Name: Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium onion, (chopped); 4 medium garlic cloves, (minced); One 28-ounce can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes, (liquid included); 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano; 1 teaspoon finely minced canned chipotle in adobo sauce, (or more/less to taste); 1 sprig fresh rosemary; salt; ¼ cup torn fresh basil leaves; 1 pound ground turkey; 1 slice fresh whole-wheat bread, (pulsed into crumbs); ¼ cup grated Parmesan, (plus more for serving); ½ cup finely grated carrot; ½ cup finely chopped onion; 2 large garlic cloves, (minced); 2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley, (plus more for garnish); 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme; 1 large egg, (lightly beaten); ½ teaspoon salt; freshly ground black pepper; One box (16-ounces) whole-wheat spaghetti

This Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs is tossed in a bit of a spicy sauce. It’s a healthier pasta recipe, so you can look forward to enjoying it without too much guilt!

spaghetti with turkey meatballs in a bowl

Whole wheat spaghetti is used in this recipe to make things a bit healthier. The meatballs are delicious, and they’re accompanied by a homemade, slightly spicy marinara sauce. If you’d like, you can use a store-bought sauce instead. This is a great, comfort food meal!

I’m quite fond of Ellie Krieger and her talent for making good, healthy food taste good. This recipe for Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce comes from her book: The Food You Crave.

ingredients displayed for making meatballs and sauce

Ingredients needed for the sauce:

olive oil
onion and garlic
canned fire-roasted tomatoes
tomato paste
oregano
canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
fresh rosemary and fresh basil
salt

Ingredients needed for the meatballs:

ground turkey
whole wheat bread
Parmesan cheese
carrot, garlic, onion and parsley
fresh thyme
egg
salt and pepper

three photos showing how to make meatballs and how to make spicy spaghetti sauce

How to make Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

PREPARE THE SAUCE:

In a large saucepan heat the oil over medium heat. Saute the onions until translucent, about 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, chipotle chiles, rosemary, and salt. Bring all the ingredients to a low boil, reduce heat and cook for approximately 15 minutes, until the liquid has evaporated slightly. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. While the sauce is cooking, make the meatballs.

PREPARE THE MEATBALLS:

Preheat the broiler and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the turkey with all other ingredients. Form into 2½-inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Broil for 10 minutes, or until browned and almost entirely cooked through.

pot of sauce with meatballs cooking inside of it

Remove the rosemary sprig from the sauce and stir in the fresh basil. Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and cook additional 10 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly thickened and the meatballs have absorbed some of the sauce.

pot of spaghetti with sauce and meatballs

While the meatballs are cooking, cook the whole-wheat spaghetti according to package directions. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the sauce and meatballs, toss and heat through over medium heat.

close up meatball sitting on top of spaghetti

There is nothing better than homemade meatballs!

Tips:

I like to use the Barilla Brand pasta.
Make ahead tip: prepare the meatballs, set them on a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake them. The sauce can be made ahead of time too.
The sauce has quite a kick to it from the chipotle chiles. I recommend adding just a little at a time until you are satisfied with the flavor. I liked it spiced up pretty well, but kids might find it much too spicy.

servings of spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread in bowls