Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

Making meatballs is one of my all-time favorite recipes, especially turkey meatballs. They’re easy to make, low carb, and perfect for meal prep and freezing ahead. 

But sometimes, even my favorite recipes need a little something extra. That’s why I decided to put a twist on my go-to baked turkey meatballs by adding a delicious surprise inside – gooey, melted mozzarella cheese! The result? Mouthwatering mozzarella stuffed turkey meatballs that are even more satisfying and flavorful than the original. Trust me, once you try these cheesy meatballs, you won’t want to return to the plain old version.

Need some more tasty meatball recipes? Try these Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, Turkey Pesto Meatballs, Turkey Zucchini Meatballs, Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs, and Spinach Feta Turkey Meatballs.

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

• They’re packed with flavor: Thanks to the blend of Italian-style poultry sausage, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, these cheese stuffed meatballs are bursting with savory, delicious flavor in every bite.
• They’re low carb: If you’re watching your carb intake, these mozzarella stuffed turkey meatballs are a great option. 
• Perfect for meal prep and freezing: Whether cooking for one or feeding a crowd, these meatballs are an excellent option for meal prep and freezing ahead. Make a big batch and enjoy them throughout the week!
• Versatile: Serve them with your favorite pasta and sauce for a classic Italian meal, or enjoy them as a protein-packed snack or appetizer. These stuffed turkey meatballs are versatile and can be enjoyed in various ways, making them a great addition to any meal plan.

How to make Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

These mozzarella stuffed turkey meatballs are the perfect twist on a classic dish. Not only are they low carb and packed with flavor, but each bite is a delicious surprise with a gooey, melted mozzarella cheese center. Whether you serve them with your favorite homemade spaghetti sauce or enjoy them alone, these cheesy meatballs will surely become a new family favorite.

The Ingredients

• Ground turkey: This lean protein is a great alternative to beef to create a healthier option with lower fat and calories. I suggest using a 90/10 ground turkey mix.
• Italian poultry sausage: Adding Italian-style poultry sausage to the mix gives the meatballs an extra boost of flavor and helps keep them moist and tender. You can use hot or mild sausage, depending on your preference. Poultry Italian sausage links typically only come in links, so you must remove the casing before using them. Also, you can find Italian poultry sausage in the meat section or at the meat counter of the grocery store.
• Breadcrumbs: These are a classic ingredient in meatballs and help hold the mixture together. Make sure to use unseasoned breadcrumbs so the other flavors can shine through.
• Milk: Adding milk to the meatball mixture helps keep them moist and tender. You can use any milk you like, such as whole, almond, or even heavy cream.
• Egg: The egg acts as a binder and helps hold the meatballs together.
• Worcestershire sauce: This is my secret ingredient in all of my ground turkey recipes for meaty, delicious flavor. You can also use soy sauce or tamari sauce.
• Parmesan cheese: Grated parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty flavor to the meatballs and helps bind the mixture together. You can use freshly grated or pre-grated cheese.
• Italian seasoning: A blend of dried herbs like oregano, parsley, basil, and thyme, Italian seasoning adds classic Italian flavor to the meatballs. You can purchase Italian seasoning or make this delicious homemade Italian seasoning mix.
• Granulated garlic: This is dried garlic that’s been ground into a powder, and it adds a mellow garlic flavor to the meatballs without overpowering the other ingredients. You can also use finely chopped fresh garlic.
• Onion powder: Like garlic powder, onion powder adds a subtle flavor to the meatballs without being too strong.
• Red chili flakes: These spicy flakes add a bit of heat to the meatballs. Use more or less depending on how spicy you like your food.
• Mozzarella cheese sticks: These are pre-packaged cheese sticks that are perfect for stuffing inside the meatballs.

The Directions

• First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. While the oven is heating up, in a large mixing bowl mix the ground turkey, Italian poultry sausage, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, parmesan cheese, salt and black pepper, and other seasonings in a large bowl.
• Be gentle when mixing to ensure all ingredients are combined without overworking the meat.

• Once everything is mixed, it’s time to portion out the meat mixture into 20 meatballs. You can use a cookie scoop or measure two tablespoons of mixture per meatball. 
• Next, cut up the mozzarella cheese sticks into five pieces each. Place one piece into the center of each meatball and then roll it into a ball, covering the cheese completely.

• Place the meatballs onto a baking sheet pan.
• Finally, bake your meatballs for 20-23 minutes until they’re cooked through and golden brown.

Once they’re done, serve them hot with your favorite sauce and pasta, or enjoy them alone.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some serving suggestions for your delicious mozzarella stuffed meatballs:

• Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs – Serve your meatballs on top of a bed of spaghetti noodles with your favorite marinara sauce or homemade tomato sauce.
• Meatball Subs – Stuff your meatballs and sauce into a sub roll for a delicious sandwich.
• Meatball Appetizers – Serve your meatballs on toothpicks with a marinara sauce for a fun and easy appetizer.
• Zucchini Noodles – Replace your spaghetti with spiralized zucchini noodles for a low-carb, healthier twist.
• Meatball Pizza – Leftovers are delicious as a pizza topping for a fun and tasty pizza night.
• Meatball Salad – Serve your meatballs on top of a bed of greens with your favorite salad dressing for a delicious and healthy meal.

Cooking Tips

• Don’t overmix the meat mixture; overworking the meat can result in tough meatballs. Gently mix the ingredients until just combined.
• Use a cookie scoop to portion the meat mixture for evenly sized-meatballs. Alternatively, you can use a spoon or your hands to measure the mixture.
• Make sure to fully enclose the cheese inside the meatball so it doesn’t ooze out during cooking.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your meatballs are cooked through. They should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
• If you want to save time, you can prepare the meatballs ahead of time and freeze them for later use.
• If you prefer a crispier exterior, you can broil the meatballs for the last few minutes of cooking.

Substitutions & Variation

• Ground turkey: You can substitute ground chicken for chicken meatballs or even lean ground beef for a classic meatball if you prefer.
• Italian poultry sausage: If you can’t find this at your grocery store, use regular Italian sausage or substitute it with ground pork and add some extra Italian seasoning.
• Breadcrumbs: You can use almond flour or crushed pork rinds for a lower-carb option or regular bread crumbs if you don’t have unseasoned ones on hand. You can also use gluten-free breadcrumbs for a gluten-free option. Check out my gluten-free turkey meatballs for more tips.
• Worcestershire sauce: Soy sauce or tamari can be used as a substitute for this rich sauce. I don’t recommend coconut aminos because that has more of a sweet teriyaki sauce flavor.
• Italian seasoning: You can combine dried oregano, basil, parsely, and thyme if you don’t have Italian seasoning.
• Cheese: If you don’t have mozzarella cheese sticks, you can use cubes of fresh mozzarella or any other type of Italian cheese that melts well.

Make-ahead Tips

These mozzarella stuffed turkey meatballs are perfect for meal prep and can easily be stored later. Here are some tips for storing them:

For the week: You can store cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat them in the microwave or oven until heated.

For the freezer (raw): You can freeze uncooked meatballs for up to 3 months.

• After assembling the meatballs, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until firm.
• Once frozen, transfer them to a resealable freezer bag or airtight container.
• To cook, bake them directly from frozen for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.

For the freezer (cooked): Freezing cooked meatballs is a great way to have a quick and easy meal when you’re short on time. To freeze cooked meatballs:

1. Start by allowing them to cool completely after cooking.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the cooled meatballs on it, making sure they’re not touching each other.
3. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until the meatballs are solid, which should take about 1-2 hours.
4. Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a resealable freezer bag or airtight container, making sure to label the bag or container with the date and contents.
5. Store the meatballs in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
6. When you’re ready to eat the frozen meatballs, you can either thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and reheat them in the oven or microwave or reheat them directly from frozen in the oven or microwave. Just be sure to check that they’re heated through before serving.

Other Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes

• Italian Meatloaf
• Italian Stuffed Peppers
• Italian Turkey Burgers
• Ground Turkey Fried Rice
• Ground Turkey Chili
• Ground Turkey Enchiladas

See all of my healthy ground turkey recipes!

FAQs

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