Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs

⏱ 42 mins 🍽 48 meatballs, 12 serving(s) 🏷 Meatballs

These homemade meatballs feature a savoury beef mixture seasoned with garlic and cayenne pepper. They are browned until crisp, then coated in a glossy, sweet and spicy glaze made from apple juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar. The dish is finished with a sprinkle of fresh green onions. Using frozen meatballs can save time. The total preparation and cooking time is 42 minutes, which includes a 10 minute resting period.

Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 slices white bread or 2 slices whole wheat bread, torn
  • 1 lb 85% lean ground beef
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup apple juice or 1 cup pear nectar
  • 1/4 reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 6 green onions, chopped

Method

  1. To prepare the meatball mixture, whisk the egg and milk together in a large bowl.
  2. Add the torn bread pieces to the bowl and allow them to soak for 10 minutes until soft.
  3. Mix in the ground beef, minced garlic, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper until fully combined.
  4. Form the beef mixture into 48 individual meatballs, each about one inch in size.
  5. Heat the vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet.
  6. Cook the meatballs in two separate batches for about 6 minutes each, turning them until browned and cooked through.
  7. Move the cooked meatballs to a dish, cover it, and set aside to keep warm.
  8. Pour off any fat from the skillet and wipe it clean.
  9. For the glaze, mix the apple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
  10. Pour this mixture into the same skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until it comes to a full boil and thickens.
  11. Continue to cook and stir the glaze for 2 minutes more.
  12. Place the meatballs back into the skillet, stirring to coat them evenly in the hot glaze.
  13. Transfer the glazed meatballs to a serving platter and garnish with the chopped green onions.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium106300 mg

Recipe details

CategoryMeatballs
AuthorElizabethKnicely