Baked Turkey Meatballs, stuffed with quinoa and zucchini and served on lettuce wraps, is a recipe that will please even the pickiest eater.
It's amazing what kids will eat when you pack it in a meatball. My 8-year old son, lover of all vegetables and fruits, will not be convinced that quinoa is something that should actually be consumed by humans.
In fact, he does a rather convincing impersonation of a fish freshly yanked from the water whenever I dare to serve the healthy grain. Spluttering, gasping, practically flopping on the floor. If I wasn't putting on the performance of an annoyed mother - hands on hips, foot tapping rapidly on the hardwood floor - I might actually give him a standing ovation.
As I scooped the meatballs onto the plates, I beckoned my husband over to the stove and whispered, "These are filled with grated zucchini...and quinoa." {Snicker, snicker.} With knowing smiles and conspiratorial winks, we placed the plates in front of the boys, holding our collective breath.
Now, it helps that two of their favorite dinners are Baked Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs, served with rice and stir-fried veggies, and Italian Turkey Meatballs with pasta. The reaction to that dinner usually involves fist pumps and Tim Tebow poses. It does a cooking ego good. So, meatballs of any sort are bound to be well-received, right?
Right?
"Mum, these aren't good...they're great!" "Can we have them in our lunch boxes tomorrow? PLEEEAAASSSE?"
Mission accomplished. Flopping fish performance averted.
If you're craving a light meal, wrap the meatballs in lettuce leaves with a touch of sauce. For something more substantial, even Super Bowl-worthy (see my 25 Super Bowl Recipes), serve the meatballs in mini buns. Everybody loves a meatballs slider!
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, cooked quinoa, grated onion, garlic, zucchini, parsley, dried chile flakes, soy sauce, oregano, ground pepper and egg.
Mix well to combine. Using a 1 ½ tablespoon portion of the turkey mixture, form meatballs by rolling between the palms of your hands. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
Bake until the meatballs are firm to the touch and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
While the meatballs are cooking, heat the tomato sauce in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce and gently stir to coat the meatballs.
Spoon the meatballs and sauce into a bowl, serve alongside the lettuce leaves and Parmesan cheese.
Serve 2 meatballs and 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese in each lettuce wrap.
Other meatball recipes:
Salmon Meatballs with Avocado Sauce
Cannellini Bean Vegetarian Meatballs
Honey Garlic Baked Turkey Meatballs
Printable Recipe
Italian Turkey, Quinoa & Zucchini Meatballs Recipe in Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ pounds ground turkey
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- ½ medium onion grated
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup grated zucchini
- ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley plus more for garnish
- ¼ teaspoon dried chile flakes
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 cups tomato sauce your favorite kind
- 9 medium to large butter lettuce leaves
- 6 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, cooked quinoa, grated onion, garlic, zucchini, parsley, dried chile flakes, soy sauce, oregano, ground pepper and egg.
- Mix well to combine. Using a 1½ tablespoon portion of the turkey mixture, form meatballs by rolling between the palms of your hands. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
- Bake until the meatballs are firm to the touch and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
- While the meatballs are cooking, heat the tomato sauce in a large saucepan set over medium heat.
- Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce and gently stir to coat the meatballs.
- Spoon the meatballs and sauce into a bowl, serve alongside the lettuce leaves and Parmesan cheese.
- Serve 2 meatballs and 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese in each lettuce wrap.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Alyssa @ Kitchen Cures
These look like such a fun take on lettuce wraps (which I love)! I was just wondering if you're supposed to add 1 1/4 pounds of turkey?
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts
Hey, I just made sloppy joes with some of the shredded zucchini I'd put up this summer . . . and wouldn't you know it was a guy at work who was snookered into eating green veggies??! I did come clean about it later . . .
I'm definitely going to try this with one of the other packages of zucchini in my freezer (the garden went a bit nuts when my back was turned). Though I'll add rice or something for the quinoa--it just looks like semi-unfurled prophylactics to me!
Thanks--and sorry if I just made you never look at quinoa the same way again. Some things you just can't un-see.
Maria
What a fun and creative recipe! You always come up with the best stuff Dara!
Aggie
My kids really love meatballs, I've snuck spinach in them, but never quinoa & zucchini! These look fantastic! And I really like how you served them, fun & healthy!!
Angela
So good!! They were delicious in spaghetti as well, but love the lettuce wrap idea.
Dara
So glad to hear that, Angela!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
Love the chili flakes and pinch of soy in these - plus all of the other healthy goodies!! Well done, Dara!
Cassie | Bake Your Day
These meatballs are a fabulous idea, Dara. I must try meatballs in lettuce wraps, great idea!
megan @ whatmegansmaking
I never thought to serve meatballs in lettuce wraps before! My husband might throw a fit, but I think I'm going to try it 🙂
Becky @ Olives n Wine
I LOOOOVE adding zucchini to meatballs or hamburgers or meatloaf or... well, you get the idea 😉 I can't wait to try your meatballs in a healthy lettuce wrap!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
My friend... these have got to be the prettiest meatballs I've ever seen. Love the fact that they are served as lettuce wraps.
Blog is the New black
Love the addition of quinoa!