Turkey Meatballs

These classic Turkey Meatballs are healthy, super moist, and packed with flavor! They’re easy to make, work well for meal prep, and freeze beautifully.

Pair these turkey meatballs with a simple side dish such as this Cucumber Salad, Italian Salad, or Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

My family is obsessed with Turkey Meatloaf, so I thought I’d switch it up a bit and make Turkey Meatballs. Meatballs have always been one of my favorite comfort foods (see my go-to recipe here), but as I’m often trying to make dinners a little healthier, I thought it was about time to try out a leaner meat. 

And honestly, we do not miss the beef or sausage in these meatballs. The flavor is robust and the textures are spot on!

And while the boys insist they must be served over a bed of marinara-coated noodles, they’re truly delicious on their own or with a lower carb base such as spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.

So today I’m sharing the recipe, along with some quick tips, answering some meatball FAQs, and sharing how to freeze and reheat these lil bites of happiness. 

Turkey Meatball tips

• Keep the ground turkey as COLD as possible. Ground turkey is easiest to form into meatballs when it’s cold. take it out of the fridge right when you need it and be careful to not overwork it (which will also warm it up).
• Grate the onion. While this step is (admittedly) tedious, it gives these meatballs the best-possible taste and texture. No large chunks of (uncooked) onions and all the great flavor is dispersed throughout.
• Use a NONSTICK skillet. These meatballs stick and subsequently fall apart in cast iron skillets. I’ve never had a problem with these meatballs falling apart in a nonstick skillet.
• Use a microplane. I recommend grating the Parmesan cheese and garlic on a microplane to get the best texture and even dispersion of ingredients in these meatballs. 

Meatball FAQS and Troubleshooting

How to freeze and reheat meatballs

1. Cook the meatballs according to directions in the recipe card and allow to completely cool.
2. Place on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan, uncovered, in the freezer.
3. Place in the freezer for 1 hour (or until frozen solid).
4. Transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe bag or container and make sure to label and date the packages.

To reheat: Remove from the container and place frozen meatballs on a foil-lined sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 300 degrees F or until meatballs are fully thawed and heated through.

Alternatively, add the (straight from freezer) meatballs into about 3 cups marinara in a large skillet. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until meatballs are heated through.

Turkey Meatball variations

• Turkey Meatballs in sauce: Serve these meatballs with marinara sauce; for this recipe, you’ll want about 3 cups marinara sauce. You can also serve them with gravy (Swedish style turkey meatballs).
• Turkey meatballs and spaghetti: This is our favorite way to enjoy Turkey Meatballs! Cook up a pound of spaghetti and heat about 3 cups marinara sauce. Toss the cooked spaghetti with the marinara and serve the meatballs right on top with a little more marinara spooned over them.
• Italian Turkey Meatballs: This meatball recipe does have an Italian-inspired flavor. To amp up the Italian flavor even more, add 1 to 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning.
• Turkey Meatballs in the slow cooker: to cook these in the slow cooker, follow the directions below:
  • Line a sheet pan with foil. Place an oven-safe cooling rack on top and spritz with cooking spray.
  • Add meatballs in an even layer on the rack.
  • Broil in the oven (on high) for 2 minutes per side. 
  • Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray.
  • Add half of the meatballs to the crockpot. Cover with pasta sauce. Add remaining meatballs.
  • Very gently stir until all the meatballs are coated in the sauce.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. High setting is not recommended.
• Turkey Meatballs without breadcrumbs: You can substitute quick oats, crushed Ritz® or saltine crackers, or crushed up croutons for the panko/breadcrumbs in this recipe. (Details on substituting here).

More turkey recipes

• Ground Turkey Recipe {Stir fry}
• Miniature Turkey Meatloaf 
• Turkey Taco Salad
• Turkey Avocado Ranch Club Wraps
• Crockpot Turkey Breast

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Turkey Meatballs

5 from 7 votes

- Review this recipe

These classic Turkey Meatballs are super moist, healthy, and packed with flavor! They're easy to make, work well for meal prep, and freeze beautifully!

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

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Turkey Meatballs

5 from 7 votes

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

These classic Turkey Meatballs are super moist, healthy, and packed with flavor! They're easy to make, work well for meal prep, and freeze beautifully!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword turkey meatballs

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 28 -29 meatballs

Calories 44kcal

Author Chelsea

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 large yellow onion grated (measured to 2/3 cup)
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves finely minced
• ▢ 1 and 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon EACH: oregano, basil, freshly cracked pepper
• ▢ 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
• ▢ 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated (on a microplane)
• ▢ 1/2 cup panko (breadcrumbs)
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1 and 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey (90%)
• ▢ Serve with: 1 pound dry spaghetti (cooked according to package instructions) and 3 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought), fresh Italian parsley, freshly grated Parmesan cheese

US - Metric

USMetric

Instructions

• MEATBALLS: If baking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Using the large holes on a cheese grater, grate an onion until you have 2/3 cup. Add to a very large bowl. Finely mince or grate the garlic on a microplane and add to the bowl. Add the salt, oregano, basil, pepper, finely chopped parsley (measured after chopping), finely grated Parmesan cheese (I like to use a microplane here to grate the cheese), panko, egg, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined. Add in the ground turkey straight from the fridge (keep the turkey as cold as possible so it's easier to work with). Gently knead the ingredients until combined, taking care not to overwork the meat. Overworking yields tough/rubbery meatballs.
• MEATBALLS CONT.: Shape the meat mixture into meatballs. I use a 1/8-cup measuring cup (2 tablespoons) to keep meatballs the same size. Place measured balls on a large plate and refrigerate the first half while working on forming the last half of the meat into meatballs.
• BAKING: Line a large sheet pan with foil (don't skip or clean up is a lot harder!) Add a wire cooling rack on top and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange meatballs on the rack. Brush the meatballs with oil (about 2-3 teaspoons total). Bake until browned, about 15 to 20 minutes. A thermometer should read 160 degrees F. (Carryover heat will increase it to 165 degrees F).
• SKILLET: If fying instead of baking, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large nonstick skillet (cast iron skillet won't work for these) over medium-high heat. Fry the meatballs in batches until browned on all sides and the meatballs are cooked through, about 5 to 8 minutes per batch. Do not overcrowd the skillet or the meatballs won't cook properly. Add additional 1-2 tablespoons oil in between batches as needed. If serving with marinara sauce, brown meatballs for 4-6 minutes or until browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate until all meatballs are browned. When they're all browned, add the marinara sauce to the pan and return the meatballs and all the juices to the pan. Gently cover the meatballs in the sauce and lower the heat. Partially cover the pan with a lid and simmer until meatballs are fully cooked through about 15-20 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160 degrees F.
• SLOW COOKER: To cook these meatballs in the slow cooker, read the blogpost for instructions.
• SERVE: If serving these meatballs with marinara sauce and spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Prepare homemade marinara or use store-bought (you'll need about 3 cups); toss noodles with all but 1/2 cup marinara and top plates with turkey meatballs. Evenly drizzle remaining 1/2 cup marinara over meatballs. If desired, garnish with fresh parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Add additional cracked pepper and a drizzle of olive oil to plates if desired.

Recipe Notes

Note: Nutritional information provides figures for one meatball with no sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 44kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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