Turkey Meatball Garlic Bread Bake (Printable Version)
Juicy turkey meatballs in marinara sauce topped with cheesy garlic bread cubes for a comforting one-dish meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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
→ Sauce
10 - 3 cups marinara sauce
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes
→ 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 to avoid tough meatballs.
03 - Shape mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs, yielding approximately 18-20 pieces. Arrange evenly in the prepared baking dish.
04 - Pour marinara sauce over the meatballs. Sprinkle with dried basil and red pepper flakes if using.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes at 400°F.
06 - While meatballs bake, toss bread cubes with melted butter, minced garlic, and parsley in a large bowl until evenly coated.
07 - Remove dish from oven. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over meatballs. Arrange garlic bread cubes in an even layer on top.
08 - Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes, until bread cubes are golden brown and cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
09 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
- The turkey meatballs stay incredibly juicy nestled in all that sauce
- That moment when the bread cubes turn golden and the cheese bubbles is pure kitchen magic
02 -
- Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough, so stop as soon as everything comes together
- The bread on top can burn quickly, so keep an eye on it during those final 15 minutes
- Letting it rest seems impossible but the sauce needs those few minutes to settle
03 -
- Run your hands under cold water before forming meatballs to prevent sticking
- Broil for just 2 minutes at the very end if you want extra crispy bread cubes