Healthier Turkey Meatball Recipe

There was this song that we would sing when I was little, and I am not sure if you know it, but the lyrics went like this: "On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed." The rest of the song proceeds to tell the tale how the meatball rolls off the table, out the door, and finally becomes mushed.

The song is supposed to be funny, but when I was a child, it made me incredibly sad. For years, I would hear this song sung by various family members, I had to actively fight the urge to break into tears. To me, losing that meatball might as well have been losing a loved one.

Maybe my family members are just really good actors. Maybe it was the words "poor meatball" that got me choked up....I don't know but one thing I can tell you is that it still makes me sad. I hope when you make this recipe, you don't lose it when someone sneezes it off the table...if you do, though, know I am sad for you and your poor meatball.

You know what I realized at just this moment? How easy meatballs really are. Throw a bunch of stuff in a bowl and mix it with your hands. Easy. 

Here I have a pound of ground turkey, an egg, bread crumbs, oregano, garlic, spinach, and crushed red pepper. Put it ALL in the bowl and mix it with your hands. Mixing it with your hands is the only way. 

Well, I take that back, you can use something else if you want...but it won't taste as good, I tell ya, it just won't! 

COOL! It's all mixed and such. Perfectly, might I add, because I did it with my hands. 

Now it's time to roll those meatballs! I make mine about the size of a golf ball, perhaps just a bit bigger. 

Here's a closer look at my balls. 

My husband walked through the kitchen about this point and you know what he said? He said, "These smell great and they aren't even cooked yet!" My husband was right. I wish you could smell these balls. 

Now, at this point, if you want you can stick these in the fridge until you are ready to bake them. Or you can bake them right away. Your choice. 

I cooked these on 400 degrees for about 40 minutes, but you are mostly shooting for an internal temp of 160 degrees. I use my thermometer, which I just love. 

You can totally serve these meatballs with red sauce, but I wanted them to shine so I served them with an artichoke and egg pasta. The recipe for this great pasta is coming next week!!! 

Between three of us, we devoured these meatballs leaving only 2. Yea, I know, that's some serious eating. But I am serious about my food, so..... 

Healthier Turkey Meatballs 

Time: Prep 10 minutes, bake 40 mins | Makes 20 meatballs | Difficulty: Easy! 

You Will Need: 

1 pound ground turkey meat 

5 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained 

4 cloves garlic, minced 

1 egg

1/3 cup breadcrumbs 

1/3 cup parmesan cheese 

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 

salt and pepper 

Method: 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

In a medium mixing bowl, combine ingredients. And by "combine" I mean you need to mix it with your hands. Don't be afraid. Be happy, you are awesome because you are mixing meatballs with your hands! 

Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Why? Because parchment paper is god's gift to baking. 

Roll your meatballs. I like mine to be just bigger than a golf ball, but I am a unique human. You can make yours bigger or smaller depending on your own unique human status in life and your personal tastes. Keep in mind, it may change your cook time slightly. 

Bake on 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until internal meatball temperature registers 160 degrees. 

Serve over pasta.