Turkey Meatball and Garlic Bread (Printable)
Tender turkey meatballs simmered in marinara, topped with crispy garlic bread and melted cheese for a complete family meal.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Turkey Meatballs
01 - 1 ½ lbs ground turkey
02 - ½ cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - ½ tsp black pepper
→ Sauce
10 - 3 cups marinara sauce
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes
→ Garlic Bread Topping
13 - 1 large French baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes
14 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
15 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
16 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
17 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
18 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Form into 1 ½-inch meatballs (about 18-20) and arrange in the prepared dish.
03 - Pour marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs. Sprinkle with dried basil and red pepper flakes if using. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
04 - While meatballs bake, toss bread cubes with melted butter, minced garlic, and parsley in a large bowl until well coated.
05 - Remove baking dish from oven. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the meatballs and sauce. Top with garlic bread cubes in an even layer.
06 - Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until bread cubes are golden and cheese is melted. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The crispy garlic bread topping soaks up just enough sauce while staying perfectly crunchy on top
- Everything cooks in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
02 -
- Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough, so barely combine until everything holds together
- The bread cubes on the bottom will get softer while the ones on top stay crispy
03 -
- Let the meatballs sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking for more even cooking
- Space the bread cubes slightly apart so they crisp rather than steam