These Ricotta Meatballs are an easy and delicious family favorite! Tender, juicy homemade meatballs with a jar of good marinara and a crispy topping to finish it all off. YUM!
olive oil — 2 tsp; plus a drizzle for the pan10 ml
fresh parsley — chopped10 g
Method
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Mix the turkey, ricotta, 50 g (1/2 cup) of the Parmesan, 25 g (1/2 cup) of the panko, the garlic powder, salt and Italian seasoning together.
Roll the mixture into 20-24 small meatballs. Drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of a shallow Dutch oven or oven-safe pan to prevent sticking, and add the meatballs.
Cooking for a different diet?
Swaps that keep this dish what it is. The prices on this page are for the recipe as written.
Vegetarian
450 g Plant-based minceinstead of ground turkey
Plant-based mince is softer, so chill the rolled balls for 15 minutes and bake for 15–18 minutes before adding the sauce.
Gluten-free
40 g Gluten-free breadcrumbsinstead of panko breadcrumbs
Gluten-free crumbs brown faster under the grill, so watch the topping closely in the last 2 minutes.
Swaps are suggestions — check labels if you are cooking for an allergy.
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ground turkey · 450 g
full-fat ricotta · 125 g
grated Parmesan · 75 g
panko breadcrumbs · 40 g
garlic powder · 1 tsp
salt · 6 g
Italian seasoning · 0.5 tsp
marinara sauce · 800 g
olive oil · 10 ml
fresh parsley · 10 g
Bake for 20-25 minutes on a middle oven rack. Gently loosen them from the bottom of the pan with a spatula; they should have some nice browning.
Add the marinara sauce directly to the pan and stir to coat the meatballs.
Mix the remaining panko and Parmesan with the 2 tsp olive oil and the parsley in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the meatballs and sauce.
Return to the oven for 5-7 minutes to warm the sauce. Turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes to get the topping golden (watch it so it doesn't burn).
Serve with a green salad and garlic bread for dunking into the sauce.