This is a simple way to make meatballs at home with some zucchini noodles and sauce—easy-peasy. Make extra to keep this quick protein source on hand for weeknight meals or snacks anytime.
This recipe features our ITALIAN blend - which you can shop here!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground pork
- 3 tablespoons ITALIAN Spice Blend
- 4 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- 4 large zucchini
- 3 cups marinara, homemade or store-bought (use a nosugar- added variety), warmed
FOR GARNISH (OPTIONAL)
- 1/2 cup grated hard cheese, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Make the meatballs: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, spice blend, garlic, and onion. Mix well with your hands until the spice mixture is evenly dispersed.
Form the meat into twenty-four 1 1/3-ounce meatballs, about the size of golf balls, and place them in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
While the meatballs are baking, make the zucchini into noodles using a spiral slicer, a handheld julienne peeler, or even a regular vegetable peeler (if using a regular peeler, the noodles will be wide and flat instead of spaghetti-shaped). You should get 4 cups of noodles.
Fill a large pot with 1 inch of water and place a steamer basket in the pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles to the basket and steam for 3 minutes. Transfer the noodles to a colander to drain off the excess liquid as they cool slightly.
Place the noodles in a large bowl and toss them with the marinara sauce. Top with the meatballs and garnish with the grated cheese and basil, if desired.
Notes
DAIRY-FREE?
Omit the cheese.
CHANGE IT UP
Swap out the pork for ground beef or a combination of ground pork and ground chicken.
TIP
Double or triple this recipe to have extras for leftovers. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for later use.