Whole 30 Italian Turkey Meatballs
mains / whole 30 / grain free / dairy free / meal prep
in the wise words of the infamous Stanley Hudson, “YA GOT MEATBALLED!!!”
these meatballs are whole 30 and so flavorful. and best part is I’m making Nonnie’s marinara to go with them!
I love to make these for a weeknight meal prep if I know I’m going to have a lot of shit going on after work. I can pop some of these in the microwave and have a side salad and be ready for dinner in 5 minutes. you can pair these with pasta, rice, or just with some veggies! these meatballs are baked, so very little cleanup.
Whole 30 Italian Turkey Meatballs
ingredients:
handful fresh basil
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews
1/4 cup pepita seeds
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1.5 lbs ground turkey
2 eggs
3 tbsp almond flour
1 tbsp arrowroot powder
salt, pepper, red pepper flakes
Nonnie’s marinara
1/8 cup olive oil
2 tbsp butter or ghee
2 whole garlic cloves
1 large can crushed tomatoes
handful whole fresh basil leaves
salt
pepper
oregano
directions:
make your marinara sauce. in a saucepan, sauté diced yellow onion in the olive oil and butter or ghee is whole 30.
add in the whole garlic cloves and saute for a few minutes.
throw in the can of crushed tomatoes, whole fresh basil leaves, salt, pepper, and oregano.
turn the pot on low, cover and simmer for at least 20 minutes, but the longer you simmer it, the better it gets.
when the oil rises to the top of the sauce, you know the sauce is done. stir and remove the whole pieces of garlic before serving.
now let’s make the meatballs.
preheat oven at 425.
in a food processor, blend the basil, garlic cloves, lemon zest, cashews, pepitas, and nutritional yeast until everything is completely blended together.
add this mixture to a bowl with the ground turkey, eggs, almond flour, arrowroot powder, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. mix it all (I do it with my hands).
roll them into balls and place them in a greased baking dish. bake for 20 minutes until meatballs are browned.
take out the meatballs, pour the sauce on them, lower the oven to 350, and bake again for 15 minutes.
top with basil and serve!