Pork & Apple Meatballs (BLW friendly)

🥘 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.

HealthyBitesForKids Product Picks

Ninja Food Chopper Express Chop

Great for Mincing, Chopping, Grinding, Blending and Meal Prep.

Buy On Amazon

03. 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

📋 Recipe

Pork & Apple Meatballs (BLW friendly)

Julia Droulia

Easy to hold pork and apple meatballs for babies that follow BLW, toddlers and older kids. Delicious, easy to make and ready in under an hour. Serve them with some veggies on the side or add a couple to your little one's lunchbox. Enjoy!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Suitable for 6+ months

Servings 18 meatballs

Calories 63 kcal

Equipment

• food processor

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 lb ground pork (450gr)
• ▢ 1 cup rolled oats
• ▢ 1 apple
• ▢ 1 onion
• ▢ 1-2 garlic cloves
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ ½ tablespoon vinegar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

 

• Add the oats to a food processor and blend until you have an oatmeal texture. Empty the content into a bowl.
• In the same food processor, add the peeled garlic cloves, onion, olive oil, and vinegar. Blend for a few seconds until everything is chopped but not mashed. Empty the content into the bowl with the oats.
• Peel and grate the apple and add it to the bowl.
• Add the ground pork, Italian seasoning, ground black pepper and salt if using any. Mix everything until all well combined.
• Take a piece of the mixture and start shaping into a ball with your hands. Place the meatball on a lined baking tray. Continue with the remaining mixture.
• Bake for 40–45 minutes in a preheated oven to 375℉ / 190℃.

Video

Notes

• You could use oregano or mixed dried herbs instead of Italian seasoning.
• You could use a little bit of salt for babies over 12 months and older kids.
• I'm using a honeycrisp apple but you could also use a green apple or another type that you have available at home.
• I use lean ground pork (90%), but you could also use a fattier blend. If you choose ground pork with a higher fat content, I recommend using a tray with a rack to allow the fat to drain as the meatballs bake.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 63kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 6gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 17mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g

Keyword blw meatballs, meatballs, pork blw, pork meatballs

Tried this recipe?Mention @healthybitesforkids or tag #healthybitesforkids!

🥣 More to try

If you liked my pork and apple meatballs, you should try some of these recipes too: