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Turkey Meatball Marinara Comfort Food Dinner

These tender turkey meatballs simmered in rich marinara sauce prove that Italian comfort food can absolutely fit into your healthy eating plan! Serve them over zucchini noodles or a small portion of whole wheat pasta for a dinner that'll have the whole family asking for seconds. Plus, they're perfect for making ahead on busy weeknights!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground turkey 93% lean
  • ½ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 cups low-sodium marinara sauce
  • 4 cups spiralized zucchini noodles
  • Fresh basil for garnish
  • Cooking spray

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
  3. Form mixture into 16 meatballs (about 1½ inches each) and place on prepared baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and lightly browned.
  5. While meatballs bake, heat marinara sauce in a large skillet over medium heat.
  6. Add cooked meatballs to the marinara sauce and simmer for 10 minutes to let flavors meld.
  7. In the last 2-3 minutes, add zucchini noodles to a separate pan and sauté until just tender.
  8. Serve 4 meatballs over 1 cup of zucchini noodles with marinara sauce. Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan if desired.