Kung Pao Turkey Meatballs

When it comes to eating healthy I love coming up with new recipes that make me feel full and satisfied without actually feeling like I’m on a diet…

Meatballs!! I know, you’re probably thinking, “Again!“… But you know what – I’m actually loving all the meatball recipes. They are healthy, flavorful and super easy to make (the three best things in a recipe.)

Oh, and I get lots of leftovers! (Gotta love that…)

These kung pao turkey meatballs are a great healthy meal full of flavor. They will mix up those boring weekly meals and may even become a new family favorite.

This is a no-fail method of cooking these meatballs and you can just add different flavors and sauces to come up with a completely different dish. So be prepared for a few more of these coming your way 🙂

Life’s too short to have boring and bland meals so give these a try. Stay on track with whatever your goals are and enjoy!

Ingredients:

For the meatballs:

1 lb. ground turkey
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup crushed pineapple
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. ginger
2 tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce
2 green onions, chopped
salt and pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil

For the sauce:

1 bottle (16.75 oz) kung pao sauce (I used the Panda Express one that you can find in most major grocery stores)
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
3/4 cup water

Directions:

1. To make the meatballs, in a large bowl add turkey, egg, panko, 1/4 cup pineapple, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, green onions, salt and pepper.
2. Using your hands, mix until fully combined (try not to over mix).
3. Make the meatballs by rolling into golf ball size pieces and place on a foil-lined baking sheet (sprayed with cooking spray). This recipe should make around 20-25 (mine made 25). Place baking sheet in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
4. In the crockpot (sprayed with cooking spray), pour bottle of sauce, 1/2 cup pineapple, and water and whisk together.
5. Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high.
6. When the pan is heated, place 4-6 meatballs in the pan and sear for 1-2 minutes on each side (this will lock in the moisture and prevent them from crumbling).
7. Once all the meatballs are seared, place them in the crockpot and set on LOW for 6-7 hours. Once they are done, you can place the meatballs and sauce on a bed of rice.

 Nutritional Information:

Serving Size: 1 meatball w/ sauce approx.
Servings: 25 meatballs w/ sauce approx.

Calories: 56
Fat: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 5 g
Sodium: 470 mg
Protein: 4 g