Perhaps I watched Lady and the Tramp too many times as a kid, but in the food lexicon of emotions, I will forever think of “meatballs” as synonymous with “love.” You take one end of the spaghetti noodle, I’ll take the other, and may the best (wo)man be the first to reach the Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs.
Email Me the Recipe!
From time to time, we'll send you the best of Well Plated. Already registered? Log in here.
When viewed objectively, crock pot turkey meatballs are not particularly romantic. They are messy. They are saucy. They are rarely pretty, and they certainly are not to be eaten in white pants.
Yet, there is something about slow cooked turkey meatballs that will always remind me of love.
Perhaps it is because each meatball is formed individually with care.
Perhaps it is because the best, most tender meatballs require the gentlest touch to scoop and shape. As with my crock pot turkey meatballs, just look at the gorgeous, perfect form of Sommer’s Greek Lemon Meatballs and Brianne’s French Onion Soup Stuffed Meatballs.
Perhaps it is because, every time I eat a turkey meatball, I fall freshly head-over-heels for a dish that I’ve been eating my whole life, yet continually forget how much I adore. Even Ben’s reaction was, “Why don’t we eat turkey meatballs all the time?”
Crock pot turkey meatballs, I neglected you for too long. Let’s cue the Italian violinist, shine up our forks, and make up for lost time!
Simple Tips for Juicy Turkey Meatballs
The greatest crime and loudest complaint surrounding turkey meatballs is that they are dry. There are two simple keys to guaranteeing your turkey meatballs turn out tender and juicy:
- Select your meat carefully.
- Supplement the ground turkey with other moistening ingredients.
For the meat, I used a blend of zesty Italian turkey sausage and lean ground turkey.
For extra moisture, I added breadcrumbs and milk.
The crock pot is another critical factor to ensuring maximum meatball juiciness. Its signature low and slow method locks in moisture, and it also offers maximum ease and flexibility.
Easy, simple, and delicious recipes… the simple reasons for making so many slow cooker recipes.
TIP
If you’re in a rush, Air Fryer Meatballs are equally juicy, but are ready in just 30 minutes!
Once the turkey meatballs were mixed, I baked them in the oven for a few minutes to give them a golden exterior and set their shape, then transferred them to the slow cooker with a heaping helping of spaghetti sauce.
The longer the meatballs simmer, the more juicy and aromatic they become. (No time for the slow cooker? Check out these Baked Turkey Meatballs!)
Love-Worthy Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs
This crock pot turkey meatball recipe yields a great big batch, and while I considered halving it, I’m glad I didn’t.
They freeze beautifully and have already managed to disappear. We enjoyed some turkey meatballs over pasta, some as meatball subs, and I even brought a few to a friend’s as an appetizer.
Juicy. Saucy. Zesty. Cheesy. This, my friends, is amore.
How to Freeze Turkey Meatballs
- To Freeze AFTER Cooking. Freeze with sauce for up to two months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- To Freeze BEFORE Cooking. Complete the broiling portion, then bake the meatballs at 350 degrees F until cooked through. Freeze separately from the sauce. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then place in the slow cooker, top with sauce, and cook as directed.
Tools Used to Make This Recipe
- 6 quart programmable slow cooker
- Cookie scoop (the easiest way to make evenly-sized meatball shape for even cooking)
Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs
email me the recipe!
From time to time, we’ll send you the best of Well Plated. Already registered? Log in here.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup non-fat milk
- 3 large eggs
- 20 ounces 93% lean ground turkey (1.3 pounds)
- 12 ounces sweet Italian turkey sausage
- ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs plus 2 tablespoons
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan pecorino, or asiago cheese, plus additional for serving
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 jars prepared tomato pasta sauce (24 ounce jars) (choose something with good flavor that you love) or homemade
For Serving:
- Prepared whole wheat pasta sub-style buns, polenta, or enjoy alone as an appetizer
Instructions
- Place two oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper or a silpat mat.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs until evenly combined. Add the ground turkey, turkey sausage, breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Lightly mix with a fork or your fingers, just until combined, being careful not to compact the meat. With a scoop or spoon, scoop the meat, then shape into 1 1/2-inch meatballs. Arrange on the prepared baking sheets. (You will have about 38 meatballs total).
- Bake the meatballs for 3 minutes, remove the pans from the oven and flip the meatballs, then return the pans to the oven, switching each pan from bottom to top. Bake 3 additional minutes, then remove from the oven. The exterior of the meatballs should be lightly browned, but they will not be cooked through.
- Lightly coat a 5-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Arrange a layer of meatballs over the bottom, pour on half the sauce, then stack any remaining meatballs on top. Pour on the remaining sauce. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Serve warm with pasta, on buns, over polenta, or enjoy alone as an appetizer.
Notes
- To freeze AFTER the meatballs have been cooked: Freeze with sauce for up to two months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- To freeze BEFORE the meatballs have been cooked: Complete the broiling portion, then bake the meatballs at 350 degrees F until cooked through. Freeze separately from the sauce. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then place in the slow cooker, top with sauce, and cook as directed.
Nutrition
Join today and start saving your favorite recipes
Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes and access FREE meal plans.
Sign Me Up
I adore that these are done in the crockpot. Saving precious time!
I LOVE the idea of making these in the crockpot! And, I, too, loved “Lady and the Tramp” when I was little.
Crockpot meals are the best- I’ve never seen Lady and the Tramp all the way through, but I remember always wanted to eat my spaghetti like that when I was little!
Erin! We had a “Well Plated” weekend here. I made the pumpkin cobbler last night and it was so good! Tonight we had the spinach artichoke quinoa stuffed peppers and they were incredible. Best dinner in ages and we cook A LOT! Now I want these meatballs. Thanks for all your wonderful recipes. You’re my favorite food blogger and your site is the first one I check every morning. Thank you!
Sue, you just MADE MY NIGHT. Thank you! I can’t say enough how happy this makes me feel. It’s kind notes and comments from readers like you that keep me so inspired and are why I love blogging. Thank you for trying these recipes and for sharing your kind reviews. I’m honored that my blog has a space in your kitchen and your day!
Slow cooker meals are the best! Love that these meatballs freeze well!
I don’t care that they are messy, it really is a crock pot full of love!
AH meatballs are TOTAL LOVE!
This is my families kind of food, my kids would dive straight into this!!
Oh my word I love meatballs. This is the perfect fall recipe for our crazy weeknight dinners!
I do believe you made these look pretty! And I agree with making extra. It’s always nice to have frozen food ready for those busy nights when your brain isn’t in the game.
These look fantastic! My boys will love this one!
I think these will be amazing!! Thank you!
Thank you for this remarkable method for making turkey meatballs. They were an absolutely amazing dinner tonight over whole wheat pasta. The meatballs had terrific texture and held their shape in the slow cooker too. I know I will be making them again. Meatballs were always in my birthday dinner request when I was growing up. Love the reference to “Lady and the Tramp”!
Amy YAY!!!! I am so excited to hear that you loved these so much. And Lady and the Tramp is the best :)
They are in the crockpot now. I plan to serve them over risotto! I used pork Italian sausage with the ground turkey because that’s what I had on hand. I can not wait to dive in! A few of your recipes are my absolute favorite go-to(s).
These meatballs would be fabulous with risotto Katherine. I hope you all love it!! Thanks so much for your kind comment.
I had 4 previous attempts at turkey meatballs which my husband pronounced “dry and mealy”. Then I tried your recipe and they turned out perfect, he loved them! You now officially have two fans in London :-)
Joanne, YAY!!! I cannot say enough how happy this makes me. Thanks for trying the recipe and leaving this kind review!
I’ve made this recipe twice now and I think it’s going to become a staple! Thank you!
I’m so excited to hear that, Farheen! Thank you for giving the recipe a try and sharing this awesome review!
Where does the turkey sausage come into play
Hi Alex, it’s added to the mixing bowl in step 2! I hope you love the meatballs.
I made this recipe last night and it was delicious! I made some spaghetti squash up with it instead of noodles. My husband and sister in law loved this dish. Will for sure be making this recipe again! :)
The spaghetti squash is a great idea, Megan! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe—thank you for taking the time to leave this review!
Making these right now in my crock pot! I ended up adding a little extra breadcrumbs, since making them into balls was soooo moist and mushy. It would be good to note that, depending on the format of your sausage, you’ll have to squeeze them out of the casing before putting into the bowl. I ended up having to squeeze the sausage out of the casing mid-mixing! They smell amazing. Cannot wait to eat these, we have a friend coming over!
Dianne, I hope you and your group enjoyed the meatballs! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review!
They were wonderful!!!
Hooray! Thanks for reporting back! :)
My family loves this recipe and I’d like to make it for some friends who are dairy-free. What would you recommend to substitute for the milk – almond milk, rice milk, other? Thanks!
Hi Ali! I would choose something unsweetened, such as unsweetened almond or cashew milk to make sure that it has a neutral flavor. I hope you enjoy the meatballs!
I made these for dinner tonight. They are currently in the crock pot on warm, but I had to steal one before dinner. They are amazing and so moist! The flavor is great.
HOORAY Amy! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the meatballs! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review.
I love these! Could they be done in the instant pot?
Hi Bridget, I have not tried these in the Instant Pot myself, but if you decide to experiment, I’d recommend following the cooking time guidelines for a similar Instant Pot meatball recipe when you get to step 4.
My family loves these meatballs! And I love that I get to change up our protein source from the usual chicken and beef. We pair it with spaghetti squash to cut some of the carbs and mm mmm yummy!! Thank you!
Kati, thanks for taking the time to leave this review! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the meatballs!
I have made this recipe several times in the last few month and my family absolutely LOVES it!!! It’s nice to get the majority of the dinner work done early in the day so that there’s not much to do during the “witching hour” before dinner with my kids. ;)
Casey, thanks for sharing this review! I’m so glad to hear it’s a repeat hit!
My boyfriend LOVED these meatballs. We weren’t in a rush, so I cooked them on low for 4 hours. They were very flavorful and moist. We froze the leftovers to eat at a later date and they reheated very well! Paired this with zucchini noodles and garlic bread. Simply amazing.
SO happy to hear this, Marielle! I’m so happy these were a hit for both of you!
I haven’t actually tried cooking these yet but I was wondering if you had any suggestions for lowering the sodium? 234mg per meatball can really stack up!
Hi Andrew! Sodium content can vary so much based on the brands of ingredients used. I recommend using an online calculator like MyFitnessPal, which you can customize based on the ingredients you have to get a more accurate number. For this recipe, you could try experimenting by cutting out the salt to lower the amount of sodium. I hope this helps!
I love this recipe so much! My whole family will eat it, it’s healthy, and it makes enough that we can still enjoy leftovers the next day! Plus, I can get it all ready during the day while my family is at work and school. I usually just serve with pasta and a salad.
Thank you for this kind review, Casey! I’m SO happy to hear that you and your family enjoy this recipe!
Erin I am sorry that I have never commented or left a rating before now because I make your recipes multiple times a week and love almost all of them, however I need a new word to describe how wonderful these meatballs are!! I used a pound of ground turkey and a pound of pork sausage because that’s what I could find but followed everything else exactly. I also only browned one tray at a time in the oven since mine were only getting crispy on the bottom rack. They were so tender and flavorful that my husband was still raving about them later that night! Thank you for all of your wonderful healthy recipes, I am a huge fan and can’t wait for your cookbook to come out!
This makes my day, Kristin! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Have you tried skipping the oven step and going straight to crockpot? Looking to try these but also want to make it a little shorter on prep time.
Hi Schuyler! I have only tested the recipe as written, so you’d be experimenting. The meatballs won’t get as brown on the outside, and I suggest checking them for doneness before serving. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi there,
I haven’t done it with this particular recipe but I have done what you’re asking with another meatball recipe. You can make the recipe without browning the meatballs first, but they turn out mussy and bland/not flavourful. Do yourself a favour and brown them, I know it’s an extra step but you’re not doing the meatballs and your self justice by skipping the step, you’ll just get mediocre meatballs, when you could have awesome ones.
I can’t find sweet Italian turkey. Is there a way to modify plain ground turkey?
Hi Mary! Yes, that should work!
Do you think I could double this recipe and still for them all in a regular crockpot?!
Hi Kristin! I haven’t tried to double the recipe before. A few things to keep in mind, the size of your crockpot would determine if you could get that many meatballs in it. Also you would definitely want to check the cooking time to make sure the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Gluten free household by necessity so I subbed almond flour and extra seasonings for the breadcrumbs…the mix was a sticky mess but the cooked meatballs were DELICIOUS!
Hi Jess! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and thanks for the feedback on using almond flour!
The crockpot turkey meatballs are excellent! Tender and moist…DELICIOUS! Every recipe I have made from Erin is a hit!
Hi Karen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Wow these were so good!!! I added half a box of orzo directly to the bottom of the slow cooker, underneath the meatballs and cooked everything on low for 4 hours. The orzo was cooked by the sauce and tasted so great. We had broccolini on the side.
Hi Alexis! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I made this with 1lb of ground turkey and 1 lb of mild italian sausage (ground, not links). Sausage is typically high in sodium, and other ingredients have sodium, such as pasta sauce, bread crumbs and cheese, so I left out all of the kosher salt. IMO, the meatballs, which are delicious, have enough saltiness. I used freshly grated combo parmasan/reggiano cheese, no parsley, and eneded up with more than 40 good sized meatballs, so enough to freeze and use for another 2-3 meals for our small household of 2. This is a keeper recipe. So good!
Hooray, so happy to hear it!
These came out FANTASTIC! I made them for a potluck the day before, and refrigerated them overnight in an airtight container. The next morning, I warmed them up on the stovetop and then put them back into the slow cooker to keep warm. When it was time to go to the potluck, I unplugged the slow cooker and put it in the back seat of my car. At the potluck, there were power strips available, so I plugged it in, and the meatballs were a big hit.
There were some leftovers, and I brought them home for my husband. He put them with some pasta and pronounced them “sublime.”
Notes: I could only find a 1 lb package of ground turkey, and the turkey sausage was 20 oz, so I had about 4oz more meat than you did. Surprisingly, I ended up with 60 meatballs, and they were 1-1/2 inch (I measured!). Not sure how that happened, but it all worked out. Also, I used the Silver Palate Basil sauce, which was super yummy for a jarred sauce.
I will definitely make these again!
YAY, so glad to hear it, thanks for the feedback Mindy!!
I made this recipe omitting the sausage the first time; it was delicious . Unfortunately, my hubby grabbed cooked Italian sausage for the 2nd try 😢. I have a feeling it’s not going to turn out right. It would be nice if the recipe specific uncooked sweet Italian sausage since so much of it is precooked.
Hi RMT, I’m glad you enjoyed it the first time. I’m a little confused, we are cooking the meatballs in the crockpot, so we can not be adding already cooked sausage to the meat mixture, I feel like that is understood. If for some reason the sausage needed to be cooked prior, then that part would be specified in the recipe. Keeping the meats uncooked prior to making a meatball is pretty standard. Personally I haven’t seen cooked Italian turkey sausage (which is what we are using here in this recipe).
My family absolutely loves these turkey meatballs. Four hours in the slow cooker after browning them in the oven makes for juicy meatballs . We follow the directions exactly, every time, and we have a delicious dinner:
Great to hear, thank you Mimi!
Hi, I was wondering, is there a way to make these meatballs only in the oven? And if so, how long do I bake and at what degrees? Thank you.
Hi Kathleen! Here is our recipe for oven baked turkey meatballs: https://www.wellplated.com/baked-turkey-meatballs/ Enjoy!