Best Recipe for Pumpkin Meatballs with Cinnamon-Sage Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 pounds 93 percent lean ground turkey breast
- 1 cup canned 100 percent pumpkin puree
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- Cinnamon-Sage Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
- Spaghetti Squash Pasta, recipe follows, for serving
- 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- One 24-ounce jar of your favorite tomato or marinara sauce
- One 15-ounce can 100 percent pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 fresh sage leaves, minced
- Salt and black pepper
- Crushed red pepper, optional
- 1 large spaghetti squash
Instructions
- Using a fork, mix together the turkey, pumpkin puree, sage, sugar, cinnamon, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, ginger, garlic powder and egg in a large bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to help firm.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Form the turkey mixture into evenly sized (approximately 1.5-inch) meatballs. You should end up with about 22 in total. Note: If they're fussy, you can smooth them into a rounded shape once they're on the baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes on one side. Carefully turn them over and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Add the meatballs to a pot of simmering Cinnamon-Sage Tomato Sauce. Cover and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the meatballs to soak up the yummy sauce flavor. Serve with the Spaghetti Squash "Pasta."
- Add the broth, tomato sauce, pumpkin puree, basil, garlic powder, cinnamon and sage to a large pot and mix well. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle on some crushed red pepper to kick up the heat if desired.
- Microwave the spaghetti squash to soften slightly, about 4 minutes.
- Slice off the ends of the squash, then slice in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and pulp. Place the squash cut-side down in a baking dish with an inch of water. Microwave for 9 to 10 minutes. Once cool, use a fork to scrape out spaghetti-like strands.
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