Easy Applesauce Meatballs
Get ready to elevate your dinner game with these flavor-packed Easy Applesauce Meatballs! This recipe combines tender, juicy meatballs made from a perfectly seasoned blend of ground beef, breadcrumbs, and spices, with a sweet and tangy homemade glaze featuring unsweetened applesauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce. The result is a delightful balance of savory and sweet in every bite. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish requires just 15 minutes of prep and bakes in a single skillet for easy cleanup. Serve these meatballs as a standalone appetizer, over fluffy rice, or alongside creamy mashed potatoes for a satisfying family meal. With its ease of preparation, rich flavors, and versatile serving options, this recipe is a delicious twist on classic comfort food that will keep everyone coming back for more.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
- 0.5 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined but do not overwork the meat.
Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, about the size of a walnut. You should have approximately 20–24 meatballs.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and sear for 2–3 minutes on each side until browned. Remove from heat but leave the meatballs in the skillet.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce to create the glaze.
Pour the glaze evenly over the browned meatballs in the skillet, making sure to coat each one.
Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Remove the skillet from the oven and let the meatballs rest for a few minutes. Serve warm on their own, over rice, or with mashed potatoes.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1838 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 117.3 g | 150% | |
| Saturated Fat | 38.5 g | 192% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 18.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 541 mg | 180% | |
| Sodium | 3517 mg | 153% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 120.3 g | 44% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.6 g | 20% | |
| Total Sugars | 65.6 g | ||
| Protein | 93.0 g | 186% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.3 mcg | 7% | |
| Calcium | 140 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 11.7 mg | 65% | |
| Potassium | 1446 mg | 31% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
