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Meatballs and sauce in an iron cast pan

Healthy Meatball Recipe Without Breadcrumbs


  • Author: Melissa
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Here is a favorite healthy meatball recipe without breadcrumbs and all the taste! Simple to make with a few ingredients including ground turkey, spices, parmesan cheese, and a flax egg (for added fiber) instead of an egg. It’s quickly pan-fried for a crispy crust and finished off in the oven for a moist and juicy center. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb organic ground turkey
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 egg or flax egg
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 24oz. jar marinara sauce
  • Toppings: parm cheese and basil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit or 180 celsius. 

  1. Prep: In a medium-size bowl add ground turkey, garlic, cumin, Italian seasoning, onion powder, flax egg, parm cheese, salt, and pepper.
  2. Toss and blend the mixture with hands or a wooden spoon until evenly combined. Divide mixture into 16 parts and roll into 1″ meatballs. 
  3. Cook: Heat a large skillet over medium heat with oil. Brown meatballs in two batches for 2-3 minutes to brown. 
  4. Add Sauce: Remove the pan from heat, add the first batch back to the pan, and pour marinara sauce of choice over the meatballs. Spread sauce to evenly distribute around the meatballs.
  5. Bake: Place pan with meatballs and sauce into the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven.
  6. Garnish: Top off the meatballs with parmesan cheese and some fresh basil or parsley.
  7. Serve over your choice of pasta, rice, or even zucchini noodles to keep it low carb. 

Notes

How to Make a Flax Egg: Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken.

Additional Info.

  • Make sure not to over-cook the meatballs past 165 degrees or they can dry out and become dense.
  • Beef, pork, chicken, or veal could also be used in this recipe.
  • Make an even size meatball to bake evenly.
  • This recipe can make 16 small meatballs or 8 large.
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop & Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 meatballs

Keywords: Meatball Recipe Without Breadcrumbs