5 from 9 votes

Meatball Marinara with Spiralized Courgette and Wholewheat spaghetti

Jump to Recipe
This healthy alternative to a standard meatball marinara is the perfect comforting dinner. Turkey, courgetttie and wholegrain spaghetti add protein, nutrients and fibre.
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
ÂŁ1.19
Makes: 5
mains
Italian
Freezable

Table of Contents

  1. Why this recipe works
  2. Ingredients
  3. How to make this recipe
  4. How to meal prep this recipe
5 from 9 votes

Meatball Marinara with Spiralized Courgette and Wholewheat spaghetti

Jump to Recipe
This healthy alternative to a standard meatball marinara is the perfect comforting dinner. Turkey, courgetttie and wholegrain spaghetti add protein, nutrients and fibre.
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
ÂŁ1.19
Makes: 5
mains
Italian
Freezable

Why this recipe works

This rich turkey meatball marinara recipe perfectly combines health and comfort, subbing in spiralized courgettie and wholewheat pasta to boost the fibre and cut the calories. Costing just ÂŁ1.16 per person, it’s the perfect simple yet satisfying dinner for guests or a relaxed evening in! If you can’t find pre spiralised courgettes in the supermarket then make your courgettie spaghetti at home using a peeler to create thin tagliatelle strips. You can also easily make this meatball dish veggie by using plant-based meatballs and veggie stock.
Close up Meatball Marinara with Spiralized Courgette and Wholewheat Spaghetti topped with grated mozzarella in a large pan.

Ingredients

Turkey mince

I’ve opted for turkey mince with this recipe as it’s such a great lean source of protein.

Passata

I like how quickly passata can be cooked in comparison to chopped tomatoes, which we would have to spend a lot of time cooking/reducing to get the same rich, tomatoey flavour for this meatball marinara.

Courgette

It adds nutrients, bulk and flavour to the dish and is perfectly disguised with the spaghetti once spiralized.

Wholewheat spaghetti

Rich in nutrients and nutty in flavour, this complex carbohydrate will keep you fuller for longer and is the perfect carb to pair with the meatball marinara.

Mozzarella

Every meatball marinara has to be served with cheese. Mozzarella is perfect with this pasta recipe as it acts as an amazing binding agent within the meatballs, and also melts perfectly to serve with the best cheese pull.

Ingredients to make Meatball Marinara with Spiralized Courgette and Wholewheat Spaghetti laid out on a pale blue background and labelled.

How to make this recipe

Start by combining the mince, egg, finely diced onion, 1 clove of minced garlic and 50g of the mozzarella in a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

All the meatball ingredients; grated mozzarella, diced onion, mince and egg in a large glass bowl on an orange background.

Coat the base of a non-stick frying pan with rapeseed oil and then using your hands, start to mix up the ingredients and roll the meatball mix into around 15 meatballs. Place them directly into the pan as you go (off the heat).

Meatballs in frying pan on an orange background.

Once you have evenly distributed the meatballs around the pan, turn on the heat to medium/high. Leave the meatballs for 5 minutes to brown (without stirring) and then rotate and repeat for another 5 minutes.

Browned meatballs in pan on a stove on an orange background.

Remove the meatballs from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining minced garlic into the same pan to gently fry before adding the passata, chicken stock cube, oregano and honey. Season with a pinch of salt and stir to combine.  Meanwhile add the whole grain spaghetti to a saucepan of salted boiling water and set your timer to 2 minutes minus the packet time.

Dry spaghetti in  boiling water in a large saucepan on a stove on an orange background.

At the same time, also add the meatballs back into the pan with the marinara sauce and leave to cook.

Meatballs add to the pan with the tomato sauce on the stove on an orange background.

Add the spiralized courgettie.

Spiralised courgette added to the pan with the spaghetti and tomato sauce on the stove on an orange background.

Transfer the spaghetti into the sauce along with round 2 ladles of pasta water. Stir to combine and continue to cook until perfectly al dente.

Meatballs added to the spaghetti and spiralised courgettes in tomato sauce in the pan on the stove on an orange background.

How to meal prep this recipe

To meal prep this meatball marinara, divide the recipe into 5 microwavable meal prep containers. Store in the freezer or fridge (consume within 4-5 days in the fridge) and when it’s time to eat, top with mozzarella and pop in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Serve with a pinch of salt and pepper.

5 meal prep containers filled with the spaghetti meatball marinara and 1 container full of grated cheese.

Love meal prep? This recipe belongs to one of my exclusive weekly meal plans found in The Budget Club.  Click here to check out what we have to offer!

Other meatball recipes…

Swedish Gravy Spaghetti with Pork and Courgette Meatballs Low Carb Meatball Marinara 

Other spaghetti recipes…

Creamy Bacon & Spaghetti Courgettie Spaghetti  Cheesy Marmite Spaghetti  Spaghetti Puttanesca with Spiralized Courgette

Meatball Marinara with Spiralized Courgette and Wholewheat Spaghetti

Print Pin It
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
ÂŁ1.19
mains
Italian
Freezable
Servings: 5
This healthy alternative to a standard meatball marinara is the perfect comforting dinner. Turkey, courgetttie and wholegrain spaghetti add protein, nutrients and fibre.

Ingredients

  • 500 g (less than 7% fat) turkey mince (ÂŁ2.25)
  • 1 egg (ÂŁ0.88/6)=(ÂŁÂŁ0.15)
  • 1 white onion, finely diced (ÂŁ0.09)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (ÂŁ0.69/3)=(ÂŁ0.23)
  • 250 g mozzarella, grated (ÂŁ0.49x2)(ÂŁ0.98)
  • 2 courgettes, spiralised (ÂŁ0.90)
  • 1 kg passata (ÂŁ0.40x2)=(ÂŁ0.80)
  • 250 g wholegrain spaghetti (ÂŁ0.55)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 1 chicken stock cube
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp honey
  • Salt & pepper

Method

  • In a large mixing bowl, start by combining the mince, egg, finely diced onion, 1 clove of minced garlic, 50g of the mozzarella and season with salt and pepper.
  • Coat the base of a non-stick frying pan with rapeseed oil and roll the meatball mix into around 15 meatballs, placing them into the pan as you go (off the heat).
  • When all of the meatballs are added to the pan and evenly distributed, turn on the heat to medium/high. Leave the meatballs for 5 minutes to brown (without stirring) and then rotate and repeat for another 5 minutes.
  • Remove the meatballs from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining minced garlic into the same pan to gently fry before adding the passata, chicken stock cube, oregano and honey. Season with a pinch of salt and stir to combine.
  • Pop the whole grain spaghetti into salted boiling water and set your timer to 2 minutes minus the packet time. At this stage, also add the meatballs back into the pan with the marinara sauce.
  • Transfer the spaghetti into the sauce along with the courgettie and around 2 ladles of pasta water. Stir to combine and continue to cook until perfectly al dente.

Nutrition

Servings: 5 servings
Fat: 22g
Calories: 591kcal
Carbohydrates: 55g
Protein: 43g
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeatTheBudget or tag #beatthebudget!

Leave a comment and a rating!

Thank you so much for trying my recipe! I hope you loved it. I’d be so grateful if you could leave a comment/rating - it makes my day hearing your feedback!

Recipe Rating




Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Weekly meal plans with a ÂŁ20 budget
  • 50+ exclusive recipes
  • Personal dashboard
  • Exclusive step by step videos
  • Shopping list tools

JOIN NOW LEARN MORE

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up to my weekly newsletter to get all of Beat the Budget's recent recipes, so you never miss out!

Development Alchemy + Aim