Baked Pork and Apple Nuggets
Tender little nuggets of ground pork mixed with sweet grated apple and a hint of cinnamon, baked until golden and juicy. Naturally sweet from the apple, with no added sugar or salt. Perfect for little hands learning to self-feed, and gentle on tiny tummies. Dairy-free and soy-free, these nuggets are moist, easy to chew, and freezer-friendly for quick meals all week.
By TasteBuds
Recipe details
- Yield
- 4 toddler portions (about 20 nuggets)
- Prep time
- 15 minutes
- Cook time
- 18 minutes
- Total time
- 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground pork (preferably not extra-lean; a little fat keeps the nuggets moist)
- 1 medium Apple, peeled and coarsely grated (Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp work beautifully)
- ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Peel 1 medium apple and grate it on the large holes of a box grater. You want a coarse, shaggy texture. No need to squeeze out the juice; the moisture helps keep the nuggets tender.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 lb ground pork, the grated apple, and ¼ tsp ground cinnamon. Use your hands to mix gently until everything is just combined. Don't overmix or the nuggets will be tough.
- Scoop out about 1 tbsp of the mixture at a time and gently roll it into a small nugget, roughly the size of a walnut. Place each nugget on the lined baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart. You should get around 20 nuggets. They don't need to be perfect; rustic shapes are totally fine.
- Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, until the nuggets are cooked through and the edges are just starting to brown. They should feel firm when you press gently, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a nugget should read 160°F (71°C). The apple keeps them moist, so they won't look as browned as plain meatballs.
- Let the nuggets cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before serving. They'll firm up a bit as they rest, making them easier for little hands to grab.