Turkey Meatballs recipe
These turkey meatballs are healthy, full of flavor, and juicy, with a mix of fresh and dried herbs that give them a delicious Italian taste.
Try your ground turkey in my favorite turkey tacos or turkey chili, or check out my homemade rotisserie chicken recipe or copycat Chipotle Chicken, a reader favorite!
These meatballs are good for you and freeze well, so you can reheat them quickly – and you can decide if you want to add sauce or not!
What are the benefits of eating Turkey Meatballs?
Turkey is a great source of protein, low in fat, and packed with vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, and niacin making it a healthy and powerful food.
How long do you cook Turkey Meatballs?
The cooking time depends on the size of the meatball and how you’re cooking them, but remember turkey is poultry, so make sure it reaches 160 degrees on a thermometer, and the carry-over cooking will bring it up to 165 degrees.
How do you keep the meatballs from falling apart?
Eggs help bind the meatballs together, and for every pound of meat, one egg is all you need.
What’s the best method to get equal portions?
Using a small ice cream scoop is the easiest way to make meatballs because it gives you even portions and creates the perfect round shape.
If you want to be really precise, scoop the meatballs and weigh them on your kitchen scale, aiming for 1 ½ ounces each.
How do you freeze and reheat the meatballs?
Scoop, cook, and cool the meatballs, then spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for an hour, or until solid.
To reheat, place the meatballs on a baking sheet, cover them with foil, and bake in a 300-degree oven for 15 minutes, or until they’re heated through.
Turkey Meatballs recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 7 servings 1x
Description
These turkey meatballs are healthy, full of flavor, and juicy, with a mix of fresh and dried herbs that give them a delicious Italian taste.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey 93% lean
- 1 cup bread crumbs or panko or rolled oats
- 2/3 cup onion minced
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley minced
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
To make the meatballs:
- In a large bowl, mix together ground turkey, bread crumbs, onion, parsley, eggs, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, basil, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Use a strong spatula or your hands (I like to wear latex gloves) to mix everything well, then shape the mixture into 1-inch balls (you should have about 48 in total).
To bake the meatballs:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. To make cleanup easy, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, then spray a wire rack with nonstick spray and place it on the baking sheet.
- Arrange the meatballs on the rack, brush them with oil, and bake until they are brown and have crispy edges. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes, and you can use a meat thermometer to make sure the inside of the meatballs reaches 155 degrees for 15 seconds.
To fry the meatballs:
- Heat some oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then fry the meatballs in small groups until they are brown on all sides and cooked through. This should take about 5 to 7 minutes per group, and you can use a meat thermometer to make sure the inside of the meatballs reaches 155 degrees for 15 seconds. Add more oil if the skillet looks dry.
To freeze the meatballs:
- Arrange the meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch each other, and freeze them until they are solid. This should take about an hour. Then, put them in a container that’s safe for the freezer and store them for up to a month.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 283 kcal
