Who can resist a good savory dish? We’re talking Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs. A meal that’s perfect for any day of the week. This recipe of using ground turkey instead is a great meat alternative to this classic dish.
My family absolutely loves spaghetti and meatballs. This meal is always in our weekly rotation no matter what day of the week it is. There’s something special about enjoying this pasta dish with its tomato-based sauce. It’s definitely one of our favorite comfort foods. It’s a family favorite that can be served at gatherings or as a week night meal.
What makes this Dish Delicious?
This hearty deliciousness is a must-make dish for Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs. It’s a great meat alternative, when using ground turkey instead of ground beef. But rest assure that this dish doesn’t skimp on flavor. The combination of the meatballs, spaghetti, and tomato sauce creates a delicious taste with hints of garlic, oregano, and basil.
Ingredients you’ll Need
What Pairs well with Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs?
Just like the your traditional Spaghetti dish, you can serve a nice salad such as Garden, Caesar or Wedge salad before or along with you spaghetti meal. But don’t forget the bread. That’s right, There’s many bread options to choose from such as garlic bread, Italian herb or cheese bread.
And you probably should save room dessert. There’s nothing like having a nice slice of strawberry cheesecake or the red velvet cheesecake.
How to keep Turkey Meatballs from Falling Apart?
Let’s be honest. Raise your hand if you ever had a meatball or two or three to just fall completely apart. If you raised your hand, then you are not alone. For this recipe I used all natural ground turkey 85/15 blend. 85% Lean and 15% Fat.
Here are a few things to consider when making your meatballs:
- What ingredients help to bind the meatballs? The two most common ingredients are eggs and breading, such as bread crumbs. A good rule of thumb I use is 1 egg per pound. However, it’s important to remember that ground turkey is much leaner than ground beef. So when using bread crumbs, I recommend soaking them in milk. This method not only helps hold the meatballs together but also adds moisture to these delicious meat spheres.
- How you Form your Meatballs matter? When it come to forming and shaping your meatballs, I found that wetting my hands before handling, prevents the meatballs from sticking.
- Chill Time Here’s a method that is often overlooked. After forming your meatballs, chill them in the fridge for 20 -30minutes. This method helps firm and hold the shape of the meatballs.
More Delicious Weeknight Meals
- Turkey and Spinach Enchiladas
- Easy One Pan Lime Chicken and Rice
- Red Snapper with Creamy Creole Sauce
- Oven Fried Chicken
- Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Curry
Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 Pot Large
- 1 Food Processer
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Baking Sheet
Ingredients
Turkey Meatballs
- 1 lb. Ground Turkey
- ½ lb. Ground Italian Turkey Sausage
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tbsp. Parsley
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
- ⅓ cup Breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup Milk
- ½ tbsp. Onion Powder
- 1 tbsp. Oregano
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Spaghetti Sauce
- 2 15 oz. Tomato Sauce
- 1 12 oz. Tomato paste
- Cherry tomatoes optional
- Olive Oil
- ¼ cup Parsley Fresh
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 tbsp. Brown Sugar
- 2 cloves Garlic
- ½ Onion cut
- 1 Bell Pepper Red
- 2 tsp. Oregano
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes Optional
- 1 16oz. Spaghetti
Instructions
Turkey Meatballs
- Grab a large bowl, and combine the ground turkey, ground Italian turkey sausage, soaked bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix until all the ingredients are well combined. Use wet hand to form 1- 1½ inch meatballs. Next place the meatballs onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill in thee fridge for 20-30 minutes.
- Heat oil in a skillet. Add Meatballs and cook until brown. Remove the meatballs from the pan onto a dish.
Spaghetti Sauce
- Add the bell pepper, onions, garlic, oil, and parsley to the food processor and give it a few quick pulses.
- Using the same pan the meatballs were cooked in. Heat tomato sauce, tomato paste, bay leaf, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, onion, and bell pepper mixture over medium to high heat. Stir occasionally.
- Put the meatballs in the sauce. Once the sauce starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce.
Spaghetti Pasta
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil with a few drops of oil.
- Add the spaghetti and cook until it is tender, or al dente. Drain the water using a strainer.
- Serve Meatballs and Tomato Sauce over Spaghetti and garnish with parsley. Enjoy.
