Print

Healthy Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodle Marinara

healthy turkey meatballs - featured image
Print Recipe

A wholesome, gestational diabetes-friendly recipe featuring juicy turkey meatballs paired with fresh zucchini noodles and a rich homemade marinara sauce. This meal is low-carb, flavorful, and perfect for pregnancy-friendly nutrition.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb lean ground turkey
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (extra virgin)
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 3 medium zucchinis, spiralized
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, grated Parmesan, almond flour, egg, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
  3. Roll the mixture into about 16 small meatballs, roughly 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Wet hands with water if mixture is sticky.
  4. Bake the meatballs for 18-20 minutes until cooked through and golden. Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Rotate tray halfway if needed.
  5. While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 4-5 minutes until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  6. Add crushed tomatoes, dried basil, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir and simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in apple cider vinegar near the end. Add water or low-sodium vegetable broth if sauce is too thick.
  7. Spiralize zucchinis to create noodles. Toss noodles with olive oil and a pinch of salt.
  8. In a separate skillet over medium heat, sauté zucchini noodles for 2-3 minutes until just tender but still slightly crisp. Avoid overcooking.
  9. To serve, place zucchini noodles on plates, spoon marinara sauce over them, and arrange turkey meatballs on or beside the noodles. Garnish with extra parsley or Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking turkey. Let marinara sauce simmer low and slow for best flavor. To prevent watery zucchini noodles, salt and drain them for 10 minutes before cooking and pat dry. Multitask by prepping sauce and spiralizing zucchini while meatballs bake.

Nutrition

Keywords: turkey meatballs, zucchini noodles, marinara sauce, gestational diabetes recipe, low carb, healthy dinner, pregnancy-friendly, gluten-free

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/healthy-turkey-meatballs-with-zucchini-noodle-marinara-easy-gestational-diabetes-recipe/