Gradual Cooker Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi

Gradual Cooker Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi combines tender Tuscan rooster meatballs with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and pillowy potato gnocchi—all in a creamy sauce. It’s a lightened-up twist on an Italian traditional for 6 Factors a serving.

This hearty and comforting meal is straightforward to make, wealthy in flavors, and is certain to please a crowd. For extra wholesome and and delicous meal concepts, flick through our Weight Watchers dinner recipes, soup recipes, and healthy desserts!

Why do you have to strive Gradual Cooker Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi?

This dish isn’t simply scrumptious; it’s a flavorful escape that satisfies on a number of ranges. Right here’s why Gradual Cooker Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi deserves a spot in your meal plan:

• Wealthy Layers of Taste: From the creamy sauce to the savory rooster meatballs, and that contact of sun-dried tomatoes, this recipe packs in daring, comforting flavors. The gnocchi soaks up the sauce, which makes them even higher.
• A Satisfying Meal: That is a type of recipes that doesn’t really feel like “weight loss program meals.” It’s indulgent and leaves you feeling absolutely glad. The style and presentation give a break from typical low-calorie meals, so it’s price savoring each level.
• Straightforward, Set-It-and-Overlook-It Cooking: With minimal prep, this gradual cooker meal can simmer away by itself, permitting the flavors to mix completely whereas releasing you as much as deal with different duties.
• Crowd-Pleasing Italian Consolation: The mixture of creamy gnocchi and juicy meatballs is prone to be successful with everybody. For those who’re serving household or buddies, this meal has each the flavour and the visible attraction to impress.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Prepare dinner Time: 3 hours (on excessive setting)

Servings: 6

Serving Dimension: 1 portion (roughly 1 cup or 200 g)

6 WW Factors Per Serving. You’ll be able to view the recipe on the WW App here. (WW login required.)

Elements

For the Hen Meatballs:

• 1 lb floor rooster breast (450 g)
• ½ cup breadcrumbs (50 g)
• 1 small egg
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (25 g)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp oil (for greasing)

For the Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi:

• Ready rooster meatballs
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (50 g)
• 3 cups rooster broth (720 ml)
• ½ lb potato gnocchi (225 g)
• 4 cups recent spinach (120 g)
• 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt (250 g)
• 1 medium onion, diced (150 g)
• ½ tsp salt, or to style
• ¼ tsp black pepper, or to style
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (elective) (25 g)
• 1 tsp oil (for sautéing the onion)

Directions

Step 1: Put together the Hen Meatballs

1. In a big mixing bowl, mix the bottom rooster breast, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, oregano, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Combine till simply mixed. Keep away from overmixing to maintain the meatballs tender.
2. Type the combination into small meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. This could make roughly 18-20 meatballs.
3. Flippantly grease the air fryer basket with oil, then add the meatballs. Prepare dinner within the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes, or till they’re browned on the surface and cooked by. Alternatively, in the event you don’t have an air fryer, bake them at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes, flipping midway by.

Step 2: Assemble the Dish within the Gradual Cooker

1. Set your gradual cooker to the excessive setting.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to a pan over medium warmth. As soon as scorching, add the diced onion and sauté for about 5 minutes or till softened and translucent. Add the cooked onion to the gradual cooker.
3. Layer the browned meatballs on the backside of the gradual cooker, adopted by the sun-dried tomatoes, sautéed onion, gnocchi, a half of spinach leaves, and rooster broth.
4. Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle a little bit of Parmesan cheese (elective) excessive. Proceed cooking for an additional 30-45 minutes, till the gnocchi are tender and the flavors have melded collectively.

Step 4: End with Yogurt and Recent Spinach

1. As soon as the gradual cooking time is full, flip off the gradual cooker.
2. Stir within the Greek yogurt to present the sauce a creamy texture. Add the remaining recent spinach, which is able to wilt from the residual warmth, giving the dish a vivid pop of coloration.

Step 5: Serve and Get pleasure from

1. Ladle the Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi into bowls, and sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve heat and revel in.

Variations and Substitutions for Gradual Cooker Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi

Make it yours with these changes:

• No Gnocchi on Hand? Use diced potatoes and even pasta. Whereas it modifications the feel a bit, each work fantastically in absorbing the sauce.
• Amp Up the Taste within the Meatballs: Including somewhat smoked turkey chorizo to the rooster meatballs intensifies the flavour, giving them a scrumptious increase.
• Swap Out the Protein: Don’t hesitate to change the rooster with floor turkey and even lean beef in the event you desire. This may add selection and work simply as nicely with the dish’s Italian-inspired flavors.

Ideas and Methods for Making Gradual Cooker Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi

Wish to be sure that your Gradual Cooker Tuscan Hen Meatballs with Gnocchi seems completely? Listed below are a couple of sensible ideas to bear in mind:

• Customise the Meatball Combination: In case your floor rooster is very moist, think about mixing within the seasonings, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan first. Solely add the egg in the event you want extra moisture—this retains the meatballs from changing into overly tender.
• Save Some Spinach for Later: To maintain the spinach vivid and recent, reserve a handful so as to add proper earlier than serving. This offers the dish a burst of coloration and a recent word to distinction the creamy sauce.
• Cautious with the Yogurt: Add the yogurt when you’ve turned off the gradual cooker. This prevents it from curdling, holding the sauce clean and creamy.
• Go for Oil-Free Solar-Dried Tomatoes: Solar-dried tomatoes in oil can improve the recipe’s calorie depend shortly. As a substitute, use dried tomatoes, or make your personal if in case you have a dehydrator!
• Prepare dinner Meatballs within the Air Fryer: Browning the meatballs in an air fryer earlier than including them to the gradual cooker provides further taste and texture. Plus, it reduces the quantity of oil wanted, holding the meal lighter general.