MeaningIn EveryMacro

Meal Prep

Moroccan Meatballs

Name: Moroccan Meatballs
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 lbs 93% lean ground beef; 1/2 cup breadcrumbs; 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or dried parsley to taste; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp garlic minced; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tsp ground coriander; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp olive oil; 3 cloves garlic minced; 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes; 1 tbsp honey; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1/4 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional, for heat; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 cup chicken broth optional, for thinning; 1 cup dry jasmine rice; 1 lb carrots peeled and cut into sticks; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper

Moroccan Meatballs somehow became one of the sneakiest bangers on the entire blog, and honestly, you've got to try it to understand. You’ve got juicy beef meatballs loaded with cumin, cinnamon, paprika, and ginger, tossed in a rich spiced tomato sauce and served over jasmine rice with roasted carrots on the side. It’s warm, cozy, slightly exotic, and somehow still packs 59.4 grams of protein per serving without feeling like standard boring meal prep.

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 30 min
Makes: 4 servings

782Calories

59.4gProtein

73.7gCarbs

27.6gFat

Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 55 mins

Servings

Ingredient unitsSwitch every measurable amount on this recipe.

Equipment

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Cook according to your preferred method (rice cooker or stovetop).

1 cup dry jasmine rice

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, parsley, eggs, garlic, and all spices. Mix until just combined- avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.

2 lb 93% lean ground beef, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground ginger, ½ tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper

Roll the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs (approximately 28- 32 meatballs for the original four-serving batch). Place on the prepared baking sheet.

Toss carrot sticks with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet.

1 lb carrots, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper

Bake meatballs at 400°F for 15- 18 minutes or until browned and cooked through. You will need to roast the carrots for 20- 25 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and slightly caramelized.

While the meatballs & carrots bake, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant (1- 2 minutes).

1 tbsp olive oil, 3 cloves garlic

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, honey, smoked paprika, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper (if using), and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8- 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Thin with chicken broth or water if needed.

14 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 1 tbsp honey, ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ cup chicken broth

Toss the baked meatballs into the spiced tomato sauce, ensuring they are well coated.

Divide rice evenly among individual meal prep containers. Top each container with meatballs and sauce.

Add roasted carrots to the side. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Nutrition

Per serving

Estimates for one serving.

Calories: 782 kcal
Protein: 59.4 g
Fat: 27.6 g
Carbs: 73.7 g

Full nutrition and how it’s calculated

All values are per serving. Changing the recipe yield scales the ingredients and keeps these per-serving amounts the same.

Saturated Fat: 8.69 g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.71 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 12.99 g
Trans Fat: 0.8 g
Cholesterol: 246 mg
Sodium: 1,629 mg
Potassium: 1,674 mg
Fiber: 8.1 g
Sugar: 15.5 g
Added Sugar: 5.1 g
Vitamin A: 1,094 mcg RAE
Vitamin C: 21.45 mg
Vitamin D: 0.84 mcg
Calcium: 187 mg
Iron: 12.27 mg

Nutrition updated September 2026. We now calculate nutrition using our ingredient library, with USDA data, product labels, and documented estimates. Older Pinterest graphics and MyFitnessPal entries may show different numbers. Use the per-serving values above when tracking this recipe.

Brands, substitutions, and preparation can change these estimates.

View ingredient standards & nutrition methods

Estimated ingredient cost

$6.02 per serving · $24.08 for this batch

Ingredient costs and assumptions

Estimated US grocery prices for the amounts used, including purchase waste and discarded marinade. Your store, brands, and package sizes may cost differently. Buying full packages can cost more. Price sources and methodology.

Quantities without exact weights use the nutrition library’s portion estimates. Purchase yields are estimates. Separate citrus ingredients are costed independently; reusing the same fruit for juice and zest can lower your cost. Labor, utilities, and delivery are excluded.

93% lean ground beef: $17.15
907.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
Authored ingredient weight. BLS lean/extra-lean category average; not an exact 93% lean product quote.
BLS: Ground beef, lean and extra lean · Price checked 2026-09-21
breadcrumbs: $0.16
54 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 108 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Plain Bread Crumbs, 15 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
chopped fresh parsley: $2.03
15 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup (chopped) = 60 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Fresh Parsley, 0.5 oz Clamshell · Price checked 2026-09-21
large eggs: $0.28
114 g purchased · Whole purchased item: 57 g each (estimated); includes shell, peel, or seeds.
1 egg (large) = 50 g; Large shell-free egg: 50 g, from King Arthur's ingredient weight chart. Large shell eggs; estimated 57 g purchased weight per egg includes shell.
Walmart: Great Value Large White Eggs, 12 Count · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic: $0.05
2.8 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.8 g; USDA SR Legacy household weights used as an approximate physical conversion for the current ingredient profile; nutrition remains from its own mapped record. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Spice World Fresh Peeled Garlic, 6 oz, Pouch · Price checked 2026-09-21
ground cumin: $0.12
6.3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.1 g; Editorial ground-cumin estimate: 2.1 g/tsp. Grinding/packing varies; this is not a USDA ground-cumin portion. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Cumin, 2.5 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
smoked paprika: $0.26
6.8 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 6.8 g Four 2 oz jars; full multipack weight is 8 oz.
Walmart: (4 pack) Great Value Smoked Paprika, 2 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
ground cinnamon: $0.02
1.3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.6 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Cinnamon · Price checked 2026-09-21
ground ginger: $0.05
0.9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 1.8 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Ginger, 1.5 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
ground coriander: $0.09
0.9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 1.8 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Organic Ground Coriander, 1.5 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.01
6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
black pepper: $0.05
1.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.3 g; texture=ground Ground black pepper reference; cracked pepper may cost differently.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Black Pepper · Price checked 2026-09-21
olive oil: $0.18
13.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 13.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 17 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
garlic: $0.16
9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
3 clove = 9 g; USDA SR Legacy household weights used as an approximate physical conversion for the current ingredient profile; nutrition remains from its own mapped record. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Spice World Fresh Peeled Garlic, 6 oz, Pouch · Price checked 2026-09-21
canned crushed tomatoes: $0.78
396.9 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
Authored ingredient weight. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Crushed Tomatoes with Tomato Puree, 28 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
honey: $0.28
21 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 21 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Raw Honey, 16 oz Bottle · Price checked 2026-09-21
smoked paprika: $0.04
1.2 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.3 g Four 2 oz jars; full multipack weight is 8 oz.
Walmart: (4 pack) Great Value Smoked Paprika, 2 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
ground cumin: $0.02
1.1 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.1 g; Editorial ground-cumin estimate: 2.1 g/tsp. Grinding/packing varies; this is not a USDA ground-cumin portion. Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Cumin, 2.5 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
cinnamon: $0.01
0.7 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.6 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Cinnamon · Price checked 2026-09-21
cayenne pepper: $0.03
0.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 1.8 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Cayenne Pepper, 2.25 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.00
1.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
chicken broth: $0.10
62.3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 249 g Liquid carton treated as 32 US fl oz; stock uses the broth reference where applicable.
Walmart: Great Value Gluten-Free Chicken Broth, 32 oz Carton (Shelf-Stable) · Price checked 2026-09-21
dry jasmine rice: $0.59
185 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 cup = 185 g Representative product; brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Jasmine Rice · Price checked 2026-09-21
carrots: $1.32
453.6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
Authored ingredient weight. Peeled baby carrots used as a reference for carrots; whole carrots may differ.
Walmart: Baby Peeled Carrots · Price checked 2026-09-21
olive oil: $0.18
13.5 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tbsp = 13.5 g Representative product for this ingredient; your brand and package size may differ.
Walmart: Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 17 fl oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
smoked paprika: $0.09
2.3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 2.3 g Four 2 oz jars; full multipack weight is 8 oz.
Walmart: (4 pack) Great Value Smoked Paprika, 2 oz · Price checked 2026-09-21
salt: $0.00
3 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp = 6 g Iodized table salt reference; not a kosher salt price.
Walmart: Great Value Iodized Salt · Price checked 2026-09-21
black pepper: $0.02
0.6 g purchased · Uses the reviewed ingredient quantity before cooking or marinade losses.
1 tsp (ground) = 2.3 g; texture=ground Ground black pepper reference; cracked pepper may cost differently.
Walmart: Great Value Ground Black Pepper · Price checked 2026-09-21

Make it yoursRecipe notes & meal-prep tips

Macro breakdown

Protein59.4g30%
Carbs73.7g38%
Fat27.6g32%

Per serving · Share of calories from macros

Calculated using 4 calories per gram of protein and carbs, and 9 for fat. Rounding and fiber can affect the listed calorie total.

Triple B's Meal Prep Notes

The carrots need more roasting time than the meatballs, so use separate trays and let each finish on its own schedule. Cut the carrot sticks to similar thicknesses; a few thick pieces can keep the tray in longer than the rest needs. Start the rice first, then use the oven time to simmer the spiced tomato sauce.

Cinnamon appears in both the meatballs and sauce, alongside cumin and paprika, giving this a different direction from an Italian marinara meal. Toss the cooked meatballs in the sauce before portioning and divide the remaining sauce across the rice. If it reduces too far, loosen it with the broth or water offered in the recipe. You want enough sauce to coat the serving after it has been chilled, not just the meatballs on cooking day.

For a refrigerated serving, microwave on high for 90 seconds, stir, then heat for another 45 seconds. Use that as a starting point and continue in short intervals as needed until the food reaches 165°F throughout. Turn the meatballs and carrot pieces and stir the rice during the pause. The optional cayenne is the simplest heat adjustment; keep the rest of the spices in place if you like the warm flavor profile. This recipe adds a tomato-based option to the meatball collection, with more herb-and-spice combinations in the Mediterranean-inspired archive and other batch-friendly choices among the oven-baked meals.

Notes from your kitchen

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From the community

Triple B · Creator note2025-12-14

This recipe exists because I wanted to combine middle eastern flavors with meatballs- and I had already conquered the classic Mediterranean version. I hadn't done roasted carrots as a side yet- but it works SO well. This one looks like a step outside of the comfort zone on the outside- but I can assure you it hits. Let me know if this one made it in your rotation!

Moroccan Meatballs