Homemade baked Turkey Meatballs give you the satisfying comfort of your favorite meatball recipe, done lighter with ground turkey. They’re moist and juicy (no dry meatballs allowed here!), use pantry ingredients, and are right at home atop a big bowl of spaghetti. Mangia!
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Why You’ll Love These Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Easy. Like all of my 30-minute meals, these turkey meatballs come together fast, making them a hero on busy evenings. Baking makes them hands-free!
- Juicy and Moist. Burned by bland (or, gasp!, dry) turkey meatballs in the past? Me too! That’s why with all of my ground turkey recipes from Turkey Burgers to Turkey Chili, I made sure the meat is tender and moist.
- Simple Ingredients. Once you have your ground turkey and Parmesan in the fridge, you’re likely to already have everything else in your pantry to make this simple turkey meatballs recipe.
- Pure Comfort. It’s hard to get more intrinsically satisfying than good ol’ spaghetti and meatballs! No matter the day, pasta recipes always seem to hit the spot.
- Makes Plenty. The recipe yields about 20 meatballs, so it covers a few dinners for our leftover-loving household of two, or it feeds a small dinner group. If you need a larger quantity of turkey meatballs for a crowd, you can check out my Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs.
5 Star Review
“Best recipe ever! As soon as there were done and cooled I had 10 of them!!! I was doing a happy dance when I ate them!!!”
— Ruby —
How to Make Turkey Meatballs
The Ingredients
- Ground Turkey. While traditional meatball recipes usually call for a mix of different meats (sometimes up to 3!), this turkey meatball recipe keeps it straightforward with ground turkey only. For a taste most similar to a classic meatball, try a mix of ground pork and ground turkey or ground beef and ground turkey.
- Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs + Egg. These bind the meat and keep the meatballs moist. I do not recommend panko breadcrumbs for this recipe, as they are more dry and will not bind the meatballs as effectively.
- Lazy Girl Basic Spices. Garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, red pepper flakes. Because sometimes I am hungry and I want to eat meatballs…without having to grate an onion or mince garlic cloves for them.
- Parmesan. Because meatballs are better with cheese. It’s true. Parmesan also helps to ensure the meatballs are moist.
The Directions
- Start the Recipe. Add the spices, Parmesan, and ground turkey to a big bowl.
- Add the Egg. Be gentle when combining.
- Shape into Meatballs. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Brush the Meatballs with Olive Oil. These helps them crisp outside and stay moist.
- Bake. Cook the turkey Meatballs at 375 degrees F for 15 Mmnutes for a 1 1/2-inch meatball, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F on a meat thermometer. When you cut into a meatball, it should be cooked through.
Recipe Variations
- Air Fryer. If you want to know how to make turkey meatballs, follow my Air Fryer Meatballs recipe.
- Without Breadcrumbs. Those looking for turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs can check out my paleo Whole30 Meatballs, which use almond flour instead.
- Gluten-Free. Swap the Italian breadcrumbs in this recipe for your favorite Italian gluten free breadcrumbs. You also could experiment with making the meatballs with oats that are lightly ground in the food processor (add additional seasoning to the oats, such as salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning).
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate meatballs in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days (either with or separately from the sauce).
- To Reheat. Reheat leftovers gently on the stovetop, in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave (with or without the sauce).
- To Freeze. Turkey meatballs can be frozen cooked or raw. Place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer frozen meatballs to an airtight freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months.
Meal Prep Tip
Having pre-shaped, ready-to-cook meatballs in the freezer is ideal for meal prep.
- Shape the meatballs as directed and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze until firm, then transfer to an airtight container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months.
- When ready to cook, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Brush with oil and bake as directed.
Serving Suggestions
- Marinara Sauce. Turkey meatballs in tomato sauce are pure comfort! You can warm the sauce in a small pot on the stove, then serve the turkey meatballs in sauce, or take our favorite approach: warm the sauce in a large skillet, then simmer the meatballs at the end to heat them through.
- Pesto Sauce. Serve these meatballs with Basil Pesto and Pesto Pasta.
- Creamy Sauce. Serve your meatballs with a creamy Penne Alla Vodka, or swap your favorite alfredo sauce.
- With Pasta. Cook up your favorite dried pasta, or for a low-carb option, add your meatballs to Zucchini Pasta or Crockpot Spaghetti Squash.
- Over Polenta. Serve meatballs with Creamy Polenta for a rustic, hearty dinner.
- On a Sandwich. Grab a hoagie bun and cheese and turn these meatballs into a meatball sub!
- As an Appetizer. Place the meatballs on a plate with toothpicks and enjoy as an appetizer with a side of sauce for dipping.
- With Vegetables. For a complete meal, pair meatballs with Sauteed Zucchini Recipe, Air Fryer Broccoli, or Roasted Mushrooms.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Don’t Overwork the Meat. Overworking will make the meatballs tough; handle it lightly and you’ll have tender, juicy turkey meatballs every time. If your turkey meatballs are hard or rubbery, you likely overworked the meat or compacted them too tightly.
- Trust and Believe: Baking Is Best. It’s fast, has easy clean up, and as long as you brush the meatballs with olive oil, you’ll get juicy results. Arrange the turkey meatballs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil (or parchment paper if you prefer) for easy cleanup. Then brush with olive oil to ensure the meatballs become nicely golden on the outside and juicy on the inside, no messy frying required. Save the stovetop method for when you’re looking to prepare a meatball recipe for a slow evening or special occasion (as with this Mozzarella Meatball Casserole).
- Use a Meat Thermometer. Your meatballs can still be a little pink inside and be cooked safely. The best way to know if they are done without drying them out is to use a meat thermometer.
- Add Herbs if You’ve Got ‘Em. No matter how you are serving meatballs, if you have fresh basil or other herbs on hand, it makes a nice addition.
Turkey Meatballs
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 20 meatballs
For a quick, delicious dinner, you can't beat this homemade baked turkey meatballs recipe! Juicy, moist, and made with simple ingredients.
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Ingredients
For the Baked Turkey Meatballs:
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving
- ⅓ cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs whole wheat if possible
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh herbs basil, parsley, or chives a combo, plus additional for serving
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey keep in your refrigerator until the last possible second
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus more as needed
For serving:
- Prepared pasta sauce
- Cooked whole wheat pasta or zucchini noodles
- Creamy Polenta
- Split and toasted hoagie buns
- Prepared brown rice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with nonstick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cheese, bread crumbs, herbs, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, pepper, and red pepper flakes and stir well to combine. Add the turkey.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg, then add it to the meat mixture. With a fork or your fingers, mix just until combined, being careful not to compact the meat.
- With a scoop or spoon, scoop the meat and shape into 1 1/2-inch meatballs. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet. You will have about 20 meatballs total.
- Brush the tops of the meatballs with the olive oil.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. As an alternate way to check, a meatball in the center of the baking sheet should be fully cooked through when cut in half.
- While the meatballs cook, warm the sauce and any other items you’d like to serve them with (pasta, hoagie buns, rice, etc.). Serve the meatballs hot, topped with the sauce, cheese, herbs, and any other additions.
Video
Notes
- Adapted from my Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs.
- TO STORE: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days (either with or separately from the sauce). Rewarm gently with the sauce on the stove.
- TO FREEZE: Cooked meatballs can be frozen baked or unbaked for up to 3 months. See detailed notes in the post above for a step-by-step.
Nutrition
Serving: 1meatballCalories: 62kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgPotassium: 58mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 55IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 0.4mg
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