Go Back
Spaghetti with Turkey-Pesto Meatballs

Spaghetti with Turkey-Pesto Meatballs

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 24oz jar of your favorite tomato sauce
  • ½ lb ground turkey
  • ¾ cup Quinoa (cooked and completely cooled)
  • ⅓ cup homemade or purchased pesto
  • 1 egg white
  • ½ teaspoon Lawry's salt (or normal salt)
  • ¼ teaspoon cracked pepper
  • 8 ounces spaghetti
  • Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
  • Fresh cilantro or parsley (for garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Cook the Quinoa according to the directions of the brand you choose. (I like to cook my quinoa the night before to ensure it's cool, if you cook it the same day, allow it to completely cool).
  • Pour half of the jar of tomato sauce into a heavy, medium sized skillet.
  • In a medium sized bowl, add the turkey, quinoa, pesto, egg white, lawry's seasoning salt, and pepper Using your hands, gently mix the ingredients together until they are just combined. Be careful not to compress the turkey too much, otherwise your turkey will be tough.
  • Wet your fingers, then form the turkey mixture into approx 8 meatballs. You may have more or less meatballs depending on how big or small you make them.
  • Now, place the meatballs in the sauce, in a single layer. Spread the remaining tomato sauce over the meatballs. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a simmer. Then cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, stirring occasionally, for approx 20 minutes.
  • While your turkey meatballs are simmering in the sauce, cook the spaghetti in large pot of boiling salted water according to the brands directions, or until al dente.
  • Drain the pasta into a colander. Plate as much pasta as you want onto your plate, then spoon the turkey meatballs, along with the tomato sauce, on top of the pasta. Top with the parm cheese and fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish, whatever you fancy. No joke on the cilantro. I didn't have parsley when I made this so I used leftover cilantro.....it worked really well :D
  • Enjoy a fast, and easy supper!

Notes

Make sure the Quinoa is completely cooled before using. I make mine either the night before or in the morning to ensure it's not warm when it's time to use it.
If you're not big on Quinoa, you can simply substitute bread crumbs (fresh bread crumbs work better)