Try Our Juicy Turkey Meatballs Recipe: Dinner Done Right

Succulent and packed with flavor, these delectable ground turkey meatballs bring a delightful twist to your weeknight dinner routine.

Lean protein meets irresistible seasoning in a recipe that promises satisfaction with every bite.

Home cooks adore how simple ingredients can create such a mouthwatering dish that everyone loves.

The herbs and spices dance perfectly with tender ground turkey, creating a meal that’s both nutritious and incredibly tasty.

Each meatball bursts with robust Mediterranean-inspired seasonings that make ordinary dinners extraordinary.

Serve these alongside pasta, in a hearty sub, or atop a fresh salad for a versatile meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Let’s find out this recipe and transform your dinner table with these irresistible turkey meatballs.

Serving Turkey Meatballs with Style

• Pasta Paradise: Serve these juicy turkey meatballs over a bed of al dente spaghetti, allowing the rich tomato sauce to coat every strand for a classic Italian-inspired dinner.
• Zesty Sandwich Sensation: Transform these meatballs into a mouthwatering sub by nestling them in a crusty Italian roll, topped with melted provolone cheese and extra marinara sauce.
• Fresh Salad Companion: Create a lighter meal by placing the meatballs atop a crisp mixed green salad, drizzling with a light vinaigrette to balance the hearty protein and tangy sauce.
• Game Day Appetizer Delight: Slice the meatballs in half and serve on toothpicks as a crowd-pleasing party snack, perfect for gatherings and easy to enjoy while socializing.

How to Store Turkey Meatballs

• Smart Meal Planning Strategies
• Batch Cooking Brilliance: Whip up double the turkey meatball recipe to freeze extra portions for quick weeknight dinners. Pack cooled meatballs in airtight containers, separating layers with parchment paper.
• Refrigerator Storage Savvy: Keep cooked meatballs in sealed containers for up to 4 days. The tomato sauce helps maintain moisture and prevents drying out, ensuring delicious leftovers.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: Store uncooked meatball mixture or fully cooked meatballs in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. Label containers with date and contents for easy tracking.
• Reheat Like a Pro: Warm refrigerated meatballs gently in microwave or stovetop, adding a splash of extra sauce to maintain tenderness and prevent tough texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 7

Turkey Meatballs Ingredient List

• Ground Turkey: Lean protein that creates tender, juicy meatballs with lighter flavor compared to beef.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together, ensuring meatballs hold their perfect shape during cooking.
• Bread Crumbs: Adds texture, absorbs moisture, and helps meatballs maintain soft, delicate consistency.
• Parmesan Cheese: Introduces rich, savory depth and subtle nutty undertones to meatball mixture.

• Garlic, Onion: Delivers aromatic, sharp background notes that elevate overall taste profile.
• Fresh Parsley, Basil: Brings bright, herbaceous freshness and vibrant green color to meatballs.
• Black Pepper, Salt: Balances and intensifies natural meat flavors with subtle seasoning.

• Olive Oil: Creates smooth base for sauce and helps develop rich cooking foundation.
• Crushed Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Provides robust, tangy base with concentrated tomato essence.
• Yellow Onion, Garlic: Builds complex, layered sauce flavor with deep aromatic qualities.
• Bay Leaf: Introduces subtle, earthy undertone and traditional Mediterranean cooking essence.
• Italian Seasoning: Blends traditional herbs for authentic, well-rounded sauce profile.
• Sugar: Softens tomato's acidic edge, creating balanced, harmonious sauce flavor.
• Fresh Parsley: Offers final garnish with crisp, green finishing touch.

Tools for Preparing Juicy Turkey Meatballs

• Mixing bowl: Large, spacious bowl for combining meatball ingredients.
• Fork: Essential for mixing ingredients thoroughly.
• Baking sheet: Lightly greased surface for shaping and baking meatballs.
• Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan: Perfect for creating rich, flavorful sauce.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Helps stir sauce and meatballs while cooking.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Accurately measure ingredients for consistent results.
• Sharp knife: Used for chopping onions and mincing garlic.
• Serving plates: Ready to plate and enjoy your delicious meatballs.

How to Cook Turkey Meatballs Perfectly

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the oven and get a baking sheet ready with a light olive oil coating.

• Mixing Goodness

Blend all meatball components in a large bowl using a fork until everything looks perfectly combined.

• Meatball Formation

Roll the mixture into round bite-sized balls, spacing them out on the baking sheet.

• Initial Cooking

Bake the meatballs until they’re fully cooked through and looking golden.

• Sauce Foundation

In a heavy pot, start building your sauce by sautéing onions and garlic with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

• Tomato Base

Add tomato paste and let it mingle with the softened onions, creating a rich flavor landscape.

• Sauce Symphony

Pour in crushed tomatoes, water, herbs, and seasonings. Let everything bubble and dance together.

• Meatball Reunion

Gently nestle the baked meatballs into the sauce, allowing them to simmer and absorb all the delicious flavors.

• Final Touch

Taste and adjust seasonings, ensuring your sauce is perfectly balanced and ready to delight.

• Serving Magic

Serve these delectable meatballs over your favorite pasta, creating a comforting meal that feels like a warm hug.

Tips to Boost Flavor in Turkey Meatballs

• Swap ground turkey with ground chicken or lean beef for different flavor profiles and protein variations.
• Experiment with fresh herbs like basil, oregano, or thyme directly mixed into the meatball mixture for enhanced aromatic depth.
• Replace breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the recipe celiac-friendly and equally delicious.
• Add red pepper flakes to the sauce or mix ground cumin and smoked paprika into the meatball blend for a zesty kick that elevates the entire dish.
• These meatballs freeze beautifully. Cool completely, store in airtight containers for up to three months, and reheat directly in sauce when ready to enjoy.

Savory Turkey Meatballs Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Succulent turkey meatballs combine lean protein with Mediterranean herbs for a healthier dinner option. Garlic, parsley, and oregano infuse rich flavor while keeping each bite light and satisfying for hunger-crushing comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (454 g) ground turkey
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsps freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 tbsps finely chopped onion
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• ½ tsp sea or kosher salt
• 1 pinch of black pepper (¼ tsp)
• ⅓ cup seasoned Italian bread crumbs
• 1 can (28 oz or 794 g) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (6 oz or 170 g) tomato paste
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 ½ tsps dried Italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
• ½ tsp sea or kosher salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp sugar

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) and lightly oil a large baking sheet with olive oil.
2. Mixing: In a spacious bowl, blend ground turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper using a fork until uniformly combined.
3. Shaping: Craft 14 evenly sized meatballs, roughly 1.5 inches in diameter, and distribute them across the prepared baking sheet with minimal spacing.
4. Roasting: Bake meatballs for 12-14 minutes, verifying an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure thorough cooking.
5. Sauce Foundation: In a Dutch oven, warm olive oil over medium-low heat and sauté diced onions and garlic with salt and pepper until onions turn translucent.
6. Flavor Layering: Introduce tomato paste, stirring for 1-2 minutes to intensify its robust essence, then incorporate crushed tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, parsley, and sugar.
7. Seasoning: Adjust sauce with additional salt and pepper, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
8. Simmering: Gently immerse roasted meatballs into the simmering sauce, allowing them to meld and absorb flavors for 25-30 minutes.
9. Finishing: Remove bay leaf and serve the meatballs and sauce atop spaghetti or preferred pasta, garnishing with fresh parsley and extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

• Prevent Dry Meatballs: Use a light touch when mixing ingredients to avoid compacting the meat, which can result in tough, dense meatballs.
• Temperature Matters: Always use a meat thermometer to check that turkey meatballs reach 165°F internally, ensuring food safety and preventing dry meat.
• Breadcrumb Trick: Soak breadcrumbs in milk before mixing to add moisture and create incredibly tender, juicy meatballs with a softer texture.
• Flavor Boost: Allow meatballs to simmer in sauce for 25-30 minutes to enhance flavor absorption and create a more delicious, cohesive dish.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking, Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg