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When you need a healthy, flavorful meal that’s quick to put together, meal prep turkey meatballs and zoodles are the perfect choice. These juicy turkey meatballs simmer in a rich marinara sauce and pair beautifully with fresh, spiralized zucchini noodles for a light but satisfying dish. It’s a great option for busy weeks when you want something nourishing, delicious and easy to grab. With simple ingredients and lots of flavor, these meatballs with zoodles will become a meal prep favorite.
Meal prep turkey meatballs and zoodles offer a fresh and hearty way to enjoy a lighter Italian-inspired meal. This is such an easy dish to make ahead and is so tasty.
You might also like this easy ground turkey sweet potato skillet, turkey taco casserole and these turkey potstickers.
Why You’ll Love It
Quick to make: You can have this entire meal ready in about 30 minutes, making it a perfect choice for a busy upcoming week.
Low carb and healthy: Zucchini noodles keep it light while still making it feel hearty and filling.
Full of flavor: Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and rich marinara sauce bring bold, savory taste to every bite.
Meal prep friendly: It keeps for days in the refrigerator, making it perfect for lunches or easy dinners.
Customizable: You can swap sauces, change up the seasoning or even try different veggies if you like.
Family-friendly: Even picky eaters will enjoy these tender meatballs and tangy sauce.
Zucchini Noodles with Turkey Meatballs Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Ground turkey: A lean protein base for the meatballs that stays tender and flavorful.
Panko breadcrumbs: Help bind the meatballs and give them a lighter texture.
Parmesan cheese: Adds salty richness to the meatballs and makes a great garnish.
Egg: Helps bind the meatball mixture together.
Fresh garlic: Brings a punch of aromatic flavor to the meatballs.
Yellow onion: Adds moisture and a hint of sweetness. Finely dice or grate the onion to avoid chunky bites of onion in the meatballs.
Seasonings: Italian seasoning infuses the meatballs with savory flavor, and then salt and pepper add more flavor.
Olive oil: Used for searing the meatballs and adding richness.
Marinara sauce: A flavorful tomato base that coats the meatballs and zoodles.
Zucchini: Spiralized into noodles for a fresh, low-carb pasta alternative.
How to Make Turkey Meatballs and Zoodles
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Shape the meatballs: Combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Use a cookie scoop to shape them into even balls.
Brown the meatballs: Sear the meatballs on both sides in a skillet over a medium heat.
Simmer in sauce: Pour marinara into the same skillet, add the meatballs back in and simmer until cooked through.
Assemble the containers: Divide zucchini noodles between meal prep containers and top with meatballs and sauce.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free panko or almond flour.
Swap the protein: Replace turkey with ground chicken, pork or beef.
Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes to the meatball mix.
Change the sauce: Try a creamy alfredo, spicy arrabbiata, green pesto or red pesto instead of the bottled marinara (or try my homemade marinara!)
Add more veggies: Toss in fresh spinach, mushrooms or roasted peppers for extra flavor and nutrition.
Tweak the flavor: Add extra minced garlic or garlic powder, include some onion powder or a squeeze of lemon juice. Add fresh chopped herbs like basil, parsley or oregano.
Don’t cook the zoodles: Zoodles will naturally soften and can be added to the meal prep containers raw. The hot sauce and meatballs, or gently reheating in the microwave, will quickly soften the noodles.
Serving Suggestions
With bread: Serve homemade focaccia or garlic bread on the side. You could also stuff the meatballs into a hoagie roll to make a turkey meatball sub.
With a salad: A chopped lemon Parmesan salad or peach panzanella would be good.
With vegetables: Pair the dish with cheesy vegetables or roasted artichokes.
How to Store Meatballs and Zucchini Noodles
Store: Store meal prep containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze: It’s better to freeze just the cooked meatballs and sauce, then add fresh zucchini noodles when you’re ready to serve, otherwise they’ll get mushy.
Thaw: Defrost the meatballs overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Reheat in the microwave for a couple of minutes until warmed through.
Top Tips
Use a cookie scoop: This keeps the meatballs even in size so they cook uniformly.
No over-mixing: Mix the meat mixture until just combined or your meatballs can become dense.
Don’t overcook the zucchini: Keep the zoodles raw if you want them firm, or lightly sauté if you prefer them softer.
Simmer gently: A medium low heat helps the meatballs stay juicy and tender. Don’t boil them.
Limit the liquid: Zucchini noodles release moisture. For less liquid, you can lightly salt the noodles in a colander for a few minutes, drain or squeeze out the moisture, and then proceed with the recipe.
Meal Prep Meatballs with Zoodles FAQs
Yes, pre-spiralized zucchini from the store works just fine to save time.
About 10 to 12, but it depends on the size of your scoop. The size of your meatballs affects the exact cooking time.
Look for them at the grocery store or online (I used these!) You can use any airtight container that’s microwave-safe if you’re planning to microwave these meals later.
Meal Prep Turkey Meatball Zoodles Recipe
Meal Prep Turkey Meatballs & Zoodles
Equipment
- Skillet Large
- Cookie Scoop 1 ½-Tablespoon
Ingredients
- 1 Pound ground turkey
- ½ Cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ Cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for garnish
- 1 egg, large
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 yellow onion, small, finely diced
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Jar marinara sauce, about 3 Cups or 24 Ounces
- 4 zucchini, medium, spiralized
Instructions
- Add turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, garlic, onions, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined.
- Take a 1 ½ Tablespoon cookie scoop, and roll the mixture into 10 to 12 large meatballs. The size varies depending on the size of the cookie scoop used.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes or until browned.
- Carefully flip the meatballs and brown on the other side for another 3 minutes. Remove the meatballs to a plate.
- Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet and bring it to a simmer.
- Return the meatballs to the pan. Reduce the heat and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Evenly divide the zucchini noodles among 4 meal prep containers.
- Top with the marinara sauce and meatballs.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve and then enjoy, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if liked.
Notes
No over-mixing: Mix the meat mixture until just combined or your meatballs can become dense.
Don’t overcook the zucchini: Keep the zoodles raw if you want them firm, or lightly sauté if you prefer them softer.
Simmer gently: A medium low heat helps the meatballs stay juicy and tender. Don’t boil them.
Limit the liquid: Zucchini noodles release moisture. For less liquid, you can lightly salt the noodles in a colander for a few minutes, drain or squeeze out the moisture, and then proceed with the recipe.
Nutrition
Meal prep turkey meatballs and zucchini noodles make healthy eating easy without sacrificing flavor. The juicy meatballs, hearty sauce and fresh zucchini noodles come together for a simple but satisfying dish you’ll love having ready to go. Whether you’re planning lunches for the week or a few easy dinners, this meal keeps things light, tasty and hassle-free. You’ll feel great knowing a healthy and delicious meal is waiting whenever you need it and this is one of the simplest meal prep recipes to whip up.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
