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Savory Meatball & Zucchini Bake! 🌟

A savory and easy-to-make casserole featuring lean ground turkey and Italian sausage meatballs, baked with zucchini, marinara sauce, and a generous topping of melted cheese. Perfect for a healthy, low-carb family dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
Calories 382 kcal

Equipment

  • Casserole Dish
  • Cooking Spray

Ingredients
  

Meatball Mixture

  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 medium zucchini shredded (about 1 cup)
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
  • 2 teaspoons dried minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Topping

  • 1 cup marinara sauce (opt for a low-sugar variety)
  • 8 ounces shredded cheese blend (like mozzarella and provolone, or your favorite pizza mix)

Instructions
 

  • Get Ready: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly coat a casserole dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  • Mix & Form: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, Italian sausage, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, shredded zucchini, egg, dried minced onion, dried minced garlic, dried basil, and salt. Mix everything together really well until fully combined. Roll the mixture into about 24 uniform meatballs and arrange them neatly in your prepared casserole dish.
  • First Bake: Pop the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and lightly browned. Once done, carefully remove the dish and drain any excess cooking liquid – this helps keep your dish healthy and less greasy!
  • Sauce & Cheese: Spoon your marinara sauce evenly over the cooked meatballs, then generously sprinkle the remaining 8 ounces of shredded cheese blend on top.
  • Final Bake: Return the casserole to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
  • Optional Golden Top: For an extra golden-brown, toasted cheese topping, you can carefully broil the casserole for 3-4 minutes at the very end. Keep a close eye on it, as cheese can brown (or even burn!) very quickly under the broiler. Enjoy your delicious and easy meal!

Notes

PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 15 minutes
Cook Time : 45 minutes
Total Time : 1 hour
Servings : 8
Calories : 382 kcal
Total Carbs : 5g
Net Carbs : 4g
Fats : 24g
Protein : 36g
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