Exploding with gooey mozzarella cheese and super-moist from the pesto, these flavorful turkey meatballs are a weeknight dinner dream!
Can we talk about the fact that meatballs filled with ‘zee green stuff and exploding with all the cheese is just the ONLY way to handle a Monday?
Smoothies are good too, as we learned last week but I’m in a savory mood this particular Monday.
A gimme-all-the-cheese kinda mood. This past weekend was pretty fast-paced and I’m ready for ALL the comfort food to hit my face today.
With a side of these brownies too, obviiiiii. Chocolate is currently on clearance, don’tcha know. 😉
So these meatballs, guys. They are the REAL DEAL kinda comfort food. We’ve got the cheese. We’ve got the pesto. It’s ALL there wrapped up into one cute little meatball.
One meatball that soon turns into 15 that you end up stuffing in ‘yo face.
Whoooops…
Sorry, fam. I didn’t mean to eat all your dinner.
Speaking of stuffing, can we talk about the whole stuffed-with-a-surprise-of-zee-cheese feature that these meatballs got goin’ on? It’s true and it is GROOVY.
I mean, look at that gooey goodness! Peeeeeeeeeerfection.
Now that we’ve got that cheese business all taken care of, we’d better have a dang good meatball to surround all that perfection.
Done and DONE, folks. These meatballs are the bombety-bomb and it’s all thanks to the green stuff…..wait for iiiiiiit….
Presenting the PESTO. Welcome to the meatball-party, Mr. P.
We all know how I feel about that green business, guys. I freakin’ heart pesto and so I went all gung-ho on you and snuck it into some turkey-meatball awesomeness.
Oh.my.goodness. Who woulda’ figgered that pesto would make these meatballs so freakin’ awesome? I mean, the TEXTURE of these little babies! The extreme FLAVOR-NESS….
DYNO-MITE. I am obsessed. ♥♥
While the meatballs bake, some of the cheese will just kinda….explode out of the meatballs and melt down the sides. This is A-OK, folks. There’s plenty of cheese still inside that lovely meatball waiting for you.
And to be honest, just the sight of that melty heaven coming outta those meatballs is a pretty gorgeous sight to behold.
I really just need my own personal XL plate filled with these meatballs today.
And there’s a very good chance I may not be able to wait until dinnertime either.
XOXO, cheesy pesto meatballs. You make my life complete. MUAH!
Cheese-Stuffed Pesto Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup prepared pesto
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 16 1/2 in cubes mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, pesto, garlic, salt, and pepper. Form into 1-in balls. Flatten each meatball and place 1 cube of cheese in center. Wrap meatball dough around cheese and gently roll into a ball. Place meatballs on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake meatballs at 375F 20-25 minutes or until meat registers 165F. Serve meatballs immediately warm.
More meatball fun from awesome bloggers! Because I am obsessed….
Feta-Stuffed Greek Meatballs — Sweet Peas and Saffron
Raspberry-Balsamic Meatballs — The Food Charlatan
Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs — The Recipe Runner
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
You had me at pesto! I absolutely love that stuff in just about anything, so I’m in awe of these meatballs! What a creative idea, Sarah! Sounds like it pairs so perfectly with the cheese, too. Love this dinner idea!
Sarah says
Yay, I’m glad that I’m not the only one crazy about the pesto. 😀 Thanks Gayle!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
Oooh, cheese stuffed meatballs? Yes, please! I love how flavorful these look! Pesto makes everything taste amazing!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly and agreed! Pesto is just awesome. 🙂
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
Okay, that cheese oozing out of the meatballs has my mouth watering. I love stuffing meatballs with cheese. It has to be the best. And the pesto sounds like a wonderful addition to the awesomeness going on here! Pinning!
Sarah says
Thanks Jen and right?! Cheese-stuffed meatballs are just heaven-on-earth. 😉 Thanks for the pin too, friend!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
omg these look so delicious!! All that cheese oozing out of the meatballs and pesto – I am so waiting for summer so I can get fresh basil!! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Ami! I’m looking forward to fresh basil again too!
Rachael | Spache the Spatula says
Pesto + Cheese?!? Yep. I’m totally in 😛
Sarah says
Thanks, Rachael!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Oh my gosh, these are seriously the ultimate meatballs! All that melty cheese oozing out of the middle looks absolutely amazing! Love the pesto in here too! I can just imagine how flavorful they are, they look perfect!
Sarah says
Thank you, Kelly!!
Mandie @ Mandie's Kitchen says
I LOVE pesto anything, but I’ve never heard of pesto meatballs before! They sound (and look, I might add) totally delicious, Sarah!
Sarah says
Thank you, Mandie!! If you love pesto, then you definitely need to try these meatballs!
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
Sarah these pesto turkey meatballs sound like the perfect weeknight meal! Pinned! I am looking forward to trying them!!
Sarah says
Thank you for the pin, Mariah! I hope you get around to trying these meatballs soon!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
All that oozy, warm, melting cheese is just making my mouth water Sarah. Delicious post and images!
Sarah says
Thank you Thaila!! xoxoxo
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
These meatballs look incredible Sarah! Love that cheese oozing out of the middle.
Sarah says
Thanks so much Christin! 🙂
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
YESssss! I am so with you…I’m always in a gimme-all-the-cheese kinda mood! I love seeing these cheesy goodness oozing out of those tasty meatballs! Pinned!
Sarah says
Thanks for pinning and for the cheese love, Kristi!! haha. 🙂
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
LOVE the idea of pesto with meatballs!!! what a great recipe and these look so delicious!!!
Sarah says
Thanks Alice!!
marcie says
I use ground turkey a lot for meatballs, and adding pesto and stuffing them with cheese can only make it better! Sign me up! 🙂
Sarah says
I’ve noticed that ground turkey almost ALWAYS gives you a super-moist meatball, plus it cuts back on calories which is always a plus! 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Now these sound delicious! Oh my gosh, can you imagine if you used these meatballs to make a meatball sandwich?! Holy yum!
Sarah says
GAH! I think you just changed my life, Natalie! Must.try.asap. 🙂
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
I don’t know what looks better… that gooey cheese or the bright, beautiful pesto! Yum!
Sarah says
Both my favorite parts! 😉 Thanks Jess!
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
I can’t wait to try these Sarah! YUMMY!
Sarah says
You’ll love them, Amber!