Description
Delicious meatballs packed with hidden vegetables that even picky eaters will enjoy. A healthy and flavorful meal for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground turkey or lean ground beef
- 1 cup finely grated zucchini (about 1 medium), squeezed dry
- 1/2 cup finely grated carrot (about 1 medium), squeezed dry
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Olive oil, for cooking
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey or beef, grated zucchini, grated carrot, chopped onion, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, beaten egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Mix everything together gently with your hands until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Roll the mixture into meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly brush the tops of the meatballs with olive oil.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through and browned.
- Serve hot with your favorite sauce.
Notes
- Ensure the zucchini and carrot are squeezed very dry to prevent the meatballs from becoming too wet.
- You can substitute ground chicken for turkey or beef.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- These meatballs can be made ahead of time and reheated.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs
- Calories: Approximately 150-200 (varies with meat choice)
- Sugar: Low
- Sodium: Moderate
- Fat: Moderate
- Saturated Fat: Moderate
- Unsaturated Fat: Moderate
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Low
- Fiber: Good source
- Protein: High
- Cholesterol: Moderate