Honey-Glazed Mini Meatball Pasta
Sweet honey-simmered meatballs tangled with fusilli, featuring a touch of carrot sweetness that makes picky eaters ask for seconds. This American-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs fusilli pasta, lean ground turkey, breadcrumbs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 490 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz fusilli pasta
- 1/2 cup lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated carrot
- 1/4 cup marinara sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp dried basil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook 12 oz fusilli in a large pot of salted boiling water for 10 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup ground turkey, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup grated carrot, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp dried basil. Form into 12 small meatballs (about 1 inch each).
- Step 3: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, add meatballs, and cook for 5 minutes until browned. Stir in 1/4 cup marinara and 1 tbsp honey, then simmer for 2 minutes until glossy and caramelized, then toss with cooked fusilli.
