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a plate of spaghetti with turkey meatballs on top
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Spaghetti and Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatballs

Spaghetti and Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatballs is a perfect dinner for kids. The meatballs are stuffed with cheese and cook in the sauce.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 or more
Author Meghan

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves grated
  • crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 52 ounces jarred spaghetti sauce such as Prego Traditional

For the Meatballs:

  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 garlic clove grated
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 ounces mozzarella string cheese cut into 16 equal-sized pieces, or block style mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
  • cooking spray

For Serving:

  • spaghetti regular or gluten free

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, soak the bread crumbs in the milk.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add 2 cloves of grated garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. If you like your sauce a little spicy (a la Arrabbiata sauce), toss in the crushed red pepper flakes. Add jarred spaghetti sauce. Meanwhile, boil a large pot of water for the spaghetti.
  • Add the ground turkey, 1 clove of grated garlic, parsley, Parmesan, egg, and salt to the breadcrumbs. Stir with a fork until mixed.
  • Divide the meatball mixture into fourths, then form 4 meatballs out of each portion (for a total of 16). Make a hole in the center of each meatball and place a cube of mozzarella inside. Reform the meatball so the mozzarella is completely covered with the meat mixture. Place each meatball on a sheet of waxed paper sprayed with cooking spray after cheese has been placed inside, so that all of the meatballs can go in the sauce at the same time.
  • Place meatballs in sauce so they are submerged. Cook for 20 minutes over medium-low, or until meat is cooked completely. Cover the pot to prevent the sauce from splattering. You may vent the lid to allow some moisture to escape so the sauce is a little thicker in the end. When only 8-9 minutes remain, add spaghetti to boiling water and cook according to package directions.

Notes

Source: Sauce adapted from Everyday Pasta; meatballs adapted from Annie's Eats and Rachael Ray, with technical support from Giada De Laurentiis
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