Chicken Apple Meatballs
Servings: meatballs
These juicy apple chicken meatballs are the perfect mixture of sweet and savory flavors, making them especially appealing to young kids! They're also loaded with protein from the ground chicken and egg, yet are soft enough for babies to eat. They're great for the whole family!
Ingredients
- 1 pound extra lean ground chicken
- 1 small apple peeled and shredded (about half a cup of shredded apple)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup shredded onion (or about half a small onion shredded)
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs or almond flour
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a baking tray by lining it with some parchment paper. The raw meatballs will go on the tray.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the shredded apple, grated onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, thyme and salt (if using).
- Add ground chicken and mix using your hands until the meat mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Take about 1 tablespoon of the meatball mixture and roll it in your hands, shaping it into a ball. Place the ball onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat with the remaining mixture. You will have approximately 30-35 meatballs.
- Refrigerate the meatballs for 10 minutes to allow them to firm up slightly.
To Cook on Stovetop
- Heat some olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the meatballs one by one into the frying pan and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Using tongs, flip the meatballs over and cook for another 4-5 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked and lightly browned on the outside.
- Use a meat thermometer if you need to make sure the meatballs are fully cooked. Chicken is done cooking when its internal temperature reaches 165ºF (75ºC).
To Cook in Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° F.
- Place the meatballs in the air fryer with space in between (you might need to work in batches) and cook 10-12 minutes, until fully cooked through. Serve warm with your favorite sides.
