Classic Marinara Meatballs

By á-50224

prep time is 35 minutes
CHILL FOR 2 HOURS to 24 HOURS
Bake 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
• 1 pound 95% lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup soft whole wheat bread crumbs
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 1/2 cups light no-sugar-added tomato-basil pasta sauce

Preparation

Step 1

In a small bowl stir together egg, applesauce, zucchini, green onions, salt, and Italian seasoning.
In a large bowl combine ground beef and bread crumbs. Fold the egg mixture into beef mixture; mix well. Cover and refrigerate 2 to 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line two 15x10x1-inch baking pans with foil. Coat foil with cooking spray; set aside. Shape beef mixture into 48 small meatballs about 3/4 inch in diameter. Place meatballs in prepared baking pans. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until cooked through (160 degrees F), turning once.
Heat pasta sauce until warmed. Serve with the meatballs.

Tip

Tip: For a low-carb serve-along, choose cooked spaghetti squash or steamed sliced zucchini and/or summer squash. If using hot cooked rice or pasta, use only 1/3 cup for each serving (if you like, add a cooked non-starchy vegetable, such as spinach, onion, mushrooms, or zucchini, to bulk up the rice or pasta).