Turkey and Sage Meatballs with Butternut Squash Grain Bowl
Craving fall comfort food without the guilt? This Turkey and Sage Meatball Harvest Grain Bowl is your answer. With a balance of lean protein, hearty grains, and seasonal veggies, it’s a satisfying and nutritious meal that’s easy to whip up on a busy weeknight.
The Bowl
This Turkey and Sage Meatballs with Butternut Squash Grain Bowl recipes makes a protein and veggie packed grain bowl with the best fall flavors. You will utilize turkey, sage, butternut squash and a seasonal harvest grain blend! Let’s break down the ingredients:
- Ground turkey – I recommend a 93% lean ground turkey. You could substitute ground chicken for similar results.
- Sage – fresh minced or dried rubbed sage is an essential fall flavor that pairs really well with turkey.
- Onion – a great addition any meatball recipe for flavor but also as it cooks the onion with release some of its juices to keep the meatball from becoming dry – no one wants dry meatballs.
- Feta – feta crumbles work great to add additional flavor complexity. You could omit, if desired, or sub another crumbly cheese.
- Egg – 1 beaten egg is a binding agent for all your meatball ingredients. You will hand-combine all ingredients until just mixed. Do not over mix as that can make the meatballs dry or tough.
- Seasonings – besides the sage, which is the star herb of this dish, I recommend using salt, pepper, paprika, red chile pepper flakes, and thyme. Ground turkey is not a bold flavor on its own; the seasonings are needed to brighten up the flavor profile.
- Butternut Squash – what could be more “fall” than BN squash? Cubed up and roasted, this Vitamin A rich veggie adds a touch of sweetness to this hearty bowl.
- Harvest Blend Grains – Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend grains are a seasonal (and honestly year-round) favorite of ours. If you are not able to go to TJ’s, consider farro, couscous or quinoa to achieve a similar effect.
- Chicken broth – cooking your grains in chicken broth (bone broth ideally) is another way to flavor and nutritional benefit to this recipe. Of course, you could use water in a pinch!
How to make Turkey and Sage Meatballs with Butternut Squash Grain Bowl
Turkey and Sage Meatballs with Butternut Squash Grain Bowl
Craving fall comfort food without the guilt? This Turkey and Sage Meatball Harvest Grain Bowl is your answer. With a balance of lean protein, hearty grains, and seasonal veggies, it's a satisfying and nutritious meal that's easy to whip up on a busy weeknight.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
Butternut Squash Grain
- 1 1/4 cup Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend, dry could sub rice, quinoa, farro, couscous, etc.
- 1 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 small/medium butternut squash peeled and cubed
- 1 tbsp Avocado oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Turkey and Sage Meatballs
- 1 lb ground turkey I use 93% lean
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/8 tsp red chile pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt and more to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper and more to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh sage finely chopped (or 2 tsp dried)
- 1 tsp fresh thyme 1/4 tsp dried
Instructions
Butternut Squash Grain
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- Toss cubed butternut squash with oil, salt, and pepper and put in oven for 15 minutes.
- Then stir squash to prevent burning and return to oven for 10 more minutes or until fork tender and lightly roasted.
- Cook Harvest Blend according to package directions, I recommend using chicken broth as directed. If subbing another grain, cook according to package directions. Once completed, stir in cooked butternut squash.
Turkey and Sage Meatballs
- I recommend mixing together meatballs while butternut squash is roasting so you can bake after butternut squash is done roasting. When the butternut squash is done roasting increase over temperature to 450 F.
- In a bowl combine: turkey, egg, onion, feta, and seasonings. Combine with your hands until fully combined but do not overmix.
- Use a cookie scoop to make approximately 2” size meatballs. Put meatballs on a single layer in an greased deep dish pan (9×11 or 9×13). Bake for 15 minutes, or till it reaches an internal temp of 165F and golden brown on top.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or till it reaches an internal temp of 165F and golden brown on top.
- Serve meatballs and Harvest blend with additional sage or feta cheese to taste as a grain bowl. Cool leftovers completely then store in fridge in an airtight container for 3 days.
Servings: 4 adults