Porcupine Meatballs and Zoodles
Tender turkey meatballs filled with rice then added on top of a bed of zucchini noodles. Serve with chunky vegetables, spaghetti sauce, and Parmesan. Porcupine Meatballs and Zoodles is the perfect dinner for when you are craving a different kind of Italian dish.
You know….I love carbs. I L-O-V-E them. Bread! Pasta! YUM! But I honestly don’t love them as much as I love zucchini. Oh, zucchini! Such a diverse veggie whether I fry it, put it in some muffins or making zoodles like these there are so many ways to make it delicious. How about adding one of my families favorites to it? Yes! So now we have a new recipe to add to our dinner routine, Porcupine Meatballs and Zoodles.
It’s funny to think that this was one of the very first recipes that I put on my blog. Looking back almost 8 months in I have realized how far I’ve come with my photos so I’m going through and giving them a fresher look. And this one needed it….badly! While the pictures were bad, I will give myself a little credit in the fact that I had basically 0.2% experience in photography. So on to the recipe that got this all started only with better pictures.
How to make Porcupine Meatballs and Zoodles:
First, let’s start off with the meatballs. You can use any beef flavor rice you like or even shake it up with different flavors but I always stick to the beef flavored as I find it gives the best taste.
Cook the rice according to package directions.
Once the rice has cooled add it to your turkey and egg. Toast the bread and crush up into the meat mixture. Form into meatballs and put onto a greased baking sheet.
At this time preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare your ‘zoodles’ using a spiralizer.
Chop onions, garlic, green peppers. Add all of it into a bowl then top with olive oil.
Put onto another baking sheet then put both the meatballs and the zoodles now go into the oven for 35 minutes.
In the last 5 minutes of the meatballs and zoodles cooking heat up the spaghetti sauce.
Assemble this beautiful ‘pasta’ by taking all the vegetables and zoodles, top with meatballs then finally pour sauce over the top of your meatballs.
Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Tips for making Porcupine Meatballs and Zoodles:
- Let the rice completely cool before adding to the meatball mixture. Not only could you burn your hands when mixing the meatballs together it could end up cooking the eggs.
And here you are….
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
This recipe has been updated with photos & recipe.
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 35 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 pkg beef flavored rice cooked to package directions
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 green pepper chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 jar spaghettic sauce
- 1 egg
- 2 pieces bread toasted
- 2 medium zucchini
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- Parmesan for sprinkling
Ingredients
Porcupine Meatballs
Zoodles
|
|
- Cook the rice according to package directions then…...and this is *Important*…let it cool!
- Once it’s cooled add it to your turkey, and egg. Toast the bread and crush up into the meat mixture. Form into meatballs and put onto greased baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree.
- Prepare zucchini 'zoodles' using a spirilizer. Chop onions, garlic, green peppers. Add all of it into a bowl then top with olive oil. Put onto another baking sheet.
- Both the meatballs and the zoodles now go into the oven for 35 minutes.
- In the last 5 minutes of the meatballs and zoodles cooking heat up the spaghetti sauce to pour over the top of your meatballs and zoodles.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan. Enjoy!
Tips for making Porcupine Meatballs and Zoodles:
- Let the rice completely cool before adding to the meatball mixture. Not only could you burn your hands when mixing the meatballs together it could end up cooking the eggs.
Bacon Shells & Cheese
This easy pasta dish is full of summer vegetables, crispy bacon, pasta, and a creamy cheese sauce. Bacon Shells & Cheese is the perfect dinner when you’re looking for comfort food but short on time.
Ah…finally Friday! After last weeks long weekend and the kids finally going back to school, I am ready for this Mitten Movie Night. If your like me then put your feet up and dig into this delicious and creamy Bacon Shells & Cheese.
What beer pairs well with Bacon Shells & Cheese?
The beer: Lagunitas Lucky 13.
This is one of my husband’s favorites.
Pasta is Perfect for Entertaining
When I pulled out the bowl that I usually place my pasta in I realized that it has held up very well. It was a gift from my cousin for my wedding. That means this month it is 13 years old! It’s so beautiful and gives any pasta I put into it a beautiful presentation.
Do you have special dishes you pull out when people are coming over?
When I say that this pasta comes together quickly, I’m not exaggerating.
How to make Bacon Shells & Cheese:
Start your pasta to boil and your diced bacon to cook according to package directions, they take approximately the same amount of time.
While they are both cooking chop your vegetables.
Once your pasta has cooked drain and set aside.
Once bacon has cooked remove from the pan and reserve 1 tsp. of the bacon grease. Not too much but enough to keep the flavor.
In the same pan melt 1 Tbs. butter in the bottom then add onions and zucchini. Soften for around 3 minutes. Add tomatoes. Sautee quickly. Over the top of the vegetables sprinkle the flour and stir. Pour in milk.
Bring to a simmer and add Parmesan cheese, Italian cheese, garlic powder, and pepper. Let thicken, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
Put your pasta and bacon back into the pan.
Transfer to beautiful serving bowl, garnish with more cheese & basil.
And here you are…..
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Originally published in September of 2016. Updated post in March of 2019.
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 20 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 8 ounces small shell pasta cooked to package directions
- 1 Tbs butter
- 12 ounces bacon cooked to package directions, reserve 1 tsp oil after cooked
- 1/2 cup shredded italian cheese more for garnish if desired
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 2 small zucchini diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 small roma tomato diced
- 2 Tbs flour
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Ingredients
|
|
- Start your pasta to boil and your diced bacon to cook according to package directions, they take approximately the same amount of time.
- Dice vegetables.
- Once your pasta has cooked drain and set aside. When bacon is cooked remove from the pan and reserve 1 tsp. of the bacon grease in the pan.
- In the same pan melt 1 Tbs. butter in the bottom then add onions and zucchini. Soften for around 3 minutes. Add tomatoes. Sautee quickly.
- Over the top of the vegetables sprinkle the flour and stir. Pour in milk. Bring to a simmer and Parmesan cheese, Italian cheese, garlic powder and pepper. Let thicken, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Put your pasta and bacon back into the pan.
- Garnish with more cheese & basil.
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