DinnerSlow cookerHigh proteinComfort food15 min
Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

Ground turkey has almost no fat to keep meatballs tender, so grated zucchini goes in instead. It disappears completely and does the job the fat would have done.

38gProtein
387Calories
18gCarbs
19gFat

Computed per serving from USDA FoodData Central

15 minPrep
—Cook
15 minTotal
4Serves
ItalianCuisine

Ingredients

  • 1¼ lbground turkey, 5% fat
  • 1zucchini, grated and squeezed dry
  • 1egg
  • ⅓ cupbreadcrumbs
  • 3 clovesgarlic, crushed
  • 1 tspdried oregano
  • 2 canschopped tomato, canned
  • 2 tbsptomato puree
  • 1 pinchsalt and black pepper

Method

  1. Squeeze the grated zucchini hard in a clean kitchen towel. Wet zucchini makes the mix too loose to roll.

  2. Mix it with the turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, half the garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Stop as soon as it comes together — overworking makes them dense.

  3. Roll into 16 meatballs, about golf ball size.

  4. Tip the canned tomatoes, puree and remaining garlic into the slow cooker and stir.

  5. Lower the meatballs in so they sit in the sauce rather than on top of each other.

  6. Cook on low for 4 hours. Do not lift the lid — every look costs about 20 minutes of heat.

  7. Season the sauce at the end, not the start. It reduces and concentrates as it cooks.

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What you’ll need

The gear this recipe actually uses. Essentials marked; the rest make it easier.

BrevilleFast Slow ProHands-off dinners: set it in the morning, eat at night.Amazon OXOGood Grips Box GraterCheese, zucchini, and grating ginger or pear on the fine side.Amazon OXOGood Grips Measuring CupsDry measures for cups of oats, flour, yogurt.EssentialAmazon OXOGood Grips Measuring SpoonsTeaspoons and tablespoons of spice, oil and honey.EssentialAmazon All-CladKitchen TowelsWringing out zucchini, drying anything before it hits heat.Amazon

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