Superfood Turkey Meatballs
I've probably said this before but I have a love-hate relationship with meal prep.
I love it because: I thoroughly enjoy cooking and it makes my life WAY easier throughout the week (i.e. easy to pre-pack lunch, no need to think about sides/snacks, etc.)
But, I also hate it too because it means carving time out of my already errand and chore-packed Sunday. And sometimes I'm just too tired and lazy AF to do that.
In an effort to consciously get more protein into my diet - and not be rushing late out the door every morning - I have been making meal prep a reral priority. See that's the thing, once I commit to it, I am super happy that I did and before I know it, it's done! At first I started with the usual suspects... chicken breast, roasted veggies, washed and cut fruit. Then I started to get a little more creative prepping things like bulk made soups and stews, bone broth quinoa, egg cups and more.
Lately, I'm obsessed with these little gems I whipped up, which I'm calling SUPERFOOD Turkey Meatballs. I say superfood, because they are packed with healthy, plantbased fats and omegas from the mighty hemp heart and flaxseed. And even better, they are totally grain-free and dairy free, so great for those who are following a Whole 30/Paleo/SIBO gut-friendly lifestyle. {Spoiler, I'm prepping for my next Whole 30 in January, so slowly cutting back on sugar, grains and dairy!}
Parchment paper is a life (and baking sheet) saver!
I sorta just threw things in a bowl and hoped for the best.
And yes, I'm gonna pat myself on the back because these came out AMAZING, in my very humble opinion. They take no time at all and are packed with flavor...thanks to my heavy hand and plentiful spice cabinet.
Here's what ya need to take your meal prep and desk lunch to the next level!
15-Minute Grain-Free, Dairy-Free Turkey Meatballs:
1 lb organic ground turkey breast
1/4 cup nutritional yeast {I use the TJ's version, here - hello vegan, gluten-free protein!}
1/8 - 1/4 cup hemp hearts {I'm an abassador for Manitoba Harvest, so I'm partial to these}
1/2 tbsp organic ground flaxseed
1 tbsp fresh chopped garlic {or the pre-minced version works too!}
Lots of pink sea salt, cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes, dried parsley
Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well until fully incorporated. Really get in there and use your hands...they're gonna be getting dirty anyway! I don't measure my spices, so just go with your gut. I tend to add more red pepper flakes because I like the extra heat.
Roll your ground turkey mixture into large balls. I use a serving spoon, so it's probably the equivalent of 2 tbsp of meat. Roll 'em up nice and round before flattening ever so slightly. This makes them into a size similar to a slider.
Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and dust with a lil' more pink sea salt and cracked black pepper.
Bake for 15 minutes in a pre-heated oven, set to 450 degrees - I swear by the higher heat - plus I am a multitasker and usually have veggies roasting at the same time. Flip 1/2 way through to ensure both sides get toasty and slightly browned.
My batch and ball size typically yields 9 large meatballs, which is great for portioning out lunches.
Always be sure to check your meatballs to ensure they are cooked through, depending upon thickness they could need more or less time. This is also a great excuse to sample your creation...not that I do that. JK of course I do!
Allow to fully cool before storing in an air tight container.
These babies are so versatile! You can add them to soups, heat with your fave sauce, make mini slider sandwiches or reheat and throw them over a salad.
I went full on fall vibes with this harvest-inspired bowl above: baby spinach, meal prep roasted butternut squash with cranberries, meatballs, raw pecans and raw sprouted pumpkin seeds.
Also, in case you're wondering the nutrition facts on these guys are stellar: 2 meatballs offers approximately 30 grams of protein and just 3.3 grams of carbs and about 3.7 grams of fat...but again, all HEALTHY, plantbased good-for-you fats!
Let me know how you like these superfood meatballs and how you decide to dress them up!
- Xo Kelly