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Home » Entrées » Turkey Recipes » Turkey Meatballs

Turkey Meatballs

December 18, 2019 by victor 34 Comments

Turkey meatballs don’t get the credit that they deserve. Just because they are made from extra lean meat doesn’t mean they have to be dry. In fact, it’s hard to believe that these meatballs are made from ground lean turkey meat. I would pick them over many other types of meatballs. No wonder that this recipe has been our family favorite for a long time.
Turkey meatballs on a plate with mashed potatoes and gravy.

I find that the best way to get the most tender, flavorful and juicy meatballs is to quickly sear them then cook over low heat covered until done. I use the same method to make my famous beer brats, extra tender chicken wings and other dishes. It only takes less than 30 minutes to cook these meatballs to the internal temperature of 160F. Don’t worry,  the temperature will continue rising after you take them off the heat, reaching 165F in a few minutes.

Turkey meatballs in a white pan.

To keep turkey meatballs moist, I add chicken broth, bread crumbs and minced onion to the mix. Instead of onion, you can also try leeks. I like using both interchangeably.

To boost the flavor, I sautee the onion and the garlic. Sauteeing softens them up, removes harshness, and adds flavor. Even more flavor comes from the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce. Worcestershire is a must; it adds a beautiful savory zing.

Turkey meatballs on a plate with mashed potatoes and gravy.

I could say that these meatballs are so moist and tender that they don’t need any sauce. But I won’t. I like my turkey meatballs with a little bit of gravy, the recipe for which I provided below. Gravy and garlic mashed potatoes. A comforting dinner for a cold winter night. Or make turkey meatball sandwiches with sourdough bread or brioche buns.

If you are looking for a lighter and healthier version, serve them with roasted vegetables, or a zesty tomato and cucumber salad.

These meatballs are delicious, both freshly made and re-heated the next day. I like having leftovers for lunch. I recommend reheating them the same way they were cooked – in a pan over medium-low heat until the internal temperature reaches 160F.

If you’d like to freeze these meatballs, place them in a vacuum sealer bag, with the sauce, and freeze for a couple of hours, unsealed. Once the meatballs are firm, seal in a vacuum sealer and freeze for up to 3 months.

Top down view of turkey meatballs on a plate with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Turkey Meatballs

4.91 from 21 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: turkey meatball recipe, turkey meatballs
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 20 meatballs
Calories: 102kcal
Author: Victor

Ingredients

Meatball ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground turkey
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp butter unsalted
  • 1 cup onion minced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley minced; plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 cup green onion thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs seasoned
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 tsp kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Gravy ingredients

  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup water cold
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

  • Drizzle two tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the garlic. Saute for 5-6 minutes, until tender but not brown. Add the chicken broth and the Worcestershire sauce, and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  • In a large bowl, gently mix the ground turkey with the rest of the meatball ingredients, including the sauteed onions and garlic. Do not overmix. Shape into 20 balls of equal size, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
  • To make the gravy, bring 2 cups of chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add the cornstarch dissolved in cold water, followed by the Worcestershire sauce. Cook for a minute or so, until thickened. Set aside.
  • In a large non-stick skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes or until browned. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
  • Pour the gravy over the browned meatballs, lower the heat to low, cover and cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs reach 165F internal temperature.
  • Serve hot, over mashed potatoes, drizzled with the gravy from the pan, and garnished with minced parsley.

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 199IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

 

 

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    Recipe Rating




     

  1. Hannah

    March 29, 2021 at 11:26 am

    These look delish! What is the serving size? I may have missed it but I’m assuming not just one meatball?

    Reply
    • victor

      April 05, 2021 at 11:05 pm

      The serving size is, of course, more than one meatball. The calories are calculated based on 1/20th of meatballs and 1/20th of gravy. Four – five per person I’d say.

      Reply
  2. SID

    March 11, 2021 at 12:46 pm

    These were soooo good! Really flavorful.
    I’m watching carbs so I substituted flaxseed meal for breadcrumbs and it was still good! I also served it with steamed cauliflower with the gravy and a side of steamed spinach.

    Reply
  3. Rachel

    March 10, 2021 at 10:18 pm

    Such an amazing recipe. It’s my go to for a special dinner for my boyfriend because it’s become his absolute favorite! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • victor

      March 11, 2021 at 1:26 pm

      You are very welcome, enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Catherine

    February 28, 2021 at 11:18 pm

    Made these tonight, excellent!!!! We needed to do Gluten-free, so used almond meal equally, instead of bread crumbs and turned out great! And the gravy was surprisingly good considering such few ingredients. Will definitely be making again 🙂 Thankyou!

    Reply
    • victor

      March 05, 2021 at 8:58 pm

      You are welcome.

      Reply
  5. Sue

    January 10, 2021 at 6:51 pm

    I have got to say these meatballs are the best turkey meatballs I’ve ever had. So moist and full of flavor. And the gravy is great! A little thin for my liking but that’s an easy fix. Made mashed potatoes to go with it. This is definitely being made a lot in my house.

    Reply
  6. Gaby

    January 04, 2021 at 7:30 pm

    Is the nutrition info for 1 meatball?

    Reply
    • victor

      January 09, 2021 at 9:34 am

      Yes, it’s per one meatball.

      Reply
  7. Julie

    December 25, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    Hi Victor,
    I just made this recipe for dinner and paired it with a simple salad with lemon juice, and it was amazing! I also found that I only needed about 12 minutes to thoroughly cook the meatballs with a gas stove. I was stunned by how juicy it turned out; thank you so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • victor

      December 26, 2020 at 6:11 pm

      You are very welcome, Julie. Happy cooking!

      Reply
  8. Cote

    November 09, 2020 at 6:24 pm

    The best meatballs I’ve EVER had. First time I baked them in the oven. Didn’t do the gravy and they were unbelievable. Tonight I made them the way the recipe calls for and they’re still unreal. This is now a permanent recipe in my home

    Reply
    • victor

      November 09, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      Happy to hear that, Cote. Thanks for your feedback.

      Reply
  9. Pat

    August 16, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    These meat balls were delicious would make them again

    Reply
  10. Laura P

    August 14, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    Great meal! The meatballs were flavorful and moist. I made it with roasted redskin potatoes.

    Reply
  11. Roselle Jones

    July 26, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    This recipe is sooo good. The gravy and meatballs were amazing! I did not have parsley, so I used fresh basil. What’s not to like about basil? I served with roasted broccoli and cauliflower, and brown rice. My family loved this recipe. I will definitely add to my regular rotation, and share this recipe with my friends.

    Reply
  12. Autumn

    June 20, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    Mase these tonight after a day out in the pool. And we were all tired but had to eat. These were easy to fix a d so good. We really enjoy your recipe. I am sure this will be made again. Thanks for such an easy meal.

    Reply
    • victor

      June 22, 2020 at 1:07 pm

      You are very welcome, Autumn.

      Reply
  13. Angie

    June 08, 2020 at 8:05 pm

    What a great recipe! So tasty with little fuss. My family loved it.

    Reply
  14. Morgan

    May 15, 2020 at 10:04 am

    What’s the serving size? Is the calorie count for one meatball?

    Reply
    • victor

      May 15, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      Yes, per meatball and a portion of the sauce.

      Reply
  15. Kimberly

    May 13, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    So I had to come back to tell you this is without a doubt one of the best recipes I have ever made from Pinterest! They are fantastic! Unfortunately hubby called at the last minute and will be late. I went ahead without him. I just couldn’t wait after smelling them cooking. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • victor

      May 13, 2020 at 7:09 pm

      Nothing wrong with making another batch 😉 Thanks for your feedback, Kimberly, and happy cooking!

      Reply
  16. Kimberly

    May 13, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    Making these right now. My kitchen smells heavenly! Can’t wait to eat. I’m salivating!

    Reply
  17. Hannah

    May 08, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    This is the best recipe I have tried in a long time. Absolutely delicious, don’t change a thing. Thank you.

    Reply
    • victor

      May 08, 2020 at 9:39 pm

      You are very welcome. Happy cooking!

      Reply
  18. Nicole

    May 05, 2020 at 6:55 pm

    My mom has a family turkey meatball recipe.. and don’t tell.. but these beat hers! Definitely making again! I put these over yellow rice with almonds and it was amazing!

    Reply
    • victor

      May 05, 2020 at 10:01 pm

      Wow, this must be one of the highest praises I’ve ever received for my recipe. Thank you for the kind word. Happy cooking!

      Reply
  19. Macey

    May 03, 2020 at 7:45 pm

    Making this tonight! But can I use flour instead of corn starch?

    Reply
    • victor

      May 03, 2020 at 7:47 pm

      Yes, absolutely. Just double the amount as cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour.

      Reply
  20. Marge

    March 31, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    I enjoyed these meatballs totally! Nice change with the brown gravy and potatoes!

    Reply
  21. Jess

    December 21, 2019 at 12:30 pm

    I made these turkey meatballs for lunch today, with the garlic mashed potatoes, and they turned out excellent. This recipe is a keeper, will be making again soon. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 21 High Protein Low Fat Recipes You Need To Try! says:
    August 17, 2020 at 2:24 pm

    […] Turkey meatballs are made from ground lean turkey meat and with other simple ingredients. So tasty and serve hot with any sauce or any dishes as a side dish.Get the recipe here. […]

    Reply

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Hi, I am Victor and welcome to my blog dedicated to simple and delicious everyday food... Read more...
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