This post may contain affiliate links.
Everything is better with cheese! These simple, mozzarella stuffed meatballs are full of melted, gooey cheese and cook up in 15 minutes! Pop them on a toothpick for an easy appetizer or toss them in marinara and serve them with pasta. Your choice!
If you are a meatball fan, then you are gonna looooooove these cheese stuffed turkey meatballs! What's not to love? Cheese makes everything better!
Meatballs are the perfect food for any occasion--an app for the party, tossed with your favorite pasta, or made into a sandwich.
In my family, meatballs are the staple ingredient of lasagna. No meat crumbles in our lasagna, always, always meatballs.
These mozzarella stuffed meatballs are a simple way to jazz up dinner or the party. You choose.
Perfectly poppable, perfectly simple to whip up, and most importantly super cheesy.
What you will need:
Pretty straight forward as far as it goes with the meatballs. I have all of this on hand at all times!
As for the mozzarella--I shot this recipe during the beginning of the pandemic. I was not going into the grocery at all during that time. My mozzarella ended up not being in my order the day I got my grocery order.
So I had to improvise. When you have a toddler, you always have string cheese or "cheese sticks" as Sam calls them.
So now I can tell you, 1 inch pieces of mozzarella string cheese will work here as well as fresh mozzarella cut into small pieces or mozzarella pearls!
How to make these:
Add all the ingredients for the meatballs into a mixing bowl and stir well to fully incorporate. Roll the mixture into 2 inch balls.
Press into the center of your meatball to make a hole for the cheese. Place a piece of mozzarella in the indentation and then form the meatball to completely cover the cheese. (photos 1, 2, and 3)
Baking your meatballs is the easiest and most efficient way. You just line them up on a baking pan lined with parchment, toss them in the oven and come back to delicious, cheesy meatballs.
Growing up, we LOVED to add our uncooked meatballs to a big pot of marinara and simmer them until the meatballs were cooked through. Meatballs cooked in sauce are unlike anything else.
I have not tried this method with these mozzarella stuffed meatballs yet but you better believe it's going to happen soon! I will keep you posted.
Ohhhhhh, look at all that perfect melty, gooey cheese. If I make these for a party app soon, there are certainly gonna be several missing before the party even starts!
Sorry not sorry.
Notes:
- As for serving these mozzarella stuffed turkey meatballs, toss them in some marinara and grab some toothpicks. You should be all set!
- If serving these party style, you can keep them in a crock pot set to warm with your favorite marinara or sauce.
- You can chill the meatball mixture for about 15-20 minutes for easier rolling if desired.
- Feel free to mix up the meatball mixture ahead of time and roll them for baking just before you are ready to serve them.
Try these other easy turkey recipes:
- Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers
- Simple Turkey Burgers
- Turkey Pepper Skillet
- Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Turkey Enchiladas
- Pesto Turkey Pinwheels
DID YOU MAKE ONE OF MY RECIPES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! I ALSO LOVE TO SEE YOUR LEMONS + ZEST RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA–TAG ME @LEMONSANDZEST ON INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK!
Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey (85% lean)
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ c parmesan cheese, grated
- ⅓ c breadcrumbs (gluten free, if needed)
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon basil (dried)
- 1 teaspoon oregano (dried)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 15 1 inch pieces of fresh mozzarella or any cube or stick form cut into 1 inch pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except the mozzarella and mix well to combine. Roll into two inch balls. If this is difficult, you can add more breadcrumbs to make it less sticky or chill for about 15-20 minutes before rolling.
- Press an indentation into each meatball to fit the piece of mozzarella. Place a one inch piece into the indentation, and form the meatball around the mozzarella to cover completely. Repeat for each meatball.
- Line the meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes or until the meatballs have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Allow to rest for several minutes before serving tossed in your favorite marinara or sauce or eaten just as is!
Notes
- As for serving these mozzarella stuffed turkey meatballs, toss them in some marinara and grab some toothpicks. You should be all set!
- If serving these party style, you can keep them in a crock pot set to warm with your favorite marinara or sauce.
- You can chill the meatball mixture for about 15-20 minutes for easier rolling if desired.
- Feel free to mix up the meatball mixture ahead of time and roll them for baking just before you are ready to serve them.
Leave a Reply