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Apple Chicken Meatballs with Spiced Sweet Potatoes Recipe

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★★★★

3.8 from 40 reviews

Delicious and comforting Apple Chicken Meatballs paired with spiced mashed sweet potatoes. These meatballs combine ground chicken, fresh apple, walnuts, and cheddar cheese for a flavorful twist, baked to perfection and served alongside creamy sweet potatoes infused with warm spices and a touch of maple syrup.

Ingredients

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Chicken Apple Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 2 oz cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, finely diced
  • 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Cayenne pepper, to taste

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

  • 2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • Salt, to taste
  • Cayenne pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat and bake sweet potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the sweet potatoes directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet and bake until a knife easily pierces to the center without resistance, approximately 60-75 minutes depending on size. Begin baking the sweet potatoes, allowing them to cook for about 30 minutes before starting the meatballs.
  2. Sauté onion and apple: In a small sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, diced apple, and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the mixture softens and becomes fragrant. Deglaze the pan with 1 teaspoon soy sauce, stirring to combine, then remove from heat and allow to cool.
  3. Prepare the baking sheet: Lightly grease a baking sheet with olive oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
  4. Combine meatball ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, freshly grated cheddar cheese, chopped parsley, finely diced walnuts, grated ginger, salt, cracked black pepper, cayenne, and the cooled sautéed onion and apple mixture. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
  5. Form meatballs and bake: Shape the mixture into 2-inch diameter balls, which should yield about 14 to 16 meatballs. Place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated 400°F oven for 15 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned. If the meatballs stick to the baking sheet when removing, gently use a fish spatula to lift them off.
  6. Prepare mashed sweet potatoes: Once the sweet potatoes are done baking and cool enough to handle, peel off the skins and place the flesh into a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and the spices: cinnamon, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, plus salt and cayenne to taste. Mash everything together with a fork until smooth and creamy.
  7. Serve: Plate the mashed sweet potatoes alongside the hot chicken apple meatballs, and optionally drizzle a little extra maple syrup over the potatoes for added sweetness and warmth. Enjoy this cozy and flavorful meal!

Notes

  • Ensure the sweet potatoes are fully soft before peeling for the creamiest mash.
  • The walnuts add a nice crunch, but can be omitted for a nut-free version.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper according to your spice preference.
  • If you prefer smaller meatballs, cooking time may slightly decrease.
  • Leftover meatballs can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
  • For gluten-free, substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Keywords: chicken meatballs, apple meatballs, sweet potatoes, spiced mashed sweet potatoes, baked meatballs, healthy chicken recipe, fall recipe

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/apple-chicken-meatballs-with-spiced-sweet-potatoes-recipe/