Cheesy Baked Turkey Meatballs cooked in Marinara sauce to keep them flavorful and moist. An irresistable comfort food that only takes 30 minutes to make!
Cheesy Baked Turkey Meatballs in Marinara
Happy Labor Day!
It’s kinda crazy that this is the first Labor Day in over 10 years that I get to spend with family.
I guess it’s still kinda surreal to me that I can drive home from the grocery store and stop by my parents house because it’s on the way!?
Anywho. So if you’re wondering what I’m doing today .. as I’m sure you all are. In fact, I know that you woke up at 4am today because you knew that’s when my post was coming out, just so you could see what I was doing today. Well, I’m with my parents and my husbands parents.
Ok, I’m done.
Let’s get right to business shall we.
Turkey meatballs!
I was never a fan of meatballs growing up. If my mom made spaghetti it was usually with a meat sauce that she made from scratch, never meatballs.
I have only made meatballs once since Mike and I’ve been married. Okay, twice if you count this time. The last time I just baked them on a sheet pan, they were turkey and turned out kinda dry.
This time. Oh no … that was not the case at all!
The meat mixture itself was really moist, which is awesome considering it’s turkey and turkey can get dry really fast. The trick? I seared the meatballs first in a skillet to lock in all the flavors.
Then I poured my favorite Marinara sauce all over them. Basically covering them in liquid to ensure those meatballs don’t dry out and are the moistest most delicious meatballs you will E V E R have! The flavor from the meatballs seeps into the marinara sauce making this dish absolutely irresistible.
Oh, and don’t forget to cover these bad boys with cheese.
Because … um … cheese is everything! It’s the game changer. No body looks at a spoon with melting cheese dripping down and says ..
“um.. no thank you. No cheese please.”
Only crazy people say that. And honestly there is only 3/4 cup of cheese in this anyways which means each meatballs maybe has like a tablespoon. So get over it and eat the cheese .. you know you want to!
So, what to eat the meatballs with? Well, we at them with Spaghetti Squash. But you could serve them over pasta, zucchini noodles, or make a meatball sub with them! Either way you need this comfort food in your life!
Bon Appetit friends!
Cheesy Baked Turkey Meatballs in Marinara
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 12 meatballs 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Cheesy Baked Turkey Meatballs cooked in Marinara sauce to keep them flavorful and moist. An irresistable comfort food that only takes 30 minutes to make!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground turkey
- 1 cup diced red onion
- 2 garlic cloves, diced
- 1 1/2 cups diced fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon dry oregano
- 1 tablespoon dry basil
- 1 tablespoon dry parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 jar of marinara sauce (I used Muir Glen … use whatever is your favorite)
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450.
- In a large mixing bowl, add ground turkey, red onion, garlic cloves, fresh spinach, parmesan cheese, eggs, oregano, basil, parsley, salt, fennel seeds, and black pepper. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients.
- Form into twelve 2″ balls.
- Heat are large cast iron skillet to medium high heat.
- Add olive oil to the skillet, and then place the meatballs in the pan.
- Sear both sides of the meatball for 3 minutes, until it has nice browning.
- Cover the meatballs with 1 large jar of marinara sauce.
- Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove pan from oven, sprinkle with cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until internal temperature of meatballs reached 165 degrees.
Filed Under:
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO SNAP A PIC AND HASHTAG IT #JOYFULHEALTHYEATS. I LOVE SEEING WHAT YOU MAKE!
Want More Comfort Food?
Creamy Butternut Squash Alfredo Pasta
Roasted Fennel Cauliflower Soup with Crispy Bacon
Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon Garlic Butter
32 comments on “Cheesy Baked Turkey Meatballs in Marinara”
We made this last night and WOW what a hit! The herb flavors were delicious. I used an Aribetta (spicy) sauce for a kick up in flavor. We served this over buttered angel hair pasta with sides of garlic bread, and green salad. *the recipe made eighteen 1½” meatballs.
Sounds like the perfect meal to me! I always love a little flavor kick!
Soooo GOOD!!! These are the only meatballs I make! Delicious!!!
I just made these last week … totally forgot how good they are. Totally hit the spot. So glad you liked them Stacey!
I made these delicious meatballs last night, and boy oh boy they are the absolute best tasting turkey meatball by far! I love that you incorporated spinach into the meatballs. I used a homemade marinara sauce, and served it with hot buttered french bread….delish! I didn’t take a picture but I will be making this often. Thank you for sharing!
haha… hurray! So glad to hear that Bonnie! These are one of our favorites too, sneaking spinach was a mom win for me. Anyway to get those veggies in. 🙂 Thanks for stopping in and sharing your experience, I appreciate it!
Made this last night except I browned them on the side burner of my gas grill and baked them in the grill. It’s too HOT in Florida to turn on the oven! These are fantastic!! I wouldn’t hesitate to add zucchini or carrots or any other veggie next time if they are on hand. Thank you!!
Oh.. hurray so glad to hear that Kristine! And I feel ya on it being too hot! It’s 90 degrees here in Houston … record highs. All I want are cool breezes. 🙁
I’ve made these twice now and each time they are so delicious, I am sad when they’re gone!! Thanks for a fabulous and grain-free recipe! Win!
Oh yeah so glad! I’m making it this weekend, can’t wait!
I made these yesterday with a few tweaks to compensate for the ingredients I had on hand. Delicious and they look fantastic! My kids weren’t fans of the fennel but next time I think I’ll let them grind them in our molcajete so they enjoy them more.
Hurray! So glad you liked them Diana … and great idea on the fennel! It will break it down a little bit more so hopefully the kiddos won’t notice them. 🙂
I love baking meatballs in marinara! I just want to dive right in!!!
I do now too! It keeps them so moist and flavorful! Best way to make meatballs!
Cheesy meatballs are the best kind! 😉 These look amazing!
They so are! Thanks Carrie! 🙂
TWIN: I posted meatballs on labor day too! Soul mates (or at least dinner mates 🙂 ). Yours look D-LISH!
haha.. Twinning! Too funny! I LOVE yours too, genius on making them in the crock pot!
Oh you put a LOT of good things in those turkey balls!
Thanks Dorothy! They are awesome!
My family loves turkey meatballs. This is pure comfort food!
Sure is… plus a glass of wine means heaven!
Holy deliciousness! I’m literally drooling over my computer keyboard while looking at your photos! This recipe looks like a complete winner! Can’t wait to try this!
haha.. thanks Renee! 🙂 You are too sweet! You’re gonna love this recipe!
I’m a leeeeetle bit of a meatball fanatic, so these are going to the top of my must-try list. Yum!
haha… hurray! You’re going to adore these!
I mean could your pictures be any better! I LOVE the one where you can see the steam coming off of them! And the recipe! Yum
Ohhh… thanks girl! You are too sweet! The only thing that’s better is the tasty of these! PS there’s spinach in them and I guarantee you’re little guy will eat it! hehe 🙂
Oh wow!! These are absolutely incredible!
Thanks kat!
Who in their right mind could EVER say no to a gorgeous meatball covered in cheese? Not me, that’s for sure. I wanna dig into this ENTIRE gorgeous pan, Krista!!
I know right! Meatballs smothered in sauce and cheese sounds like perfection to me!