RecipePumpkin Spinach Meatballs

Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
  • Calories: 140
  • Protein: 19 g
  • Total Fat: 1.5 g
    • Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
    • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg
  • Total Carbohydrate: 12 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2 g
  • Total Sugar: 4 g
    • Natural Sugar: 2 g
    • Added Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 140 mg
Good For

You’ll love these mouthwatering meatballs, which feature potassium-rich pumpkin and spinach, protein-and-fiber-packed white beans, and garlic, which contains a compound that can help blood vessels relax. All of these ingredients can help manage blood pressure. And of course, they are easy to make and totally delicious.

  • Prep time
  • Total Time
This recipe makes 36 meatballs
Ingredients:
  • 1⅓ pounds ground turkey breast
  • 2 cups loosely packed spinach, finely chopped (yields about 1 cup)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) white beans, drained, rinsed and partially mashed by hand (about half)
  • ¾ cup canned 100% pumpkin puree
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 jar marinara sauce (optional)
Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix together all the ingredients in a large bowl until everything is well combined and sticky, about 30 seconds. Do not overmix.

Form the turkey mixture into light and fluffy golf-ball-size meatballs. You should end up with about 36 in total. If the batter feels too fussy or sticky to form, refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes to firm it up.

Bake the meatballs for 45 minutes on the middle rack. Remove from the oven and transfer them to a pot with simmering marinara sauce. Serve over spaghetti squash, whole-grain penne or on a whole-grain crusty roll for a delicious pumpkin-y meatball grinder.

Makes about 36 meatballs; 4 meatballs per serving

Nutrition analysis courtesy of Genesis® R&D

Try these tasty meatball recipes, too:  Chicken Parm Meatballs and Italian Turkey Meatballs!