Turkey meatballs with pasta and zucchini
3
Points®
Total time: 35 min • Prep: 20 min • Cook: 15 min • Serves: 4 • Difficulty: Easy
A great way to extend a small amount of pasta is to combine it with spiralized vegetables. Here, zucchini spirals intertwine with whole-wheat spaghetti for a satisfying, veggie-rich meal. To cook the spirals, you can either add them to the pasta in the pot during the last minute of cooking, or to retain more texture you can simply place them in a colander and drain the pasta over them so they’re warmed by the pasta cooking water but still remain firm.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
6 spray(s)
Uncooked onion
½ cup(s), chopped, coarsely
Fresh parsley
¼ cup(s), coarsely chopped
Garlic
1 clove(s), chopped
Uncooked zucchini
1 cup(s), chopped, coarsely
Panko breadcrumbs
⅓ cup(s)
Kosher salt
½ tsp
Black pepper
½ tsp
Grated Pecorino Romano cheese
¼ cup(s)
Uncooked ground turkey breast
1 pound(s)
Egg
1 large egg(s)
Cooked whole-wheat spaghetti
2 cup(s)
Fresh zucchini spirals
2 cup(s), cooked
No sugar added fat free marinara sauce
2 cup(s), warmed
Fresh parsley
2 Tbsp, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
1
In a food processor or mini food processor, place the onion, parsley, and garlic; pulse until finely chopped. Add the chopped zucchini; pulse until the texture is almost paste-like. Spoon the mixture into a large bowl. Add the panko, salt, pepper, cheese, turkey, and egg. Mix with hands until very well combined. Shape into twenty 1 ½-inch meatballs.
2
Preheat an air fryer, if necessary, to 400°F. Lightly coat the air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Add 10 meatballs to the basket in a single layer; lightly coat with nonstick spray. Air-fry at 400°F for 5 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the air fryer (they will not be fully cooked). Repeat the process with the remaining 10 meatballs. Return all meatballs to the air fryer basket. Air-fry 5 minutes or until cooked through.
3
Meanwhile, combine the spaghetti, cooked (or warmed; see note above) zucchini spirals, and marinara sauce in a large bowl. Add the meatballs and toss gently to combine. Garnish with finely chopped parsley, if desired.
4
Serving size: 1 cup noodle mixture and 5 meatballs
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