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Turkey and Bacon Meatballs with Maple-Dijon Gravy

These Turkey and Bacon Meatballs with Maple-Dijon Gravy are the answer to your dinner goals. it's juicy, smoky, sweet, and savory—all at the same time. And the Maple-Dijon gravy? Well, it’s the icing on the meatball cake (if that makes sense). The perfect balance of flavors with a bit of a twist, these meatballs will quickly become your new go-to recipe when you want to impress (or just feed your family something ridiculously good). Get ready for flavor fireworks. Buckle up, because these meatballs are going to steal the show at your dinner table.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 cup panko or homemade coarse breadcrumbs or whole wheat panko or whole wheat breadcrumbs

  • 1 teaspoon celery salt

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Bell’s poultry seasoning (half a scant palmful)

  • Black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped

  • 1/3-1/2 cup cloudy apple cider

  • A drizzle of olive or canola oil

  • 6 slices thick-cut, uncured good-quality applewood or other smoky bacon, finely diced

  • 1 Braeburn, Honeycrisp or Jonagold apple, peeled and finely diced

  • 2-3 small ribs celery from the heart with leafy tops, finely chopped

  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped

  • Salt

  • 1 round tablespoon dark brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

  • 1/4 cup turkey or chicken stock

  • 2 pounds ground turkey, dark and white meat mix

  • 2 egg yolks

For the gravy:

  • 4 tablespoons butter

  • 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper

  • 3 round tablespoons flour

  • 2 1/2 cups turkey stock or chicken stock

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard

Directions

For the meatballs, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs, then season with celery salt, poultry seasoning and pepper; toast to golden. Remove from the heat and cool. Toss the toasted breadcrumbs with parsley and moisten them with apple cider. Set aside. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Add the bacon and cook to crisp. Remove and add the apples, celery, onion, thyme, salt and pepper. Sauté until tender in the bacon drippings, 3-4 minutes; sprinkle with the brown sugar, then add the vinegar and stock and let the liquid evaporate. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Pre-heat the oven to 375°F. In a mixing bowl, season the ground turkey with salt and pepper and add the breadcrumbs, cooled apple mixture and egg yolks; mix to combine. Roll into 2-inch balls and arrange on a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden and a little crispy, 20-25 minutes. For the gravy, melt the butter in medium size saucepot over medium heat. Add the pepper, stir for 30 seconds, then whisk in the flour and let the mixture come to a bubble. Whisk in the stock and thicken; add the Worcestershire and maple syrup. Remove from the heat and whisk in the mustard; season with salt, to taste. Serve the meatballs with toothpicks and a warm bowl of gravy for dipping.