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Baked turkey meatballs served with a tomato-based sauce.
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5 from 2 votes

Zucchini Turkey Meatballs Recipe

These Zucchini Turkey Meatballs are juicy, tender, packed with Italian flavor, and ready in only 30 minutes. Serve them with your favorite pasta for a comforting, family-friendly meal, or simply pair them with a tomato-based sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for a low-carb, no-fuss option.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American/Italian
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 30 meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 cup grated zucchini from one large or two small zucchinis ~ 190 grams
  • 1 pound ground turkey meat
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs ~ 40 gr
  • ½ cup chopped scallion both white and green parts ~56 gr
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
  • Prep the zucchini: Shred the zucchini using the large holes of a box grater. Place it in the middle of a clean tea towel, collect it from the sides, and squeeze as much liquid as possible. You should have about 1 cup of shredded zucchini. Transfer it to a large bowl.
  • Mix the ingredients: Add the turkey, panko breadcrumbs, chopped scallions, minced garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, red pepper flakes, egg, salt, and black pepper into the bowl. Mix until fully combined.
  • Shape the meatballs: Using a small cookie scoop or a large spoon, divide the meat mixture into small golf-size balls. Each ball should be around 0.88 oz. Roll each turkey meatball between your palms and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until the internal temperature of a turkey meatball reaches 165 degrees F when a thermometer is inserted in the middle.
  • Serve: Enjoy it with your favorite sauce, or serve it with pasta.

Video

Notes

  • Store: You can store your leftover meatballs with or without tomato sauce. Either way, let them cool to room temperature before placing them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
  • Reheat: You can reheat your leftovers in the microwave or in the oven. Microwave in 30-second intervals, making sure to stir them after each interval (especially if you’re reheating them with tomato sauce). You can also reheat your turkey meatballs in the oven. I recommend a low-heat oven (300 degrees F) for about 5 minutes or so. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to serve your meatballs with tomato sauce, you can heat up the meatballs in the sauce on the stovetop. 
  • Freeze: If you decide to serve your turkey meatballs, you can freeze them with the sauce in an airtight container. However, I find it easier to freeze the meatballs individually so they don’t stick together. Place the leftover meatballs in a single layer on a large baking sheet, let them freeze, and then store them in an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag. However you choose to freeze them, they should keep for about 2 months.
  • Thaw: Thaw your leftovers overnight in the fridge and reheat once completely thawed. 
  • Can I cook the turkey meatballs in a skillet instead of baking them in the oven? You sure can. To do so, heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until the oil is shimmering. Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook, turning often, for 2-3 minutes on each side (a total of 5-6 minutes) or until the internal temperature of turkey meatballs reaches 165 degrees F. Transfer the pan-fried meatballs to a plate or place them right into warmed tomato sauce. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 73IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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