Italian-style meatballs are a staple among comfort food seekers... but finding a healthy recipe can be challenging. These are by far our favorite healthy meatballs, with the perfect blend of spices and a texture that even Nonnas would approve of!
We bought a whole turkey from the grocery store after Thanksgiving (when they were dirty cheap) and ground the whole bird ourselves with our Kitchen Aid mixer. It's a fun project for everyone if you have a Kitchen Aid and the grinder attachment, but you can purchase ground turkey by the pound at your grocery store.
Our secret to making healthy meatballs with the traditional beef meatball texture is adding OATMEAL... I know... it's genius!
Perfect sized meatballs should fit in the palm of your hand and be a little larger than golf balls
To achieve the best flavor, meatballs are pan-seared on each side to create a deep brown "crust" before baking
Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Turkey
1/4 cup Quaker Oats Quick Cook (1 minute) Oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Dried Basil
1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine ingredients in mixing bowl and mix thoroughly (for best results mix with your hands until just combined)
3. Portion into 3 oz balls (slightly larger than a golf ball)
4. Heat olive oil in ovenproof pan over medium high heat before adding meatballs- the pan should be hot enough to HEAR the sizzling reaction when you add the meatballs (#hearthesear)
5. Sear the meatballs for 3 minutes on one side or until deep brown in color**
6. Flip the meatballs and immediately place pan in preheated oven- make sure your pan is oven-safe (see below for instruction on using a baking dish
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until thermometer reads 165 degrees
*If transferring to a baking dish/sheet, pan-sear meatballs 3 minutes on each side before baking.