SugarBee Apple Swedish Meatballs

This cozy twist on Swedish Meatballs brings the natural sweetness and crisp texture of SugarBee Apples into a savory, comforting dish. Tender meatballs made with a blend of ground turkey and pork are paired with caramelized apple slices, warm spices, and a rich brown gravy. Perfect for serving over mashed potatoes, buttery noodles, or sautéed cabbage, and best enjoyed with a dollop of lingonberry sauce.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:
• 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 SugarBee Apple (1/4 small diced, 3/4 thinly sliced – keep separate)
• 1 heaping tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 cup Italian parsley, chopped
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 onion, diced and sautéed
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg (to sprinkle)
• 1/4 tsp allspice (to sprinkle)
• 1 tbsp beef tallow (for searing)

For the Brown Gravy (yields ~1 cup):
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter (or beef tallow)
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt & black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine panko, parmesan, eggs, diced apple, Dijon mustard, parsley, salt,
   pepper, ground turkey, ground pork, and sautéed onion. Mix gently until just combined.
2. Form the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs.
3. Heat beef tallow in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced apples to
   the pan and let them begin to caramelize.
4. Place the meatballs into the skillet, leaving space between each one (if your pan isn’t
   large enough, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding). Once in the pan, lightly sprinkle
   nutmeg and allspice over the meatballs and apple slices.
5. Sear the meatballs on all sides until golden brown and nearly cooked through (about 10–
   12 minutes). Remove meatballs and apples from the pan and set aside.
6. In a separate saucepan, make the gravy: melt butter, whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes
   until golden. Slowly whisk in beef broth, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire. Simmer until
   thickened, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Return meatballs and apple slices to the skillet. Pour the prepared gravy over the top,
   then cover and let everything cook together for 5 minutes so the flavors meld.
8. Serve warm over mashed potatoes, pasta, or sautéed cabbage. Finish with a spoonful of
   lingonberry sauce on the side.