Oven Baked Turkey Meatballs

My children, like many, love "pasgetti" with meatballs. It is a meal they look forward to and ask for in our household. However, the only recipe I have used for meatballs, though delicious, can be quite time consuming. First, the meatballs have to be sauteed in oil on each side, drained on paper towels, and then return to a homemade sauce. Don't get me wrong, this dish is incredibly tasty, but I was looking for something a little more simplified that would still be as big of a hit. Thankfully, Barefoot Contessa premiered a new recipe for meatballs only a few weeks ago on the Food Network, and this time, she baked the meatballs and then added them to already made spaghetti sauce. Of course, you could still make your own sauce if you have time, but either way, this is a great, simplified version of a true classic, without taking away the great flavor of traditional meatballs. I served it with a green salad and we had leftovers for the following night. 


Spicy Turkey Meatballs & Spaghetti
Adapted from the Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients

• 3 cups (1-inch diced) bread cubes from a round rustic bread, crusts removed
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 2 pounds ground turkey (85-percent to 92-percent lean...don't get it leaner or you won't have enough fat)
• 1/2 pound sweet Italian pork sausage, casings removed
• 1 cup freshly grated aged Asiago cheese (I used Parmesan) 
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons good olive oil, plus extra for brushing the meatballs (I used a little less; otherwise, it seemed too oily)
• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 (24-ounce) jars good marinara sauce, or make your own
• 2 pounds dried spaghetti
• Freshly grated Parmesan (or Asiago) cheese, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.

Place the bread in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until the bread is in medium crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a small bowl and add the milk. Set aside for 5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the turkey, sausage, bread mixture, cheese, parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Lightly combine the ingredients with your hands. Add a couple tablespoons of olive oil and the eggs, and stir lightly with a fork to combine.

With your hands, lightly roll the mixture into 2-inch-round meatballs and place them on the prepared sheet pans. Brush the meatballs with olive oil. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the tops are browned and the centers are completely cooked.

Pour the marinara sauce in a large, low pot, add the meatballs, and bring to a simmer.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water according to the directions on the package. Drain and place the spaghetti in individual bowls, and top with 3 meatballs and lots of sauce. Serve with Parmesan cheese on the side.