Juicy Turkey Meatballs are packed with flavors of garlic, Parmesan cheese, and herbs. These meatballs are perfect for a weekend dinner and can be made ahead of time for a quick weeknight meal. Paired perfectly with a simple Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce.
Turkey Meatballs
Turkey meatballs make a healthier alternative since turkey is such a lean meat. But, just because they are leaner and healthier, it does not mean that these meatballs are any less juicy and flavorful.
Some brands make a variety of lean to fat ratio in ground turkey but the most common one is 93%/7% meat to fat. This ground turkey will work great for meatballs.
I don’t recommend extra lean ground turkey because every time I’ve tried it, meat comes out too dry. No matter how much you want to keep the fat out, there just has to be some fat for a moist, juicy meatball.
These meatballs can be served without sauce, of course. You can even serve them with some homemade marinara sauce because the flavors in the meatballs will compliment classic marinara sauce well.
I’ve paired these turkey meatballs with some creamy garlic Parmesan sauce. It’s very easy to whisk together and cook with meatballs. Even if the meatballs are prepared ahead of time or frozen, this sauce can easily be whipped up in a couple of minutes and added to meatballs while reheating.
How to make turkey meatballs:
These meatballs are made on stove top and in the oven, so use an oven-safe pan to cook.
Prepare the meat first by combining the ingredients in the mixing bowl and mixing them well.
Start preheating the pan on medium heat while rolling the meatballs. Preheat oven to 350.
Tip: use a cookie scoop to get an even amount of meat mixture so the meatballs are all the same. I like to use #40 cookie scoop.
Roll the meatballs and place them on a cutting board of parchment paper while the pan is preheating.
Add oil and place meatballs in the pan. Cook for a few minutes on one side. Gently shake the pan to loosen the meatballs and flip each meatball.
Whisk sauce ingredients together and pour it all over the meatballs.
Transfer the pan into the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes.
Take out and garnish with a little more shaved Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Can I freeze meatballs?
These turkey meatballs can be frozen.
To freeze them, use the same method as I use for preparing beef meatballs for freezing. So instead of cooking them on stove-top and then in the oven with sauce, just bake them until done and freeze without sauce.
Thaw the meatballs in the refrigerator overnight.
To prepare the meatballs with sauce, place thawed meatballs in a baking dish and add sauce. Bake for about 15 minutes, until sauce bubbles around the edges.
Can these meatballs be gluten free?
Yes! To make these meatballs gluten free you simply swap a regular slice of bread for gluten free bread. Sauce is already gluten free because it’s made with corn starch.
Some more dinner recipes to try:
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Turkey Meatballs In Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Ingredients
Turkey Meatballs:
- 2 lbs ground turkey 93/7% lean
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 extra large egg
- 2 oz slice of bread
- 2 tbsp milk for soaking bread
- 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- salt
Garlic Parmesan Sauce:
- 1 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup dry Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch
- salt
- fresh cracked black pepper
Garnish:
- shaved Parmesan cheese
- minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- These meatballs are made on stove top and in the oven, so use an oven-safe pan to cook.
- Gently squeeze out the milk from the bread, place wet bread in the mixing bowl and break it up into small pieces. Add remaining ingredients for the meatballs and mix everything well.
- Start preheating the pan on medium heat while rolling the meatballs. Preheat oven to 350.
- Use a cookie scoop to get an even amount of meat mixture so the meatballs are all the same. I like to use #40 cookie scoop. (If you don't have a scoop, just roll the meatballs freehand but try to get them the same size.)
- Roll the meatballs and place them on a cutting board of parchment paper while the pan is preheating.
- Add oil to the pan and place meatballs in the pan. Cook for a few minutes on one side. Gently shake the pan to loosen the meatballs and flip each meatball.
- Whisk sauce ingredients together and pour it all over the meatballs.
- Transfer the pan into the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes.
- Take out the meatballs and garnish with a some shaved Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Kristy says
How much is a serving size according to nutrition label
lyuba says
Hi Kristy!
There are about 4 meatballs per serving. The whole recipe should make about 40 meatballs scooped with a #40 cookie scoop. I hope this helps and you enjoy the meatballs!
lyuba says
Hi Kristy!
There are about 4 meatballs per serving. The whole recipe should make about 40 meatballs scooped with a #40 cookie scoop. I hope this helps and you enjoy the meatballs!
Kathy says
Hey lyuba,
how much you are grinding the meat ? the blade size ?
Katherine says
What do you mean by “dry” Parmesan? Is that the Parmesan in the green lidded can, or are you referring to the bags of shredded?
lyuba says
Hi Katherine!
Yes, you are correct. I meat the one that is in the green lidded jar and not one that is freshly grated or shaved.
Katherine says
Thanks so much for your prompt reply. Can’t wait to try this recipe! Looks amazing!
Joyce Schlosser says
I mad this the other day and did not notice that called for dry paresean. I used some freshly grated paresean and the recipe turned out delicious.
Holly says
Do you think these could be made in a crock pot either raw meatballs cooking in the sauce, or the thawed (pre-cooked the day before) meatballs and sauce just simmering on low for a while?
LyubaB says
Hi, Holly! I would precook the meatballs first then add them to the crockpot!
Kelli says
How much bread do soak in the milk?
lyuba says
Hi Kelly!
I usually estimate 2 ounces. Depending on the brand and type of bread, that will be one or two slices. I hope this helps!
Shekinah Barnett says
Not seeing the recipe for this pin
lyuba says
Hi there! The recipe card should be right above the long photo. Here is the direct link for the recipe card: https://www.willcookforsmiles.com/wprm_print/21379
I hope this helps!
Kelly says
I’m must be blind, what is oven temp supposed to be?
LyubaB says
Hi, Kelly! It is step 3 and its 350! Hope you enjoy them! 🙂
cookinggram says
I have made the meatballs this am and will make sauce/pasta to accompany for lunch. Very flavorful dish. Used veg. broth in place of milk and added sage and sazon.
lyuba says
That’s great to hear! Thank you so much 🙂
Enjoy!
Michelle says
What else did you make to eat with these meatballs? 🙂
Teri says
That was my question too!
LyubaB says
Hi, Ladies! I make these as either an appetizer like is or for dinner you can serve over rice with your favorite veggies. 🙂
Katalin says
Super yummy! It would be great to have the measurements also for European in grams and milliliter instead of cups. Or both. I loved it. It made it to the make it regular recipe book tonight. Thanks a million!
LyubaB says
Katalin, thanks for your comment! I am so glad you liked it!
Jess says
Love this recipe! Thanks for sharing. I had to use breadchrumbs but it still came out great.
LyubaB says
Jess, I am so glad you liked it 🙂
Wendy says
Would you alter the sauce ingredients if you used frozen Turkey meatballs and heated them in a crockpot?
LyubaB says
Hi, Wendy! I would thaw them out in the fridge the night before then if raw cook before adding to crockpot and if cooked add them straight to crockpot with sauce 🙂
Laurie says
I made this recipe exactly as written and it was delicious. I will make it again. My two-year-old granddaughter loved it too.
LyubaB says
Thank you for letting me know you liked it! 🙂
Tina says
I will say I liked the texture of the meatballs, soft and moist, however, the flavor for me was not good. I think the oregano was what ruined it for me. I did not care much for the sauce, I think it needed a little more flavor. 😢
LyubaB says
Hi, Tina! I am so sorry you didn’t like them! 🙁
Brittany says
I agree! I was disappointed
Regina says
Yum! I will definitely make this again!
LyubaB says
Thanks, Regina! So glad you liked the recipe!
Peggy says
I am on a keto/low carb diet so is there a replacement I can use rather than the bread?
LyubaB says
Hi, Peggy! The bread works like a binder and also holds moisture so the results will be different without it. You could try using pork rinds, I know people use those while on keto and have good results. I have not tried it so I am unsure of the end results but that could be an option.
Mindy says
These were really good!!! The meatballs had great flavor and the sauce was cheesy/garlicy and so yummy. My daughter is thinking of making the sauce to use by itself over pasta. This recipe is a keeper.👍🙂
LyubaB says
So glad you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to let me know and for rating my recipe! 🙂
Alrilt says
I made this tonight and it was really good but I halved the garlic portion and it was still pretty strong. I doubled the sauce recipe and served over noodles. Next time I will try it with rice.
Vicki says
This was absolutely delicious. I will be making this over and over.
LyubaB says
Hi Vicki,
Thank you! I am so glad you liked it!