Apple Pork BBQ Meatballs

Apple Pork BBQ Meatballs (Paleo/AIP) are great as an appetizer, a meal with sides, or as a game day tailgating snack. Easy to make, too!

You guys. These little gems are going in the category of Recipes That No One Will Suspect Are AIP/Paleo. I’ve wanted to make some barbecue meatballs for a while now, and inspiration finally hit. Huzzah!

There are a couple of secret ingredients that add a little something-something. One is pork panko, which lends a very slight hint of bacon. The other is organic pumpkin purée, which I promise you won’t be able to taste. All the tastes that you would expect of an apple barbecue sauce are here – the molasses, the vinegar, the apples. When you put them all together… *chef’s kiss!

Serving suggestions

These babies will be fantastic as a party appetizer, a game day snack, tailgating food, or even as a meal at home. Try them:

• In Gordita Tortillas with shredded cabbage, like a barbecue taco
• With Curly Fries on movie night
• Next to AIP Mashed Potatoes and Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts as a meal

Special equipment

You won’t need special equipment for this one, but there are two items that are really handy to have. One is a one-tablespoon cookie scoop. You can use this to portion out consistent amounts of meat, and save some mess on your hands.

The other handy item is a silicone baking mat for your baking tray. This will save you from buying parchment paper, and the meatballs will not stick to it!

Happy fall, y’all! As always, I’m wishing you great love and deep healing.

💗,

Wendi

P.S. Did you sign up for my monthly magazine? It’s freeeeeee! Signup is in the sidebar of my site, and you’ll get recipes for a complete spaghetti dinner just for signing up! See you there. 😀

Apple Pork BBQ Meatballs

Recipe by Wendi’s AIP Kitchen – http://www.wendisaipkitchen.com Course: Appetizers, MainCuisine: AIP, PaleoDifficulty: Easy

Yield

24

meatballs

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Apple Pork BBQ Meatballs (Paleo/AIP) are great as an appetizer, a meal with sides, or as a game day tailgating snack. Easy to make, too!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. 1 ground pork

• 2 TBSP 2 finely chopped onion

• 2 TBSP 2 + 2 TBSP pork panko or ground pork rinds, divided

• 1 TBSP 1 + 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, divided

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 + 1 tsp sea salt, divided

• 1/4 cup 1/4 apple cider vinegar

• 1/4 cup 1/4 unfiltered apple juice

• 1/4 cup 1/4 unsulphured blackstrap molasses

• 1/4 cup 1/4 organic pumpkin purée

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, combine pork, onions, 2 tablespoons pork panko, 1 tablespoon applesauce, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. With a one-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out the meat mixture onto a parchment- or silicone-lined baking tray. Bake for 30 minutes.
• While meatballs are baking, whisk together 2 tablespoons pork panko, 1/2 cup applesauce, 1 teaspoon salt, and the rest of the ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to bubble, then reduce heat to simmer until the meatballs are done.
• When meatballs are done, carefully(!) toss them in the BBQ sauce until all meatballs are well-coated. Serve as an appetizer with picks, in Gordita Tortillas with shredded cabbage, or with Curly Fries. Great for tailgating!

We are a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.