
dinner · meal-prep · 40 min
Turkey zucchini meatballs
Small turkey meatballs with grated zucchini, baked and warmed in tomato sauce with a little whole wheat pasta.
By GLP-3 Wiki · Updated September 2026 · How we review
AI-generated recipe illustration
makes 4 servings
One serving: 4 small meatballs with pasta. Nutrition is estimated per serving; changing the batch size scales the ingredients.
Prep: 15 min · Cook: 25 min · Total: 40 min
Contains: egg, wheat. Check ingredient labels for allergens and cross-contact.
Ingredients
- 400 g93% lean ground turkey, raw
- 160 gZucchini — grated
- 1Large egg
- 30 gPlain dry breadcrumbs
- 300 gPlain canned tomato sauce
- 120 gDry whole wheat pasta
- 5 gOlive oil
- 1 gDried oregano
- 4 gGarlic — finely grated
Steps
Mix gently
Heat the oven to 400°F / 200°C. Squeeze excess liquid from the grated zucchini. Mix with turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic and oregano just until combined.
Shape and bake
Brush a baking tray with the oil. Shape the mixture into small, equally sized meatballs, about 16 for the base batch. Bake for 18–22 minutes, until their centers reach 165°F / 74°C.
Cook the pasta
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling water according to the package instructions. Drain, reserving a little cooking water.
Warm the sauce
Gently heat the tomato sauce in a wide pan. Add meatballs and a splash of pasta water if needed. Serve each portion with a quarter of the pasta and sauce.
For a smaller portion
Start with two meatballs and a few forkfuls of pasta. Mash the meatballs into the sauce if you prefer smaller pieces.
Notes
- Refrigerate in shallow containers within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F / 32°C. Keep at 40°F / 4°C or below for up to 3 days; reheat the portion you need to 165°F / 74°C.
- Freeze the meatballs and sauce separately from the pasta for up to 2 months. If tomato does not suit you, choose a different dish or use a tolerated sauce and recalculate nutrition.
Download the 50-recipe book (PDF)
Prints ingredients for 4 servings, with nutrition per serving.
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