How to Make Quick, Easy, Inexpensive Ground Turkey and Cottage Cheese Pesto Meatballs in Your Air Fryer (Diabetic Friendly)
- Leigh
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
These simple turkey pesto meatballs are really good--crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and flavored with fresh basil. They air fry in 15-20 minutes. The cottage cheese in the meatball mixture adds extra protein as well as moisture to the meatballs, keeping the interior of the meatballs soft after cooking. I use fresh basil in the meatballs because I have plenty in my garden now (and need to use it up!), but you can also use dried basil (2-3 teaspoons), if that's what you have. We usually eat part of the meatballs "as is," and some of the meatballs I save for later to serve topped with tomato sauce and a little cheese. Either way, the meatballs are good. They also are nutritious with lean protein and a little whole-grain fiber. If you're on a diabetic diet or "eating healthy," the meatballs are a great option. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Ground Turkey and Cottage Cheese Pesto Meatballs (Diabetic Friendly) -- Makes 12+
16 ounces of lean ground turkey
1/2 cup of cottage cheese
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
2-3 teaspoons of minced dried onions
1/2 cup of chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1 small whole-wheat English muffin crumbled (or use a slice of whole-wheat bread)
In a large bowl combine the turkey, cottage cheese, and egg. Add the remainder of the ingredients and mix everything well. Spritz two 8-inch pans (I use aluminum foil pans, which fit in my air fryer) with non-stick cooking spray. Using a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop or an ice cream scoop, scoop portions of the meat mixture and drop six portions in each pan (or, using your hands, form meatballs about the size of golf balls or a little smaller). Air fry the meatballs at 320 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until they are lightly browned and reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
