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
Charity says
Awesome recipe, kid friendly, my family loved it!
LyubaB says
Hi Charity,
I am so glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping by!
Angie Smith says
My sauce turned out kind of lumpy like cottage cheese? Did I overcook it?
LyubaB says
Hi Angie, I think you must have either scolded the cream on the cooktop and it separated or something was wrong with your cream. I would try it on a lower setting next time. It shouldn’t boil or it could separate.
Elaine C Washington says
Can these be served over pasta for a main course? Any adjustments? Thanks!
LyubaB says
Hi Elaine,
The dish is pretty saucy but if you like your pasta with a lot of sauce you may want to double the sauce for it.
K-Sissy says
Can the heavy cream be replaced with something else? I have to keep my fat intake low.
LyubaB says
If you want you can skip the creamy sauce and add a little extra cheese on top or you can use whole milk instead of heavy cream but I wouldn’t go less then whole milk because it will make it watery, you may also need to increase the corn starch just a little bit to help it thicken.
Allison says
I used plain Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream & it turned out amazing!
LyubaB says
Awesome! I am so glad that it worked out for you and you liked it!
Linda A O'Connell says
You could also substitute with fat free half & half. Might have to increase the cornstarch a little with that too.
Chelsea says
Followed the recipe as followed and it was delicious! Very creamy. Will definitely make this next time we have family over.
LyubaB says
I am so glad you liked them, Chelsea!
Mojoblogs says
This is such a great recipe. Thank you for sharing this.
Sarah says
Tried these a few weeks ago, this recipe is now added to my bi-weekly meal plans it was SOOO delicious!!1
LyubaB says
Thank you, Sarah! I am so happy you liked them!
Jack says
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.
Holly Williams says
These were amazing! Made with chicken we ground ourselves, flour instead of cornstarch since I forgot to buy, otherwise followed exactly. Creamy, cheesy, garlicky goodness!!
LyubaB says
Hi Holly,
I am so happy they turned out for you! 🙂
AnneN says
My daughter in law and I made this recipe tonight and it is SO good! We added extra onion, fresh garlic and parm cheese to the meatballs and man they were out of this world for Turkey meatballs. We will definately make this again!
LyubaB says
Awesome! Happy you enjoyed them!
Fintech FINMA says
Hello
These were amazing! Made with chicken we ground ourselves, flour instead of cornstarch since I forgot to buy, otherwise followed exactly. Creamy,
LyubaB says
Thank you! I am so glad you liked them!
Vanessa Zurn says
This recipe was amazing!! Both my husband and kids enjoyed it so that is a success in the mom book!!!
LyubaB says
I am so glad you liked it!
Suzanne Port says
My husband and I LOVED this and my husband has been very skeptical that ground turkey could taste good. So delicious and filling for low calories. We made with mashed potatoes and asparagus.
LyubaB says
Yum! I am so glad he liked it! Thanks for stopping by to let me know! 🙂
Tom Lucas says
Call me lazy but I’d like to make this with pre-cooked frozen meatballs. Do you think if I made the sauce and put it in the crockpot for a few hours with the meatballs it would still be good?
Kat Daniels says
I think it would still be delicious.
Julie says
Are the calories really for 10 meatballs??
LyubaB says
Hi Julie,
It makes about 40 meatballs which is 10 servings so 4 meatballs per serving. Sorry if that was confusing.
Beth says
Can these be kept in a crockpot to serve as an appetizer at a party?
LyubaB says
Absolutely, just put it to warm.
Crissy says
These were delicious! The sauce thickened up so nicely in the oven! We served this with egg noodles, peas, corn, and bread!
LyubaB says
Yum! I am so pleased you liked it, Crissy!
Shannon Landry says
I’m a vegetarian so I did not eat any of this but my husband and two sons did. My husband said it was really good and when I reheated it for leftovers he mentioned it again so I know it was a great recipe! The first night I made them on deli style hot dog buns and he said it would be better on egg noodles so that is what I did with with leftover meatballs.
LyubaB says
Glad they liked it, Shannon!
B.G. says
EXCELLENT!!!! Will definitely make again!!!
LyubaB says
Thank you! 🙂
Deann M Cheponis says
Fantastic and easy recipe. Will definitely make again.
LyubaB says
I am so glad you liked it, Deann!