Skip to main content
Close Menu
menu
PeopleOne Health Sign In
  • PeopleOne Health Close menu
  • SparkAmerica Calendar
  • More Articles
  • Learn About PeopleOne
  • Sign In
Healthy Living  •  All Recipes

Lightened-Up Meatballs

Lightened-Up Meatballs
Nutritional Info
  • Servings Per Recipe: 4
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 295.5
  • Total Fat: 10.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 156.3 mg
  • Sodium: 177.4 mg
  • Total Carbs: 11.4 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2.1 g
  • Protein: 36.9 g

Introduction

Lean but packed with flavor, these meatballs are a comfort food favorite.

Ingredients

1 large white or yellow onion, quartered
4 garlic cloves
1 red bell pepper, cored and cut in half
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 ounces lean ground beef (94% lean)
1 slice whole wheat bread, crust removed and processed into bread crumbs
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 1/2 cups prepared low-sodium marinara sauce, divided (optional, not included in nutritional breakdown)
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Pulse the onion in a food processor until finely chopped.

Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for about four minutes, until it starts to soften.

Meanwhile, add the remaining vegetables to the food processor (no need to clean it after chopping the onions) and pulse until they are finely chopped.

Add the veggies to the pan, stir and cook for another four minutes, until their juices start to evaporate. Add the herbs and spices, stir, and remove from heat.

Transfer the pureed veggies from the food processor to a medium bowl. Refrigerate for five minutes to cool slightly.

Add the beef, bread crumbs, egg yolk, and one tablespoon of Parmesan cheese to the bowl with the pureed vegetables. Using a fork or slotted spoon, thoroughly mix. Scooping two tablespoons at a time into your hands, roll the meatballs between the palms of your hands.

Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until cooked through.

Serving Size: Makes 4 servings, 3 meatballs per person

Minutes to Prepare: 20
Minutes to Cook: 240
Number of Servings: 4


Related Recipes

  • Hamburger Vegetable Soup Hamburger Vegetable Soup
  • Skillet Lasagna Skillet Lasagna
  • Quick Beef Burgundy Quick Beef Burgundy
  • Better Beef and Broccoli Better Beef and Broccoli
  • Easy Ground Beef Skillet Easy Ground Beef Skillet
  • Easy Slow Cooker Beef and Mushrooms Easy Slow Cooker Beef and Mushrooms
  • Slow Cooker Beef and Mushroom Stew Slow Cooker Beef and Mushroom Stew
  • Diet Cola Sloppy Joes Diet Cola Sloppy Joes
  • BBQ Steak Wrap BBQ Steak Wrap
  • Super Fast Pork and Veggie Stir Fry Super Fast Pork and Veggie Stir Fry
Sign In to PeopleOne
© PeopleOne Health 2025 Privacy Policy Terms of Use