Cheesy Pesto Turkey Meatballs and Rigatoni

A Family Favorite Pesto Dish

These cheesy pesto turkey meatballs with rigatoni are a real crowd pleaser. Everyone in our family can’t get enough of this recipe! My toddler threw her fork on the floor so she could shovel bites of meatball and noodles into her mouth with both hands. And honestly, I would’ve done the same. 

The sauce is herby, salty, and creamy. The meatballs are juicy. There’s some sneaky spinach for some nutrition. Plus it’s all topped with melty cheese! What else could you need for a tasty dinner at home? This recipe is going to be on the menu at our home for the foreseeable future!

The Supplies

Ingredients

To make these cheesy pesto turkey meatballs, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Ground turkey
• Grated parmesan 
• Bread crumbs
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Dried oregano
• Olive oil
• Fine kosher salt
• Black Pepper
• Shallot
• Garlic cloves
• Capers
• Chicken broth
• Pesto, jarred or homemade
• Lemon zest
• Red pepper flakes
• Baby spinach
• Heavy cream
• Lemon juice
• Shredded Gouda and mozzarella cheeses
• Fresh basil

For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Equipment

In order to make this cheesy pesto turkey meatballs recipe, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:

• Cutting board and knife
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Large baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Large pot
• Large saute pan or frying pan with tall sides
• Wooden spoon
• Silicone jar scraper
• Colander
• Cheese grater

Frequent Recipe Questions

Can I make this recipe in advance?

• A: Definitely! Prepare the recipe as instructed and then refrigerate in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top with a splash of water or chicken broth. Enjoy any leftovers within 4 days of preparing.

Are there changes to make this recipe gluten free?

• A: Yes! Substitute the pasta with your favorite brand of gluten free pasta.

Can I make this recipe dairy free?

• A: I would not recommend any substitutes to make this recipe dairy free.

Do the capers leave a strong flavor?

• A: They do not! The addition of the capers at the beginning adds a layer of saltiness to the dish, but not an intense flavor. The primary taste in this dish is the pesto!

Recipe Tips

When you make this cheesy pesto turkey meatballs recipe, here are a few tips to make sure it turns out delicious:

• Be sure to not over mix the meatballs. As soon as the ingredients come together, stop working. Overworking the meat can result in tough, chewy meatballs.
• For evenly sized meatballs, use a kitchen scale. Finish the meatball mixture and then weigh the meat on the scale. Divide the weight by 16 and then scale out each ball. 
• Before starting the sauce, take the time to make sure your ingredients are measured and prepared. The first few steps move fast and you’ll be able to work more smoothly if your ingredients are ready to go.
• A quick tip for measuring spinach is one heaping handful is about 1 cup. I find this much easier than trying to squeeze a bunch of spinach leaves into a measuring cup.
• When shopping for pasta at the grocery store, look for noodles that have a floury texture to them. This rougher texture points to a higher quality product, opposed to one that’s really smooth. Not only will they taste nicer, it will hold the pasta sauce more. It’ll give you more sauce in every bite!

Recipe Details

Bake the Meatballs

The first step in this recipe is to form and bake the turkey meatballs. For the meatballs, you’ll preheat the oven to 400°F and set out a large, parchment-lined baking sheet. To make the meatball mixture, add ground turkey, grated parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, olive oil, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Being sure not to over mix the meat, use your hands to bring everything together. The breadcrumbs and cheese should be equally distributed and incorporated into the ground turkey.

Divide the meatball mixture into 16 equal sized pieces and form each piece into a round ball. 

Arrange the turkey meatballs onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet, leaving an inch or so between each one. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes and then flip them over to the other side. Bake them for an additional 10 minutes, or until they’re browned and baked through.

Simmer the Pesto Sauce

While the meatballs are baking, get the noodles and creamy pesto sauce made. Boil the rigatoni noodles in salty water, according to the package directions, minus 1 minute. Reserve a cupful of the pasta water before draining the noodles into the sink. Set the noodles aside until the pesto sauce is ready, if necessary.

To make the pesto sauce, saute the minced shallot in a large saute pan in a drizzle of olive oil. Once the shallot has softened slightly, scrape in the minced garlic and capers. Stir everything together and cook for about 30 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant. 

Next, pour the chicken broth and jarred pesto into the pan and add the lemon zest. Stir everything together, until the pesto is evenly mixed into the broth. Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and a small pinch of red pepper flakes then bring it to a light simmer.

Once the sauce is lightly simmering, add a few handfuls of spinach. Stir the spinach in the warm sauce, letting them wilt down and cook. Transfer the boiled noodles into the sauce and then mix in a bit of heavy cream, lemon juice, and grated parmesan cheese. Toss to coat everything together. 

Finish the Dish and Serve

To finish this dish, nestle the meatballs among the noodles and sauce. Top the entire pan with the shredded cheeses and then place the pan in the oven .Bake the cheesy pesto turkey meatballs and noodles in the oven for a few minutes, just until the cheese is melty. Switch your oven to broil and broil the top of the cheese for 1-2 minutes. This should leave the cheese bubbling and slightly browned in a few places. Serve these cheesy meatballs and rigatoni with right away fresh basil, extra parmesan, and red pepper flakes as garnish. Enjoy! 

Do you love a meatball recipe? Be sure to check out these other recipes:

If you make this cheesy pesto turkey meatballs recipe, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating – I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!

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