21 Day Fix Meatballs
My 21 Day Fix Meatballs are the perfect herby Italian meatballs, baked in the oven in a delicious tomato sauce. These easy meatballs are made with lean ground turkey making them a great addition to low fat, portion controlled diets.
21 Day Fix Meatballs
These easy meatballs also freeze really well which makes them great for meal prep. I often make a large batch of meatballs, doubling or tripling the recipe. I then cook some in the sauce, and freeze the remaining meatballs for a quick and easy dinner another day.
To keep these meatballs low carb, I use a sugar free tomato sauce, rather than one that is laden with sugar. That makes these meatballs a great low carb meal option. However, just watch what you serve them with! You can add regular spaghetti noodles to the meatballs, but zucchini noodles are a great low carb alternative.
21 day fix meatballs ingredients
- TOMATO SAUCE: for ease I used a store-bought sugar-free tomato sauce.
- TURKEY: I made the meatballs using 2 pounds of ground, lean turkey breast, which is enough to make 24 meatballs.
- EGG: I use an egg in the meatball mixture, which adds moisture as well as helping to bind the meatballs together.
- GARLIC: I use freshly minced garlic to flavor the meatballs, although you could use garlic powder, or garlic puree in a pinch.
- SEASONING: I seasoned the meatballs with Italian seasoning, onion powder, sea salt and black pepper.
- CHEESE: I like to top the meatballs with some mozzarella cheese as it melts over the meatballs when baked in the hot oven.
How to make 21 day fix meatballs
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce along the bottom of the pan, then set the pan aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper.
Use your hands to work the ingredients together until well mixed, then form into 24 uniform balls.
Place the meatballs in the prepared pan and top with remaining tomato sauce.
Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Flavor variations
- I used lean ground turkey, but you could swap turkey for ground chicken, pork, beef or lamb. However, look for lean ground meat with a lower fat content.
- You can add any variety of dry seasoning to flavour the meatballs. Try adding dried oregano or thyme, or some red pepper flakes or chili powder is you want to spice things up.
- For a burst of herbal freshness, add a garnish of chopped parsley or basil just before serving the meatballs.
- I topped the meatballs with mozzarella as it melts really well, but you could also add a little Parmesan cheese for a really intense cheese flavor.
Serving suggestion
For a low carb option I serve these meatballs with a mixed side salad. You could also serve them with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
If you want you can add carbohydrate to meatballs, depending on your meal and diet plan. Use any variety of pasta noodle with these meatballs, or serve them on top of rice or couscous.
These meatballs would also make a great addition to a sandwich, serve them with a baguette or in a flour tortilla wrap with lots of crunchy salad veggies.
Recipe hints & tips
- When shaping the meatballs try and make them even-sized so that they cook evenly at the same time.
- Take time to properly season the sauce and the meatballs. Proper seasoning really does make a big difference to the finished dish.
- These meatballs are the ideal meal prep dish. I like to make a double batch of the meatballs, enjoying some and saving the other half in the freezer for a quick and easy dinner another night.
How to store
Leftovers – Store leftover meatballs in an an airtight container, in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. When ready to enjoy place back into a warm oven, or into the microwave, to warm through before serving.
Freeze – Once you have assembled and shaped the meatballs you can place them onto a baking sheet and place in the freezer for an hour. Then remove the tray and place the part frozen meatballs in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months (place a baking parchment between each layer of meatballs to stop them sticking together). When ready to use, remove the meatballs from the freezer and allow to defrost in the refrigerator before adding to the tomato sauce and baking in a hot oven.
FAQs
21 day fix meatballs are meatballs that are usually made with ground turkey which is a lean meat that is low in fat, compared with other meats. These meatballs are low in fat, high in protein and iron and can be used as part of a weight loss programme.
Try some of my favorite meatball recipes here at When is Dinner
- Coca Cola Meatballs
- Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
- Instant Pot Spaghetti & Meatballs
- Homemade Meatballs
21 Day Fix Meatballs
21 Day Fix Meatballs are the perfect herby Italian meatballs, made with lean ground turkey they are a great addition to low fat, portion controlled diets.
Ingredients
- 15 ounces sugar free tomato sauce
- 2 pounds lean ground turkey breast
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
-
Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce along the bottom of the pan, then set the pan aside.
-
In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper. Use your hands to work the ingredients together until well mixed, then form into 24 uniform balls.
-
Place the meatballs in the prepared pan and top with remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top.
-
Bake for 30 minutes.