Pro-tip: You can easily substitute any type of ground meat in this recipe. Don't eat pork? No problem! Double up the ground turkey, or opt for ground beef and these little babies will be just as delicious, guaranteed.
Ingredients1-2 T olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey 1 lb. ground pork 2 T minced garlic 1 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese 2 T fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional) 2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs 2 eggs 1 cup lukewarm water 2 jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce |
Directions1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, and coat the ENTIRE surface with 1-2 T of olive oil.
2. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, ground pork, garlic, grated cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. If you so desire, add crushed red pepper as well. This gives you the chance to proclaim at whim, "Mama mia, that's a spicy meatball!" (Pro-tip: If you do not want to buy a whole bundle of parsley just for 2 tablespoons, do not fret. You can substitute dried parsley and your meatballs will be just as delicious.) 3. Fold breadcrumbs into mixture 1 cup at a time. Add eggs and mix well. Next add lukewarm water to mixture 1/4 cup at a time. Adding these ingredients in increments prevents your bowl from overflowing, and makes it easier to knead the mixture together without making a mess. |
4. Let the rolling begin! Try to make your meatballs roughly the same size so that they cook evenly. I like to make my meatballs about 1.5-2" in diameter. Mostly because that means a lot less rolling overall! You should end up with 20-30 meatballs, depending on how big you make them.
5. As you roll out your meatballs, place them on your prepared baking sheet. Leave space between the meatballs so they cook evenly and do not stick together. Cook in pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they start to brown.
6. Once your meatballs have baked, take them out of the oven and put them into a large pot or Dutch oven. Add your favorite pasta sauce, cover, and simmer on low for 30 minutes. This step ensures your meatballs are cooked all the way through as well.
7. Prepare your favorite pasta according to directions on package. Add your meatballs and sauce to cooked pasta, and enjoy!
5. As you roll out your meatballs, place them on your prepared baking sheet. Leave space between the meatballs so they cook evenly and do not stick together. Cook in pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they start to brown.
6. Once your meatballs have baked, take them out of the oven and put them into a large pot or Dutch oven. Add your favorite pasta sauce, cover, and simmer on low for 30 minutes. This step ensures your meatballs are cooked all the way through as well.
7. Prepare your favorite pasta according to directions on package. Add your meatballs and sauce to cooked pasta, and enjoy!
Pro-tip: If you aren't cooking for an army of people you may be wondering what on Earth you will do with all of these leftover meatballs. You can easily reheat and re-purpose meatballs into a variety of other dishes, such as meatball subs or use them as a pizza topping. Meatballs will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week, and can be frozen for up to 6 months!!
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