Sausage Stuffed Apples

5 from 1 vote

These delicious homemade pork sausage stuffed apples are the ultimate sweet and savory bite! They're easy to make, and absolutely packed with flavor.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 525kcal

Author: Briana

4 medium apples, halved lengthwise (used something firm and sweet, like koru apples, honeycrisp, or braeburn)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
1 small yellow onion, diced
1.5 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 stalk celery, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage, minced
½ teaspoon black pepper, divided
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
16 ounces ground pork or sausage (could use ground turkey or chicken instead)
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Honey, fried sage, thyme, parmesan, pepper, sea salt for garnish (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment. Core the apples, & remove seeds in the middle. Remove apple flesh from the center, leaving about a ½ inch “shell” on the apple. Cut a small piece of the apple off the back of it so it can lay flat. Dice the apple flesh & set it aside.
⁣To a hot skillet, melt butter, then add onion, & celery with a pinch of salt. Cook until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes, then add in apple pieces with garlic, sage, thyme, nutmeg & red pepper flakes. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
After the mixture has cooled, add to a large mixing bowl with ground pork, parmesan cheese, & the remaining salt and pepper. Mix until well combined. Separate the pork mixture into 8 equal-sized balls, & place in the hole in the center of the apples. (Each pork meatball should weigh about 3.25 ounces).
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until pork reads at least 160°F inside. Garnish with a drizzle of oil, honey, flakey sea salt, fresh pepper, thyme, fried sage, & parmesan. That’s it! Enjoy! ⁣

A serving is 2 apple halves, for a total of 4 servings. This recipe makes 8 apple halves.
For substitutions, please see the body of this post.