Make these oven baked turkey meatballs for a quick, simple and lean dinner. Turkey meatballs are easy to make, and can be served with a variety of side dishes.
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Why you'll love it
- Easy, oil free way to cook meatballs
- Turkey meatballs are lean and healthy
- Adjust the seasoning to suit your preferences
- Meatballs are really versatile, and can be served different side dishes
- Perfect for easy weeknight dinners
- Easily double or triple the recipe to make a big batch
- Store and freeze really well
Ingredients
Ground turkey: The main ingredient in these meatballs is ground turkey. Turkey is much leaner than beef and pork, and tastes great. You can also use ground chicken if you prefer to make chicken meatballs.
Egg: The egg binds the ingredients together, and ensures that the meatballs don't crumble while baking.
Breadcrumbs: The breadcrumbs soak up the moisture from the turkey, and makes the meatballs juicy. They also help the meatballs hold together.
Dried oregano, parsley, basil and thyme: These ingredients add plenty of flavor to the meatballs. You can substitute them with a few teaspoons Italian seasoning.
Salt + pepper: Enhance the flavors of the turkey.
Instructions
Homemade turkey meatballs are easier to make than you might think.
Gently combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Make sure that the ingredients are evenly incorporated, but avoid overmixing.
Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, and roll the turkey meat into 25 meatballs of the same size. Place them on the baking sheet, and bake the meatballs in the oven at 375 °F / 190 °C for about 20 minutes, or until the meatballs have baked through.
Top tips
- Turkey is lean meat, which means that it can become dry very quickly. Be careful not to overcook the meatballs.
- To check that the meatballs are done, you can either use a meat thermometer, or simply cut one of the largest meatballs in half. Cooked turkey meat should be white, rather than pink.
Serving suggestions
Turkey meatballs are best served as a healthy entree with side dishes. Here are some of my favorite recipes to pair them with:
- Pasta: Healthy Spaghetti Sauce, Halloumi Pasta, Garlic Basil Pasta
- Rice: Instant Pot Mexican Rice, Greek Spinach Rice, Dill Rice
- Other dishes: Slow Cooker Meatball Stew, Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Variations
Spicy turkey meatballs: Add a pinch of chili powder or red pepper flakes to make spicy meatballs.
With spinach and feta: Add some finely chopped spinach and crumbled feta cheese to the meatballs. This will give them a Greek style flavor.
Baked turkey meatballs in sauce: When the meatballs are halfway through cooking, pour your favorite pasta sauce over them, sprinkle some shredded cheese, and continue to bake until the cheese is golden. The meatballs and sauce taste great together, and all you have to do is cook the rice or pasta on the stove while you wait.
Leftovers
You can store leftover oven baked turkey meatballs in an airtight container in a refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 6 months.
Thaw or defrost frozen meatballs in a refrigerator overnight before use, or cook them from frozen with my Instant Pot Frozen Meatballs recipe.
Chilled turkey meatballs can be reheated in a microwave, skillet, oven or air fryer for a few minutes, and served warm.
💡 TIP! Make a double or triple batch of these easy turkey meatballs, and freeze them down in serving sizes. Then you'll have ready made meatballs for quick and easy future meals.
Frequently asked questions
If your meatballs are crumbling, or not sticking together, they are lacking a binding agent. Add an extra egg to help them keep their shape.
Dry meatballs could be a sign that you might have overcooked them. It can also
This is perfectly normal. Ground turkey is white, not brown, when cooked. Turkey meatballs will therefore also be white, rather than brown.
You might also like these recipes
- Ground Turkey Enchiladas
- Greek Turkey Burger
- Turkey Sweet Potato Chili
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Honey Sriracha Meatballs
- Sausage Meatballs
If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!
Recipe
Baked Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon parsley
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 °F / 190 °C .
- Gently combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Make sure that the ingredients are evenly incorporated, but avoid over mixing.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, and roll the turkey meat into 25 meatballs of the same size. Place them on the baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes, or until the meatballs have baked through.
Video
Notes
- Store leftover oven baked turkey meatballs in an airtight container in a refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 6 months.
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