Midwestern Apple Maple Breakfast Meatballs

Maple-Apple-Glazed Breakfast Meatballs


Makes: 8 servings
Prep 40 mins
Bake 8 mins to 10 mins

Perfect for holiday brunches, mini pork meatballs are a sweet and salty alternative to sides of bacon or sausage.
Ingredients

Meatballs
Nonstick cooking spray
1 egg
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1 small red-skinned cooking apple, cored and finely choppped (about 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons snipped fresh sage or 1/2 teaspoon dried sage, crushed
3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound ground pork
Maple-Apple Glaze
1/4 cup apple jelly
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Fresh sage (optional)

Directions

Meatballs Line a15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil; coat with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat egg lightly with a fork. Stir in oats, apple, sage, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper. Add pork; mix until combined.
Meatballs Shape mixture into 40, 1-inch meatballs. Place meatballs 1/2 inch apart in prepared baking pan.
Meatballs Bake meatballs in a 400 degrees F oven on the middle rack of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until cooked through (160 degrees F).
Maple-Apple Glaze Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat jelly and maple syrup over medium-low heat, whisking until jelly is melted and mixture is smooth. Drizzle 1/4 cup of the jelly mixture over the baked meatballs, lightly toss to coat and bake meatballs 2 minutes more.
Maple-Apple Glaze Transfer meatballs to a serving platter. Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup of jelly mixture. If you like, garnish with fresh sage.

Make Ahead Tip

Prepare meatballs as directed through step 2. Cover and chill meatballs up to 4 hours. To serve, uncover meatballs and bake as directed.