I’m very fussy when it comes to meatballs. Not only have they got to be juicy and flavourful, but they’ve also got to be perfectly browned, with a light crust on the outside.I thought the only way to do this was to either fry them separately or cook them in the oven. When I finally realised (with this meatballs recipe) that I could save myself a ton of time and washing up by cooking them in the same pan as the sauce AND the courgetti, I was delighted! Anything to save time at the dreaded sink.
What do we need?
For the meatballs, we need turkey thigh mince, onion, olive oil, parmesan, egg, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Turkey mince is more delicate than beef mince, so the egg is important to bind it all together. We’re using the oil to make the meatballs more juicy (as turkey is very low in fat) and the bread to make them more tender. The salt, pepper and parmesan adds some lovely extra flavour.For the tomato ragu we need celery, garlic, tinned tomatoes, tomato puree (paste), thyme, honey and stock.We also need 2 medium-sized courgettes (zucchini) - for the courgetti
How to make turkey meatballs
Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post. Serve topped with freshly grated parmesan, black pepper and chopped parsley.
What if you don’t like courgetti?
If you’re not a fan of courgetti (or zoodles I think they’re called in the US), you can replace with regular spaghetti.
Dry spaghetti:
If you want to cook the spaghetti in the pan with the meatballs, then add 600ml (2 ½ cups) just-boiled water or chicken stock to the meatballs and sauce, then add 200g (7oz) dried spaghetti. Ensure the spaghetti is fully submerged, then simmer with the lid on for 12-13 minutes to cook the pasta.
Cooked spaghetti:
If you want to add in spaghetti that’s already cooked, just replace the courgetti with some cooked spaghetti and stir it through the sauce before serving. Of course, this will change the calorie count and nutritional information. I sometimes do a mixture of half and half - cooking the spaghetti in the meatball pan and adding the courgetti at the end.
Watch how to make it:
More Amazing Meatball Recipes:
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This post was first published in May 2017. Updated in August 2020 with new photos, tips and video. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
