Gluten-Free Garlic-Parmesan Turkey Meatballs

These scrumptious, meatballs are a real crowd pleaser. Here, traditional bread crumbs are replaced with a hearty portion of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, while a combination of spices and fresh herbs pack tons of flavor into every bite. These meatballs freeze well, so make a double or triple batch if time allows. Then simply pull out of the freezer, reheat, and serve with spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, or your favorite pasta for a quick and delicious weeknight meal. Tip: To help the meatballs hold their round shape, bake them on their own first before adding the tomato sauce. Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25-30 minutes Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 cups. tomato sauce* 1kg. ground turkey breast 1 large (or 2 small) eggs 1½ cups. freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1½ T. fresh oregano leaves 3 T. fresh basil leaves, chopped 3 T. fresh parsley, chopped 3 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced 1 T. onion salt ½ T crushed red pepper flakes salt and black pepper, to taste

Optional: Additional tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil for serving. Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180deg celcius and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat. Set aside.

2. Pour tomato sauce into glass baking dish and spread in a thin layer to cover the bottom and set aside.

3. Add minced turkey, eggs, Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, parsley, garlic, onion salt, and crushed red pepper flakes to a large glass bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Thoroughly combine mixture with your hands and divide into 24 equal-sized portions. (For larger meatballs, separate into 18 portions). Add more Parmesan cheese, if necessary, to bind the ingredients.

4. Gently roll each portion into a ball and place on prepared baking sheet, leaving room between each meatball. Place baking sheet in pre-heated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer meatballs to prepared baking dish. Drizzle with additional tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

5. Place baking dish in oven for approximately 10 minutes, or until sauce and meatballs are heated through. Remove from oven and serve immediately with additional tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil, if desired.