Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara
Roasted eggplant adds a rich, mellow depth to these tender turkey meatballs, blended with carrot, onion, garlic, Parmesan, almond flour, and fragrant dried herbs. Served with marinara sauce, they make a comforting dinner with a fresh twist on a familiar favorite.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook55 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 57 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 12 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 25
- Heart Health
- 86
- Metabolic
- 46
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 56
- Performance
- 49
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Grease foil with olive oil.
- 2
Arrange the eggplant halves cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Pierce the eggplant skin several times with a fork.
- 3
Roast eggplant in preheated oven until soft, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely.
- 4
Scoop the flesh from the eggplant halves onto a cutting board, chop it into small chunks, and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- 5
Mix ground turkey, carrot, onion, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, sea salt, and black pepper with the eggplant chunks until evenly combined. Gently mix almond flour into the eggplant mixture, then scoop it onto the prepared baking sheet with an ice cream scoop.
- 6
Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake meatballs in the oven for 15 minutes. Flip the meatballs and bake until browned and no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes more.
- 7
While the meatballs bake, heat marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat until hot. Add baked meatballs to the sauce and stir to coat.
- Calories 350.26 kcal Moderate 18%
- Protein 30.1 g Good Source 60%
- Carbohydrate 18.44 g 7%
- Total Fat 17.29 g High 22%
- Saturated Fat 4.4 g High 22%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 110.02 mg High 37%
- Sodium 926.34 mg High 40%
- Dietary Fiber 6.78 g Good Source 24%
- Total Sugars 7.87 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 228.17 mg Moderate 18%
- Iron 2.0 mg Moderate 11%
- Potassium 537.68 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin A 38.85 mcg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin C 0.76 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.18 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara is made with 19 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Almond Flour, Black Pepper, Carrot, and Cooked Turkey. Each serving provides about 350.26 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara made of?
- The main ingredients are Almond Flour, Black Pepper, Carrot, Cooked Turkey, Diced Yellow Onion. The full list of 19 is above.
- How long does it take to make Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 55 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 350.26 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 19 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara healthy?
- Turkey and Eggplant Meatballs in Marinara has an easyChef Pro health score of 50/100. Per serving, it provides 350.26 calories and 30.1 g of protein, or 60% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 926.34 mg (40% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.4 g (22% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts, Eggs, Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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