Turkey Meatball Garlic Bread Bake (Printable)
Hearty turkey meatballs baked in marinara with a crispy garlic bread topping for a comforting family meal.
# 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 (or 1 tbsp dried)
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - ½ tsp black pepper
→ For the Sauce
10 - 3 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
→ 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
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of butter.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
03 - Shape the mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs, approximately 18-20 total. Arrange them evenly in the prepared baking dish.
04 - Pour marinara sauce over the meatballs, ensuring even coverage. Sprinkle with dried basil and red pepper flakes if using.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes at 400°F.
06 - While meatballs bake, combine bread cubes, melted butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley in a large bowl. Toss until bread cubes are evenly coated.
07 - Remove baking dish from oven. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over meatballs and sauce. Arrange garlic bread cubes in an even layer on top.
08 - Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until bread cubes are golden brown and cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
09 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
- The garlic bread topping gets perfectly crispy while soaking up all that tomato sauce
02 -
- Dont pack the meatballs too tightly or theyll turn dense and rubbery
- Letting it rest for those 5 minutes helps the sauce thicken slightly
03 -
- Use a light hand when mixing the meat to keep it tender
- Broil for the last 2 minutes if you want extra crispy bread cubes