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Maple Bacon Turkey Meatballs with Butternut Squash & Spiced Walnuts
- 45 min
- 2–6 servings
- 730 kcal / serving
A warm one-pan supper where tender turkey meatballs meet roasted squash and a fragrant maple-bacon glaze. The mix of savory, sweet, and nutty flavors makes weeknights feel cozy and satisfying.
Free on iPhone · servings scaled, grocery list written for you.
Ingredients
- 3 slicesbacon
- 1 smallbutternut squash
- ¼ small pkgfresh thyme
- 2 clovesgarlic
- 1 (1 inch) pieceginger root
- ¾ lbground turkey
- ¼ cupwalnuts
From the pantry: black pepper, cinnamon, ground, cumin, ground, pure maple syrup, salt, virgin coconut oil
Cookware
baking sheet pan · chef's knife · cutting board · garlic press (optional) · grater (optional) · measuring cups · measuring spoons · mixing bowls · oven mitts · small saucepan · spatula · vegetable peeler
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and set a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Prepare the squash by trimming the ends, halving, removing seeds, and cutting into ½-inch cubes to yield about 4 cups.
- Strip the thyme leaves from the stems and discard the stems.
- In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil over medium heat, then whisk in maple syrup, cinnamon, thyme, and a pinch of salt. Remove from heat and pour into a medium bowl.
- Roughly chop walnuts and add them to the bowl with the syrup and spices.
- Toss the squash pieces with the walnut mixture to coat, then spread in a single layer on the prepared sheet.
- Mince garlic and ginger, then combine with the ground turkey in a separate bowl. Add the minced bacon, and season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Form the turkey mixture into two 2-inch meatballs and place them on top of the squash on the pan.
- Bake 15–20 minutes, until the meatballs are browned and cooked through and the squash is tender.
- Serve by dividing the squash, spiced walnuts, and meatballs onto plates, and enjoy.
Two tips
- Prep the squash and walnut coating ahead of time and store in the fridge for quick assembly later.
- Swap maple syrup for honey if preferred, and serve with a side of steamed greens for extra color and balance.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 730 kcal
- Protein
- 43 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 45 g
- Fiber
- 9 g
- Sodium
- 391 mg
Estimates from the recipe's published nutrition data; they change with the version you pick above.
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Ingredient quantities, timing and nutrition are recorded from the original Mealime recipe ↗ (captured 2026-09-12). Photo: MealPot, an AI-rendered illustration of the finished dish. Description and directions written by MealPot.