Turkey Meatball Garlic Bread Bake (Printable)
Juicy turkey meatballs simmered in marinara sauce and topped with golden cheesy garlic bread cubes
# What You Need:
→ For the 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
→ For the Sauce
10 - 3 cups marinara sauce
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes
→ For the 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, being careful not to overwork the meat.
03 - Shape the mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs, approximately 18-20 total. Arrange them evenly in the prepared baking dish.
04 - Pour marinara sauce evenly over all the meatballs. Sprinkle with dried basil and red pepper flakes if using.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes to partially cook the meatballs and heat through the sauce.
06 - While meatballs bake, toss bread cubes with melted butter, minced garlic, and fresh parsley in a large bowl until evenly coated.
07 - Remove the dish from the oven. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the meatballs. Arrange garlic bread cubes in an even layer on top.
08 - Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until bread cubes are golden brown and cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
09 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle and make serving easier.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
- The garlic bread topping soaks up all that tomato sauce while getting golden and crisp
02 -
- Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough, so mix gently until just combined
- Letting the bake rest for those few minutes prevents the sauce from being too runny when you serve it
03 -
- Use a slightly stale baguette because fresh bread can become too soft under the sauce
- Room temperature meat mixes more evenly and creates tender meatballs