Easy-to-prepare, aromatic pork and apple oven meatballs, great for babies that are starting solids and kids of all ages.

Meatballs are great for babies following the BLW method, as well as toddlers and older kids. They're easy to hold and eat with their hands, and you can add finely chopped or grated veggies for extra nutrients and flavor.
Pork and apple is a delicious combination, so I decided to try it in meatball form. They turned out so good—soft, with a lightly sweet flavor—and everyone loved them. I just had to share them with you!
If you are looking for more ground meat ideas, take a look at ground beef meatballs or at my recipe for ground beef puff pastry pockets.
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👩🏻🍳 Why you should try my recipe
- Suitable for babies, toddlers and kids of all ages.
- Ready in under 60 minutes.
- Perfect for snacking and easy to pack.
- Great on their own, with veggies or rice.
🥘 Ingredients
To make these BLW friendly pork meatballs, we are going to use ground pork, apple, onion, garlic, olive oil, oats, vinegar, ground black pepper and some Italian seasoning.
- Oats: I'm using rolled or old-fashioned oats but you could also use quick oats.
- Ground pork: I'm using lean ground pork with low fat percentage but you could use a more fatty one if you prefer the flavor.
- Italian seasoning: This is a mix of different dried herbs like basil, thyme, oregano. You could use your own mix, or herbs de Provence or just some oregano or dried thyme.

For full quantities and to print the recipe, see the recipe card below.
🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
So get your ingredients ready and let's get started!
01. I add the oats to a food processor and blend them until they become oatmeal. I empty the content to a bowl along with the ground pork.
02. In the same food processor, I add the onion, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. You could also chop them with the knife but I find it quicker this way.

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Buy On Amazon03. I peel and grate an apple and add it to the bowl with the oatmeal and ground pork. You could use any type of apple you like. A sweeter apple will give make the pork meatballs sweeter, or a green apple for a stronger apple flavor.
04. I add the dried herbs and ground black pepper. If you are making the pork and apple meatballs for older kids and adults, you could add a little bit of salt.

05. I mix everything well until it’s fully combined, then start forming the meatballs. I take a small piece and pass it from one hand to the other, lightly pressing it until I get a round shape. We want to remove most of the air and make it slightly smooth all around.
06. I place the meatballs on a lined baking tray and bake for 40–45 minutes until they have a nice brown color. You could also use a tray with a rack, or, instead of parchment paper, brush some oil on the bottom of the tray.

🍽 Serving suggestions
Babies 6m-12m: For babies under 9 months, you could serve the pork and apple meatballs cut in half so it's easier to bite and hold with their hands. Add a couple to their plate along with some veggies or some potato wedges, or make an easy yogurt, cucumber & dill dip and let them dip the meatballs in.
Toddlers & Older kids: For all other ages, you could offer the pork meatballs for their main meal with some mashed potatoes, healthy sweet potato fries, steamed veggies or ketchup to dip them in. You could also add them to some pita bread or a wrap with some salad and a dressing.
🧰 Storage
If you have any leftover pork and apple meatballs, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. You could warm them up in the microwave or a non-stick frying pan before serving.
The meatballs can also be frozen. Shape them, lay them on a tray, and freeze for an hour or two. Then transfer them to a ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 2–3 months. When you're ready to bake, there's no need to thaw—just place them on a tray with a rack and bake for 40–45 minutes, until they have a nice brown color.

❓ FAQ
Yes, after baking the pork meatballs, you could add them to a cooked marinara sauce and serve them with pasta.
You could add fresh or dried herbs to pork meatballs to add more flavor and aromas. Some herbs that go well are fresh parsley, fresh or dried mint, oregano, basil and thyme.
📋 Recipe
🥣 More to try
If you liked my pork and apple meatballs, you should try some of these recipes too:
Julia Droulia
I really loved creating this recipe and post for you; My family loves these meatballs and I hope you make it and enjoy it as much as we do.
Please leave me a comment here and share your feedback with a star rating as well