Turkey Meatball and Garlic Bread (Printable)
Savory turkey meatballs in rich tomato sauce topped with crispy, cheese-covered garlic bread cubes for ultimate comfort food.
# What You'll Need:
→ Turkey Meatballs
01 - 1 ½ lbs ground turkey
02 - ½ cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - ½ tsp black pepper
→ Sauce
10 - 3 cups marinara sauce
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes
→ Garlic Bread Topping
13 - 1 large French baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes
14 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
15 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
16 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
17 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
18 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix gently until just combined. Form into 1 ½-inch meatballs, yielding approximately 18-20 pieces. Arrange meatballs in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Pour marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs. Sprinkle with dried basil and red pepper flakes if desired.
04 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes at 400°F.
05 - While the meatballs bake, toss bread cubes with melted butter, minced garlic, and parsley in a large bowl until evenly coated.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the meatballs and sauce. Arrange garlic bread cubes in an even layer on top.
07 - Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until bread cubes are golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything happens in one pan, so you spend less time cleaning and more time actually eating
- The garlic bread topping gets perfectly crisp while soaking up all that tomato sauce goodness
02 -
- Don't overmix the meatball mixture or they'll turn tough, just gently combine until everything holds together
- The resting period is not optional, it lets the sauce thicken slightly and makes serving so much easier
03 -
- Wet your hands with cold water before forming meatballs to prevent sticking
- If the bread is getting too dark, tent the dish with foil for the last 5 minutes