Turkey Meatball Garlic Bread Bake (Printable Version)
Juicy turkey meatballs nestled in rich tomato sauce, topped with golden cheesy garlic bread cubes for the ultimate comfort food.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the 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
→ For the Sauce
10 - 3 cups marinara sauce
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes
→ For the 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 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Form into 1 ½-inch meatballs, yielding about 18-20 pieces, and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Pour marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs. Sprinkle with dried basil and red pepper flakes if using.
04 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes to partially cook the meatballs.
05 - While the meatballs bake, toss bread cubes with melted butter, minced garlic, and parsley in a large bowl until evenly coated.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the meatballs and sauce. Arrange garlic bread cubes in an even layer on top.
07 - Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until bread cubes are golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
# Expert Insights:
01 -
- The garlic bread topping soaks up just enough sauce to become insanely flavorful while staying perfectly crisp on top
- Everything cooks in one pan so you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup
02 -
- Overmixing the meatballs makes them tough, so barely mix until everything is combined
- The bread topping can burn quickly, so keep an eye on it during those final 15 minutes
03 -
- Broiling for 2-3 minutes at the end creates the most incredible golden crust on the bread
- Double the meatball mixture and freeze half for next time