These Simple Turkey Meatballs are moist, flavorful, and extraordinarily easy to prepare! Crafted with only a handful of basic ingredients in less than 30 minutes, these homemade baked meatballs can complement any preferred meal!
Contents
If you’re a reader of my recipes, you know I enjoy making meatballs! From buffalo chicken variations and Asian-glazed versions to an entire cheesy meatball bake! The wonderful aspect of these straightforward turkey meatballs is their remarkable versatility. They fit seamlessly into a variety of dishes and pair wonderfully with numerous sauces!
Reasons to Love This Recipe
- Composed of easy-to-find ingredients that deliver a burst of flavor!
- These meatballs are baked, steering clear of frying.
- Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal cleanup required.
- This recipe calls for ground turkey, a much leaner alternative to beef.
- Incredibly versatile; these meatballs can be included in many types of meals!
Essential Ingredients
- ground turkey – I opted for lean ground turkey due to its lower fat and calorie content while being a superb protein source; however, feel free to substitute with ground chicken, beef, pork, or even Italian sausage.
- egg – serves as a binding agent to keep everything together.
- breadcrumbs – I utilized Italian breadcrumbs to maintain the shape and moisture of the meatballs, but you may use gluten-free breadcrumbs, panko, or almond flour for a lower-carb option.
- parmesan cheese – freshly grated parmesan enriches the meatballs with extra flavor!
- onion – I grated half of a medium yellow onion, though one teaspoon of onion powder would also work. Finely chopped onion is another option if you prefer.
- garlic – gives a flavor enhancement, and fresh minced garlic is always preferable! If you lack fresh cloves, a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder can be used instead.
- Worcestershire sauce – adds a delightful sweet, tangy flavor to the meatballs! You can likewise opt for soy sauce or tamari.
- parsley – I appreciate adding fresh herbs for a touch of earthiness and color, but you might consider including fresh basil, rosemary, or thyme as alternatives.
- seasonings – a mix of Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
Steps to Create Turkey Meatballs
- Create the meatball mixture. In a sizable mixing bowl, mix together ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt/pepper until well combined.
- Form into meatballs. Using a small to medium cookie scoop (I prefer this 1.2 tablespoon size scoop), form 1-inch balls from the mixture and arrange them on a prepped baking sheet lined with non-stick spray or parchment paper (this batch should yield roughly 30 meatballs). The cookie scoop helps ensure uniform sizing.
- Bake them. Place the meatballs in a preheated oven set to 400 degrees F and bake for about 16 to 20 minutes, until they’re slightly browned and thoroughly cooked. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F when checked with a meat thermometer.
Serving Suggestions for Turkey Meatballs
Preparation and Storage Tips
For Preparation: These meatballs can be easily made in advance and stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for 2 to 3 days prior to baking. When you’re ready, just bake them and prepare the sauce on the stove as directed. You can also prepare the sauce ahead of time; simply reheat it in a saucepan right before mixing with the meatballs.
For Storage: If you plan to keep these meatballs for later, allow them to cool completely, then store them in a sealed, airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. The sauce will remain good for about two weeks in the fridge or can be frozen separately for as long as 3 months in an airtight container.
For Freezing: These meatballs are freezer-friendly and can last for up to 3 to 4 months when frozen. To reheat, simply thaw them in the fridge and warm in a skillet over low heat, stirring frequently until hot. They can also be reheated in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.
Additional Meatball Recipes
I hope you all enjoy making these Simple Turkey Meatballs, and if you relish them as much as we do, please leave me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I love to see all your delightful recreations!
In a large mixing bowl, mix together ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt/pepper until fully combined.
With a small to medium cookie scoop, form the mixture into 1-inch sized balls and place them on a prepared baking sheet that has been lined with non-stick spray or parchment paper (you should achieve around 30 meatballs). The cookie scoop ensures uniformity in size.
Place the meatballs in the preheated oven at 400 degrees F and bake for approximately 18-20 minutes, until they are fully cooked and safe to eat. Meatballs need to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Serving: 2meatballs | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.2g | Protein: 7.2g | Fat: 3.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.9g | Cholesterol: 34.4mg | Sodium: 87.9mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.4g
Nutritional values are calculated automatically, hence should be regarded as estimates.