Easy Weeknight Turkey Meatballs with Greens and Spaghetti
/private_media/recipes_images/2022/05/10/16/1652198951.086778_file.jpeg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAVLLBXKY7AVKKGHDM%2F20250508%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250508T044323Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEMT%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLXdlc3QtMSJHMEUCIHNGJ0Uk3og6bCkRS3iZXFH06tf3osEY88g%2B2g5Kntv0AiEAtRmcEt7CXqN2mbn3KKsgKDheD5BLVlAEiMABo17kDXsq6wMIbRADGgwzNjc5NjE1Mjc4NzAiDDgT1JDF3peiouTEcSrIA8hK04j9wnZaAUSP%2Bcc2xjxO6yAVlqvX%2Bu3SAVX%2F0fsKwVorcniqyYgR8X1dREoP3GK3xd2Xm%2Fw5YmM%2F9v9SJmG7ZkyeL7Prp7BKnbIyJacXhDZJJwWUul8GEsN6wrU4VOd2l6B18Mma2Ngi8x6nHlbfdgOjpqFYAq84AaDbeguWF9nGqPs488Z3lXzRkBkkBOkPKwxZwhBckH7Cr1VHjuF%2Bj3RiZl1g%2FCdV%2BH3CFbbppH8FU2EBzVAURhVEqYOWPd1D2fwbV8M1fNEQNZikb4JBjD9erX%2BnHoen0dzJ0YsZ7n1UCwNL7zZzhxT9Ct83nlUGTOQhe7iWJNgpJkmZdOh0jU2X97hbmz5e8HBjZnv4YvINrgupeZB%2BtcA7MOQyTIQmJ49WDJB8GAeExHjODvhDnoaIYvouIur3xn9hh20cMCZtrBMHYqRZR%2FFvdMsyYUVrKnABDzuOKZJNXrahvi5Lm2H%2F5Kh0ijDKp6eSpO3BO%2FaDjtm3wpzoIwTvbVPwYG6RZl%2FbecmfmDn7Czet%2F0LsEWfQCQRgnQKX6O9C8wVIOftSZMoMtKRzETG9M4atWrJBVktX4xxVIxkfUxb4G7i%2FjoRe4D%2BJTTCJyvDABjqlAe1RBMjDTZbEj0FuvB9EJsxcJUGxeFf29MwStI53UDc9GDYpbJ9lAy3EedcQenvcE1TIEWbpdPVKBPmLljaFNCNZFjGgClai2rRyV6QiwkqhszDLdNxMIINFAf%2FSNzed6dgRXzX6WZq4T243k8oup0uVOQlkU6ABBuCOMtv7xuBoqMAea4xq0EHVIFnyxo8lyzyUMpdR%2Bv4qcKyIPTahfu1Fm3s4zA%3D%3D&X-Amz-Signature=51ba453278a68a1b5ca6300e19b4d92656a496789bd71154f4f06a71c622ca96)
5 ingredient turkey meatballs (technically 7 with salt and pepper) with greens and spaghetti is so simple yet satisfying. It's perfect for a balanced weeknight dinner, and the meatballs are delicious as leftovers as well.
Couple notes:
- Rao’s marinara sauce is my personal favorite. It's almost just as good as homemade.
- feel free to skip the cilantro if you don’t have it and add dried oregano or dried basil instead
- if you have an air fryer, you could air fry the meatballs for 10 minutes and heat the marinara sauce on the stove. Marry the cooked meatballs and sauce together for another 5 minutes, and there’s a mess free dinner.
- I add spinach because I always have some on hand and it’s a great way to get more leafy greens in your diet. Feel free to swap out with chopped kale or chard.
Special Equipment
Ingredients
Directions
Bring a large pot of water up to a boil.
As the water is coming up to a boil, prepare the meatball ingredients. To a mixing bowl, add in the ground turkey, parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, chopped cilantro, egg, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Mix to combine. Roll into 1” diameter meatballs, making about 24 meatballs.
When the water comes to a boil, add several tablespoons of kosher salt (water should be salty like the sea), and add the spaghetti. Stir, and cook according to package instructions, about 9 minutes.
As the pasta is boiling, heat a large saute pan on medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then add the meatballs in one even layer. Cook for about 3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the jar of marinara sauce directly to the meatballs, cover and let simmer for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, the meatballs should be cooked. Add the baby spinach to the sauce and meatballs, cover, and let simmer for another 2 minutes. Remove lid and wilt the remaining spinach by tossing the spinach with the sauce.
To finish the dish, plate the spaghetti in a bowl. Top with meatballs, the marinara sauce, and some grated parm. Serve immediately.