Meatball recipes can be a staple Italian dish for any dinner table. The beauty of the famous cuisine is being able to use a variety of minced meat, which allows you to experiment with different flavours. Making homemade meatballs is super easy and can be done ahead of dinner time. You could even freeze them for a quick mid week dinner when you’re in need of a hearty meal. Our healthy meatball recipes include a beef, pork and turkey option for you to try at home. Discover a new found favourite meatball recipe to enjoy no matter the season!
Italian Meatballs & Courgetti
Discover the taste of our Italian meatball and courgetti recipe. The dish is traditionally Italian as we combine sweet red pepper, earthy mushrooms and juicy grass-fed British beef meatballs to a bubbling tomato sauce. The twist to this classic is the vitamin-rich courgetti, rather than pasta. It makes for a super light and fresh dish!
- Cook time: 35 mins
- Allergens: Sulphites
- Cuisine: Italian
- Key ingredient: Rich grass-fed British beef
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 563
- Protein: 40g
- Carbs: 23g
- Fat: 33g
The healthy recipe provided is an ideal portion for a couple. You can always halve the recipe if dining with less, or simply use the leftovers on the following day. If you want to be inspired by different cultures’ food, we have a wide selection to choose from. Discover our asian cuisines, indian cuisines, middle-eastern cuisines and more!
Why We Love This Italian Meatball Recipe
Beef can provide your body with a healthy source of protein, a vital nutrient to everyday life. You can benefit from having protein in a healthy diet as it allows your muscles to function properly, as well as helping to repair tissue damage. Beef can also be rich in iron which helps to deliver oxygen to your body through your red blood cells. Our meatball recipes are just one way in which you can receive these nutrients.
Ingredients
To create this healthy beef recipe, you will need:
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (Sulphites)
- 300g beef mince
- 400g chopped tomatoes
- 300g courgette
- 2 garlic clove
- 120g chestnut mushrooms
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 red pepper
- 2 tbsp basil pesto
- 40g sundried tomatoes
Instructions for a Healthy Meatball Recipe
Our Italian meatball recipe takes less than ten simple steps and is ready in just over 30 minutes:
- Finely chop or crush the garlic. Heat a medium saucepan with 1 tsp oil on a medium heat. Add the garlic, cook for 1 min, then add the chopped tomatoes and oregano. Simmer for 10 mins.
- Finely dice the pepper. Thinly slice the mushrooms. Roughly chop the sundried tomatoes. Heat a large frying pan with 1 tsp oil on a medium heat. Add the pepper and mushrooms; season with sea salt and black pepper. Cook for 5 mins, stirring occasionally, until soft.
- Meanwhile, make the meatballs. Place the mince and pesto in a bowl. Season with sea salt and black pepper and mix to combine. Use wet hands to form into 10 equal-sized meatballs.
- Add the softened veg and sundried tomatoes to the tomato sauce; continue to simmer. Reheat the frying pan with 1 tsp oil on a medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and fry for 8 mins, turning frequently, until golden brown.
- Make the courgetti; trim the courgettes and use a peeler to slice into long, thin strips (use a julienne peeler or spiralizer, if you have one).
- Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce, then simmer for a further 8 mins. Keep the frying pan on the heat and cook the courgetti for 1 min, stirring frequently, until slightly softened.
- Stir the vinegar through the meatball sauce; season with sea salt and black pepper. Serve the courgetti topped with the meatballs and sauce.
After trying our Italian meatball recipe, you may want to discover more delicious meals we have on offer. You can do this by staying updated with our blog. Here we showcase our latest recipes you can try from the comfort of your own home whatever the season. Our recent posts include: World Vegan Day 2021, 4 spaghetti bolognese dishes and supercharge your broth. Alternatively, stay up to date by following us on our social channels. Here you can keep in touch and tag us in any of your wonderful creations!
Turkey Meatballs with Roasted Veg Penne
Try a twist on the classic pasta and meatballs with our turkey meatballs with roasted veg penne. In this dish we use free-range British turkey mince and nutty brown rice penne. To sneak in extra veg, we use a combination of tender courgette, sweet romano pepper and to top we finish with a crisp almond crust.
- Cook time: 35 mins
- Allergens: Celery, Nuts
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Key ingredient: Succulent British free-range turkey
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 620
- Protein: 51g
- Carbs: 64g
- Fat: 17g
This Mediterranean cuisine packs a lot of flavour for the whole family to enjoy. Our recommended portion size for this meatball recipe is for a couple, but can easily be doubled to suit a family of four. No matter how many people are dining, this healthy meat recipe can provide nutrients with every mouthful.
Why We Love This Turkey Meatball Recipe
Turkey is just like many types of meat, in which you can receive the nutrient protein. You need protein in your diet to help with muscle recovery after injuries, and to provide strength for your muscles to function. Depending on the cut of turkey, you will find different nutrients. For example, skinless, white meat is where you will find the most protein, usually found in the breast of the bird.
Ingredients
A filling turkey meatball recipe with veg penne has never been so tasty. For a dish the whole family can enjoy together, you will need these ingredients:
- 150g courgette
- 2 garlic clove
- 2 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 200g passata
- 1 romano red pepper
- 2 tbsp red pesto
- 2 x shallot
- 1 chicken stock cube (use half) (Celery)
- 300g free-range turkey breast mince
- 120g brown rice penne
- 20g cashew parm cheez (Nuts)
Easy Meatball Recipe Instructions
With a cook time of less than 45 minutes and seven short, simple steps, you will have made this healthy turkey meatball recipe with a Mindful Chef twist. To start, follow these simple instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 200C / fan 180C / gas mark 6. Boil a kettle. Dissolve the stock cube in a jug with 100ml boiling water.
- Finely dice the shallots. Finely chop or crush the garlic. Heat a medium frying pan with 1/2 tbsp oil on a medium-high heat. Add the shallot and garlic; cook for 5 mins to soften. Once softened, transfer half the shallot to a large bowl. Set the remaining shallot aside for later.
- Add the herbs, pesto and turkey to the bowl with the shallot. Season with sea salt and black pepper, then use wet hands to shape into 10 meatballs. Place on a lined baking tray and set aside.
- Slice the pepper into 1cm strips. Dice the courgette into 2cm cubes. Reheat the shallot pan on a medium heat, then add the pepper and courgette and cook for 3 mins. Meanwhile, bake the meatballs for 12-15 mins, until golden and cooked through. Check the meatballs are cooked through by cutting one in half; the meat should be white and the juices running clear. Cook for longer if necessary.
- Add the passata to the frying pan. Rinse the carton with the stock and add to the pan. Simmer for 15 mins, until thickened; lightly season with sea salt and black pepper.
- Half-fill a large saucepan with lightly salted boiling water. Add the penne and boil for 7 mins, then drain and add to the sauce. Stir to coat.
- Serve the penne topped with the turkey meatballs. Garnish with the cheez.
Keep up to date with the latest from Mindful Chef by following our blog or our social channels. On socials you can tag us in any of your photos that you share of your meatball recipes. On the blog, the latest posts to be showcased includes how to make katsu curry, Our reversed advent calendar returns and 3 healthy fish pie recipes.
Honey & Balsamic Pork Meatballs with Courgetti
For a signature Mindful Chef twist on the classic spaghetti and meatballs recipe, discover our honey & balsamic pork meatballs with courgetti. Instead of pasta, we use fibre-rich courgetti noodles, alongside our free-range British pork meatballs and sticky honey and balsamic sauce. We are sure you will enjoy this European cuisine as much as we do!
- Cook time: 30 mins
- Allergens: Sulphites
- Cuisine: European
- Key ingredient: Tender British free-range pork
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 464
- Protein: 42g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fat: 20g
The combination of flavours in this meatball recipe is a pleasure to consume throughout the year. Our recommended portion size for this meatball recipe is for a couple, but can easily be doubled to suit a family of four. However many are dining, this healthy pork recipe can provide nutrients with every mouthful.
Why We Love This Pork Meatball Recipe
Pork can be a good source of the B vitamin thiamine. This vitamin is needed to help a range of healthy bodily functions and can even be richer in this B vitamin than other red meats such as lamb and beef. Pork is widely consumed worldwide and can be an addition to a healthy balanced diet, as it is high in protein. Being packed full of all nine essential amino acids means your body is receiving the nutrients it needs to help repair and build muscles.
Ingredients
A take on a classic spaghetti and meatballs recipe has never been easier to make at home. For a dish the whole family can enjoy over and over again, you will need these ingredients:
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (Sulphites)
- 300g courgette
- 2 garlic clove
- 25g honey (use half)
- 2 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 200g passata
- 300g free-range pork mince
- 80g baby spinach
- 60g sundried tomatoes
- 180g baby plum tomatoes
Easy Meatball Recipe Instructions
With a cook time of just 30 minutes and seven steps, you can focus on enjoying your dinner time with the ones you love. To start, follow these simple instructions:
- Finely chop or crush the garlic. Quarter the sundried tomatoes. Halve the fresh tomatoes.
- Prepare the courgetti; remove the ends of the courgettes, but leave the skins on. Using a peeler, slice the courgettes into long, thin strips (use a julienne peeler or spiralizer, if you have one).
- Make the meatballs; add half the dried herbs and half the garlic to a bowl with the pork, vinegar and 1 tbsp honey. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Mix well then, with wet hands, form into 10 meatballs.
- Heat a frying pan with 1/2 tbsp oil on a medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook for 8-10 mins, turning occasionally, until golden brown. When done, remove the pan from the heat.
- Meanwhile, heat a medium saucepan with 1/2 tbsp oil on a medium heat. Cook the remaining garlic for 1 min, then add the passata, sundried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes and 50ml boiling water. Simmer gently for 10 mins, until thickened. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir in the remaining dried herbs, spinach and meatballs, then place a lid on and simmer for a further 5 mins, until the pork is cooked through.
- Return the frying pan to a medium-high heat. Add the courgetti and cook for 1-2 mins, until softening.
- Serve the courgetti topped with the meatballs and sauce.
Once you have tried this recipe for yourself, take a look at our blog to uncover more of our favourite dishes. When you follow our blog, you can explore our wide range of recipes and cuisines we showcase throughout the year. From highlighting Veganuary and recipes you can whip up, to discovering our top tips for dressing your christmas table with Sophie Allport. Remember to also tag us in any of your social media posts, of your meatball recipe creations!
Korean Smoky Beef Meatballs with Rice & Pak Choi
Give our crowd-pleasing Korean smoky beef meatballs with rice & pak choi a go this winter. This Asian twist on a classic, sees us infuse the meatballs with warm ginger and five-spice, then coating them in an umami-rich miso-tamari sauce. The addition of pak choi provides colour, crunch and a source of vitamin K.
- Cook time: 35 mins
- Allergens: Soya, Sulphites
- Cuisine: Korean
- Key ingredient: Rich grass-fed British beef
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 656
- Protein: 44g
- Carbs: 58g
- Fat: 27g
The infusion of flavours within this dish leaves you wanting more. For this meatball recipe, our recommended portion size is for two people or an individual with lunch for the following day. It is also possible to double the recipe if you are dining with a family of four!
Why We Love This Beef Meatball Recipe
Brown Rice is full of nutritious elements which can often be missed when compared to white rice. Brown rice contains more fibre and antioxidants than white rice and can be seen to be high in magnesium. Research has shown that if you incorporate whole grains regularly into your diet, it helps to lower your blood sugar levels. Ultimately helping to decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes. We incorporate brown rice into our selection of our healthy recipes to create a balanced meal that the whole family can enjoy.
Ingredients
To pack this meatball recipe full of flavour, the ingredients you will need are:
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (Sulphites)
- 300g beef mince
- 1 tsp Chinese five-spice
- 1 red chilli
- 100g fresh edamame beans (Soya)
- 4cm fresh Brazilian blue Hawaiian ginger
- 25g honey (use half)
- 1 spring onion
- 2 pak choi
- 80g brown rice
- 4 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 tbsp tamari (Soya)
Easy Meatball Recipe Instructions
To make this healthy Korean meatball recipe, follow our seven simple steps.
- Boil a kettle, then fill a pan with salted boiling water on a high heat. Quarter the pak choi and blanch for 45 seconds, then remove with tongs and rinse under cold water. Drain and set aside.
- Add the rice to the same pan and simmer for 25-30 mins, until cooked. Drain and mix with the edamame.
- Meanwhile, finely chop or grate the ginger. Thinly slice the spring onion and chilli (remove the seeds for less heat).
- In a large bowl mix together the five-spice, beef and half the ginger. Season with sea salt and black pepper, then shape into 10 meatballs. Heat a medium, non-stick pan on a medium heat with 1/2 tbsp oil. Cook the meatballs for 10 mins, until golden brown all over.
- Make the sauce; in a small bowl mix together the tamari, vinegar, honey, tomato puree and remaining ginger. Add the sauce to the meatballs and cook for a further 2-3 mins on a medium heat, until slightly reduced.
- Heat a separate non-stick pan with 1/2 tbsp oil on a medium heat. Cook the pak choi on both sides for 1-2 mins, until golden, then season with sea salt.
- Serve the meatballs with the rice and pak choi. Garnish with the spring onion and chilli.
Be sure to stay in the know with Mindful Chef by following our blog and social channels. Here you will find new healthy recipes showcased, just like our italian meatball recipes, and other behind the scenes action. A selection of our latest posts include: powerful ingredients for your skin, getting to know your gut and low calorie meals – getting the perfect balance. You can also tag us in any photos you share on your social channels for us to see! We can’t wait to see your versions of our well loved recipes!
More from Mindful Chef
Discovered a new favourite meatball recipe? Find more that can bring joy to the whole family with the help of Mindful Chef. We have more than 1,000 healthy, delicious recipes available to choose from that you can make each day of the week. Whether you like healthy winter recipes, healthy autumn recipes, healthy summer recipes or healthy spring recipes, we have something delicious for the whole year!
Choosing one of our healthy recipe boxes, makes trying our mouthwatering meatball recipes covenant and quick. In need of feeding the whole family? Select our family recipe box, alternatively if you want an all vegan selection, our vegan recipe box is the answer. Simply choose your dishes, pick a delivery date and we take care of the rest! The convenient recipe boxes get delivered to your door and inside you will find fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients with an easy recipe card to follow! What’s more, our entire range is gluten free and dairy free. Try your first box with Mindful Chef today!