into 2 inch balls and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
4. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or until the meatballs register at 165°.
5. While the meatballs are baking, melt the butter in a sauce pan and gently fry the sage leaves. Remove the leaves from pan and add in the remaining glaze ingredients.
6. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low, allowing the sauce to slightly thicken and the alcohol to burn off while the meatballs finish cooking. This part is really quite straightforward. It should take about 15 – 20 minutes, and the glaze should reduce by half. If you notice that it has slightly over reduced, just turn the heat down and thin it out with additional apple cider, about 1/4 cup at a time.
7. When the meatballs are finished cooking, remove them from the oven and place them into to the glaze. Spoon the glaze over the meatballs, over for 3 – 5 minutes, and they’re ready!

What to serve with Turkey Apple Meatballs with Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze?

I served mine with creamy mashed potatoes and honey roasted carrots! It was lovely and hit all the “fall vibes” straight on the head!

My husband loved them (he’s a big bourbon guy), so we’ll absolutely be adding these to our fall rotation!

I hope you and your loved ones love this recipe! If you try it, please leave a comment or tag @atoastedcrumb on all socials! I’d love to see your work!

Turkey Apple Meatballs with Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze

Recipe by Amber Bogardus

Course: Mains, MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Total time

45

minutes

Tender turkey meatballs are mixed with sweet apple chunks and seasoned with warm spices. They’re baked to perfection and topped with a rich apple cider bourbon glaze, adding a delightful tang and a hint of sweetness. Perfect for a cozy dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer!

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• Turkey Apple Meatballs

• 1 lb ground turkey

• 1 Honeycrisp apple, peeled and shredded or finely diced (that is all up to your texture preference)

• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

• 1/3 cup caramelized onions

• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

• 1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup whole milk

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp black or white pepper

• 1 tbsp fresh parsley

• Apple Cider Bourbon Glaze

• 1 tbsp butter

• 3-4 fresh sage leaves (for garnish), optional

• 1 cup apple cider- If you can’t find it quite yet, apple juice will also work!

• 1/2 cup bourbon

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 2 tsp apple pie spice

• 1 tsp allspice

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs, gently mix – don’t overwork the meat.
• Using a cookie scoop, form the meatballs into 2 inch balls and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or until the meatballs register at 165°.
• While the meatballs are baking, melt the butter in a sauce pan and gently fry the sage leaves. Remove the leaves from pan and add in the remaining glaze ingredients.
• Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low, allowing the sauce to slightly thicken and the alcohol to burn off while the meatballs finish cooking. It should take about 15 – 20 minutes, and the glaze should reduce by half.
• When the meatballs are finished cooking, remove them from the oven and place them into to the glaze. Spoon the glaze over the meatballs, over for 3 – 5 minutes, and they’re ready!

Notes

• If you notice that your glaze has slightly over reduced, just turn the heat down and thin it out with additional apple cider, about 1/4 cup at a time.

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