Delicious (and healthy!) air fryer turkey meatballs are paired with Green Giant® Veggie Spirals for a filling and hearty dinner. Toss with your favorite pasta sauce and you have a lightened up comfort food favorite. YUM!
This post was sponsored by Green Giant as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Now that Liam is 6 months old, I’m ready to get back on track health wise. I joined Weight Watchers and I’m really trying to healthify our favorite foods with extra veggies or protein. But sometimes I crave good ole comfort food.
On the new Freestyle plan, chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables are 0 points, so I like to bulk up my my meals with as many veggies as possible. I always find it hard to say no to carbs, though…especially with comfort food.
Green Giant® is helping keep me on track with some delicious new veggie spirals frozen sides. Swapping out their 100% vegetable noodles for regular can save TONS of calories (and Weight Watchers points!). Honestly, once you try them, you’ll be hooked. I can’t wait to experiment with the carrot or beet veggie spirals! My friend swears by the butternut squash noodles for her burrito bowls.
The Veggie Spirals are located in the freezer section at Walmart– normally in-between frozen veggies and the frozen potato section. I have found that coupons are readily available, too!
The veggie spirals come in a steam bag in a different varieties: beet, carrot, zucchini and butternut squash. I love that they are kept sauce free so you can add them to whatever meal you’re planning. Try soups, a swap in for pasta dishes or even salads! The key to preparing them is to cook in the microwave and completely drain after– there will be extra water after steaming.
To keep with the lightened up theme for this recipe, the turkey meatballs are browned in an air fryer to make them crunchy and perfect for marinara. I honestly didn’t think I needed an air fryer, since we don’t fry much anyways, but oh-em-gee is it a new essential kitchen appliance.
When you’re shopping for a pasta sauce, be sure to check the sugar and sodium. I love ones that use the words “heart healthy” or something along those lines. Fresh torn basil always freshens up the marinara, too!
A lightened up classic comfort food, perfect to pair with Green Giant veggie spirals!
- 1 pound 93/7 ground turkey
- 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1 large egg whisked
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 package Green Giant Zucchini Veggie Spirals
-
Preheat air fryer to 400º (see notes for oven instructions).
-
In a bowl, add all ingredients. Mix together with a spoon until just combined. If the mixture is a bit too moist, add extra bread crumbs.
-
Using a cookie scoop, or tablespoon, make equal sized meatballs. You should get around 20.
-
Coat the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray. Add meatballs to the basket and cook for 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
-
While the meatballs are cooking, steam the Green giant veggie spirals in the microwave. Drain after cooking. Heat marinara.
-
To plate, toss zucchini noodles in warm sauce and top with meatballs. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
No air fryer? No problem! Cook meatballs on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray at 400º for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Check out the Green Giant website for more recipe inspiration and information about Veggie Spirals!
Have you tried Veggie Spirals yet? What comfort food would you lighten up with them?
Oh yum!! I might have to try these… I put spinach in mine (the frozen kind) and its super yummy!
Made these for dinner last night. They were great!
So happy to hear this!! They’re on our meal plan for the week!
Can I freeze the uncooked meatballs and air fry them as needed? If so, any idea as to how long and at what temperature?
I love this recipe. I use this all time time for turkey meatballs. Thanks!