Indulge in guilt-free comfort food with our Alfredo Meatballs! This easy-to-follow recipe combines juicy, flavorful meatballs with a creamy Alfredo sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special occasion, these meatballs are sure to satisfy your cravings. Enjoy them over rice pasta, mashed potatoes, zucchini noodles, or on their own!
For another Italian favorite, try our Chicken Cacciatore!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Healthy and Light: Crafted with lean ground turkey or chicken, these Alfredo meatballs are a lighter alternative to traditional beef.
- Dairy-Free Delight: The creamy Alfredo sauce gets its richness from steamed cauliflower and Greek yogurt, making it a delicious and dairy free option.
- Gluten-Free Friendly: By swapping whole wheat breadcrumbs for almond flour, this recipe becomes gluten free.
- Versatile and Convenient: Serve over pasta, zucchini noodles, or on their own. Plus, you can make and freeze meatballs for quick and easy meals.
- Check out these Meatballs with Gravy or these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs for another healthy family dinner recipe!
Ingredients & Substitutes
These are the ingredients for these Alfredo meatballs. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full recipe.
For the meatballs, use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground beef. They all work well.
To bind the meatballs together, use whole wheat breadcrumbs or almond flour.
Use grated Parmesan cheese for a cheesy flavor.
In addition, use an egg to bind the meatballs together.
Minced garlic adds a delicious garlicky flavor.
Italian seasoning, sea salt, and pepper add a subtle flavor.
For the Alfredo sauce, steam cauliflower. When mashed, this becomes very creamy.
Use chicken broth or vegetable broth.
Plain Greek yogurt thickens the sauce and adds creaminess.
Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor.
Olive oil helps thin out the sauce.
Season with salt and pepper.
Lastly, garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Taste & Texture
These Alfredo Meatballs have a tasty combination of tastes and textures.
The meatballs are juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned with Italian herbs and Parmesan cheese.
The Alfredo sauce is creamy and rich, with a smooth texture and a subtle hint of garlic. The addition of nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor without any dairy.
How to Make
Step 1
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Make the Meatballs: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, whole wheat breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined. Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 3
Bake the Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are cooked through and browned.
Step 4
Prepare the Alfredo Sauce: While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce. In a blender, combine the steamed cauliflower, chicken broth, Greek yogurt, nutritional yeast, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add more broth to reach your desired consistency.
Step 5
Combine and Serve: Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the oven and place them in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour the creamy Alfredo sauce over the meatballs and stir gently to coat. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to heat through.
Step 6
Garnish and Enjoy: Serve the creamy Alfredo meatballs warm, garnished with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy over whole wheat pasta, zucchini noodles, or on their own!
Expert Tips for Success
Follow these tips and tricks to make the best Alfredo meatballs.
For a Smoother Sauce: Steam the cauliflower until very soft before blending to achieve a silky-smooth sauce.
Add Herbs and Spices: Elevate the flavor by adding fresh herbs like basil or oregano to the sauce. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes can add a bit of heat.
Meat Substitutions: Feel free to substitute ground turkey with ground chicken, beef, or even plant-based ground meat for a vegetarian option.
Flavor Variations & Add-Ins
These are some fun flavor ideas for your Alfredo meatballs.
Herb Variations: Try adding basil, oregano, or thyme to the Alfredo sauce for different flavors.
Spicy Twist: Add some red pepper flakes to the sauce or meatball mixture for a bit of heat.
Vegetable Add-Ins: Mix in finely chopped vegetables like bell peppers or spinach into the meatball mixture for added nutrition and flavor.
How to Serve & Store
Serving Suggestions:
Serve these Alfredo meatballs over whole wheat pasta or zucchini noodles.
Pair with spaghetti squash or steamed vegetables.
Enjoy on their own as a main dish.
Storing Instructions:
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: These Alfredo meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in the sauce before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, you can substitute Parmesan cheese with Romano or Asiago cheese if desired.
Yes, use dairy-free yogurt in the sauce and substitute the Parmesan cheese with a dairy-free alternative.
If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes in the skillet to thicken. Alternatively, add more steamed cauliflower.
Equipment Needed
Large Nonstick Skillet: This large pan is great for simmering these creamy alfredo meatballs!
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You May Also Enjoy
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Meatballs
- Teriyaki Glazed Meatballs with Lettuce Wraps
- Cumin Meatballs
- Swedish Meatballs
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Alfredo Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground turkey (or chicken or beef)
- ½ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (or almond flour)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Alfredo Sauce:
- 1 cup cauliflower florets (steamed until soft)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast (for cheesy flavor)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley (chopped (for garnish))
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the Meatballs: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, whole wheat breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined. Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are cooked through and browned.
- Prepare the Alfredo Sauce: While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce. In a blender, combine the steamed cauliflower, chicken broth, Greek yogurt, nutritional yeast, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add more broth to reach your desired consistency.
- Combine and Serve: Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the oven and place them in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour the creamy Alfredo sauce over the meatballs and stir gently to coat. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to heat through.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Finally, serve the creamy Alfredo meatballs warm, garnished with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy over whole wheat pasta, zucchini noodles, or on their own!
Notes
- The cauliflower in the sauce adds creaminess. Ensure it's cooked until very soft for easy blending.
- Add herbs like basil or oregano to the sauce for additional flavor. You can also sprinkle some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
- Ground turkey can be replaced with ground chicken, beef, or even plant-based ground meat for a vegetarian version.
- The meatballs can be made in advance and frozen. Just reheat in the sauce before serving.
- These meatballs pair well with whole wheat pasta, spaghetti squash, or a bed of steamed vegetables.
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Nutrition Facts
Nutrition FactsAlfredo MeatballsAmount Per ServingCalories 339 Calories from Fat 171% Daily Value*Fat 19g29%Saturated Fat 4g25%Trans Fat 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat 4gMonounsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 92mg31%Sodium 495mg22%Potassium 441mg13%Carbohydrates 16g5%Fiber 3g13%Sugar 2g2%Protein 29g58%Vitamin A 143IU3%Vitamin C 15mg18%Calcium 123mg12%Iron 3mg17%* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Clarissa V. says
Made this last night with purple cauliflower which created a light pink sauce. It was great and even my picky eater liked it! Will make this again. Thanks!