Ingredients:
For the Turkey Meatballs:
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably whole grain)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- Olive oil for cooking For the Whole Grain Pasta:
- 8 ounces whole grain pasta (such as whole grain, whole wheat or brown rice pasta)
- Salt for boiling water
For the Tomato Sauce (optional):
- 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste Instructions:
Prepare the Meatballs:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, chopped parsley, egg, minced garlic, salt, pepper, dried oregano, and dried
- Mix everything together until well Form the Meatballs:
- Using your hands, shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 5 inches in diameter. You should get approximately 12 meatballs.
Cook the Meatballs:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive
- Place the meatballs in the skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked through and have a nice golden-brown You may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Once cooked, remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them Prepare the Whole Grain Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a
- Cook the whole grain pasta according to the package instructions until al
- Drain the pasta and set it Make the Tomato Sauce (optional):
- In the same skillet used for the meatballs, add a bit more olive oil if
- Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes and add dried oregano, salt, and pepper to Simmer for a few minutes to heat through.
Combine and Serve:
- Place the cooked whole grain pasta on serving
- Top with the lean turkey
- If using tomato sauce, spoon it over the meatballs and
- Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if
- Serve hot and enjoy your delicious and nutritious lean turkey meatballs with whole grain pasta!
Feel free to adjust the seasonings and ingredients to suit your taste preferences. Enjoy your meal!