These meatballs with veggies are a simple, toddler-friendly dinner that hides shredded zucchini right in the meat mixture — helping boost veggie intake without much fuss. They use ground chicken (or turkey), cheese, herbs, and just a handful of breadcrumbs, then bake quickly in the oven for an easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients Overview
These meatballs blend protein and sneaky veggies in one bite. You’ll need ground chicken or turkey, shredded zucchini that’s been drained to remove excess moisture, your favorite shredded or crumbled cheese (cheddar works well), a handful of breadcrumbs to bind, and green herbs like chives for freshness.
Steps Summary
- Prep the oven and zucchini: Preheat the oven to 400°F and oil a rimmed baking pan. Grate the zucchini, salt it lightly, let it sit to draw out water, then squeeze out the moisture.
- Mix the meatball base: Combine zucchini, a fistful of breadcrumbs, plenty of shredded cheese, and herbs in a large bowl. Add the ground meat and toss until evenly mixed.
- Shape and bake: With wet hands, form the mixture into small balls and place them on the baking pan. Bake 12 minutes for smaller balls or 13–14 minutes for larger ones, turning halfway if you want extra browning.
- Cool and serve: Let the meatballs rest 3–5 minutes after baking. They’re tasty with a squeeze of lemon and Parmesan, but serving with a favorite sauce or condiment can help entice picky eaters.
FAQ Section
What type of meat should I use?
This recipe is written with ground chicken in mind, but you can substitute ground turkey if preferred.
Do I need to drain the zucchini?
Yes — salting and draining the zucchini before adding it to the mix keeps the meatballs from getting too watery.
Will these appeal to toddlers who don’t like veggies?
Because the zucchini is shredded and mixed well into the meat, it’s less visually obvious — making these a good option for picky eaters still building veggie tolerance.
🍽️ Recipe Links Section
What to Serve With Meatballs With Veggies
- The Most Perfect Toddler Rice Recipe — Soft, slightly sticky rice that pairs beautifully with saucy or seasoned meatballs.
- This Cheesy Orzo Will Be Your Toddler’s New Favorite Side — Comforting cheesy orzo that complements the savory protein.
- The Best Vegetable Fritters Recipe for Toddlers — A veggie-packed side that adds texture and color to the plate.
More Toddler-Friendly Recipes Like This
- Cherry Glazed Meatballs — Sweet and savory glazed meatballs with a fruit-forward twist — perfect for toddlers who enjoy fun flavors.
- The Best Meatballs For Kids (Lion’s Head) — Juicy, flavorful meatballs with Asian-inspired seasoning and hidden carrots.
- More Meatballs For Toddlers — A versatile, flavorful meatball base recipe designed for both kids and adults.
Check out all our great chicken recipes for kids!
Meatballs With Veggies Inside Solve Toddler Dinner Dilemmas
Description
These oven-baked Meatballs With Veggies mix ground chicken (or turkey), zucchini, cheese, herbs, and breadcrumbs for a balanced meal that’s easy to prepare. Shredded zucchini sneaks extra veggies into each bite, making this dinner approachable for toddlers and adults alike.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
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Preheat your oven to 400. Oil the base of a rimmed baking pan.
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Grate the zucchini into a colander or other holding device that can drain foods. Sprinkle salt over the top and allow to leech water for 15-20 minutes. Squeeze out any excess moisture.
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In a large bowl, add the zucchini shreds, a fistful of panko breadcrumbs, a large portion of your shredded cheese, and a lot of chives and/or other green herbs; blend together. Add ground meat and toss until mixed.
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With wet hands, grab a small clump of the mixture with your dominant hand and use the other hand to press and shape the clump into ball form; place on baking pan, repeating with remaining meat.
Cook
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Bake 12 minutes for small meatballs or 13-14 minutes if your meatballs are larger. Optional: for even browning on both sides, turn over midway through.
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Remove from heat and allow to cool 3-5 minutes before serving.
Serve
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These taste great with just squeeze a bit of lemon juice and Parmesan on top, but they are not the most visually appealing dish, so you may need to side with a favorite sauce or condiment (pro tip: spinach and artichoke dip is surprisingly great with it) to entice.
Adapt
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If you’re going to change out the vegetable, think about its water content compared to zucchini: spinach is a logical substitute, as its equally watery; broccoli is drier and may require some additional cheese to compensate. (Pro tip: separate out the meat mixture you intend to consume yourself, then add your preferred salt and spice to enable these ‘balls to punch above weight.)
Nutrition Facts
Servings 6
Serving Size 2 meatballs
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 150kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 8g13%
- Total Carbohydrate 3g1%
- Protein 15g30%
- Calcium 100 mg
- Iron 1 mg
- Niacin 5 mg
- Vitamin B12 0.5 mcg
- Selenium 18 mcg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
User Reviews
These were really moist!