These healthy turkey meatballs are straight-up addictive. They're tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. And, best of all, you'd never guess they're way healthier than traditional meatballs. Plus, they're super easy to make and freezer-friendly too!
We probably make meatballs at least once a week in my house, so having a healthier meatball recipe is essential. And, that's exactly why I came up with this recipe. Not only is it quick and easy to make, but the results are pretty darn great too.
These healthy meatballs are juicy and tender and they taste just as satisfying as your average meatball recipe does but they have way less saturated fat and far fewer calories too. In fact, these turkey meatballs have nearly half the calories of beef meatballs.
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WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
Versatile. These ground turkey meatballs make the perfect addition to a big bowl of pasta, or you can serve them over gravy, in sandwiches, or whatever you want. The options are endless!
Foolproof. All you have to do is combine the ingredients, roll them into meatballs, and let them bake in the oven. That's really all there is to it.
Convenient. I like to make a double batch of this recipe and freeze the extras. That way, when I'm short on time, I can just pull out what I need from the freezer and get dinner on the table in minutes!
Easy to customize. There's endless room to customize this recipe to suit your preferences. You can switch up the meat, use different seasonings, or bake them in tomato sauce for more flavor. The options are limitless!
INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED
- Turkey - use regular ground turkey or extra lean ground turkey. Both will turn out juicy and flavorful thanks to the moisture from the rest of the ingredients.
- Egg - to bind the meatballs together.
- Bread crumbs - to absorb some of the extra moisture. Use Italian breadcrumbs for extra flavor.
- Milk - to add a touch of moisture and richness to the meatballs. I like to use Fairlife Milk to add some extra protein, but unsweetened almond milk will keep the calories as low as possible.
- Onion powder and garlic powder - essential seasonings that elevate the flavor of the turkey.
- Italian herbs - for an herbaceous flavor. Feel free to use a combination of dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary instead if you don't have Italian herbs.
- Salt and pepper - just a pinch to taste.
- Olive oil - to add moisture, richness, and color to the meatballs.
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese - for extra savoriness and a subtle cheesy element.
- *Optional: Cooked pasta - for serving.
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY TURKEY MEATBALLS
Prep work: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make the meatballs: Combine ground turkey, egg, bread crumbs, milk, seasonings, olive oil, and parmesan cheese in a bowl. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Shape the meatballs: Shape the turkey mixture into 1 ½ tablespoon balls and place the raw meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the meatballs: Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake them for 10 minutes, then flip the baking sheet around and bake for another 10 minutes.
Serve: Let the meatballs cool briefly, then serve them warm with cooked pasta, fresh salad, or whatever sides you prefer, and enjoy!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS
Some of my favorite dishes to serve with meatballs are:
- Zucchini noodles
- Cauliflower rice and gravy
- Buttery pasta
- Sautéed carrots
- Brussels sprouts
- Eggplant
TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST RECIPE
- Brown the meatballs on the stovetop with a little butter before baking them to get a nice golden brown color and a little caramelization on the outside.
- Feel free to use lean ground chicken or lean ground beef to make this healthy meatball recipe with. They'll both work great as turkey alternatives.
- Avoid overmixing the meat. Otherwise, the cooked meatballs will turn out more tough and chewy.
- Use a meat thermometer and look for an internal temperature of 165°F to know when the meatballs are safe to eat.
- Garnish with a little fresh basil, fresh parsley, or whatever fresh herbs you have on hand for a pop of color.
- Use a cookie scoop when shaping the meatballs for consistency.
- Simmer the baked turkey meatballs in marinara sauce for more flavor.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
In the fridge: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
In the freezer: Allow leftover meatballs to cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe container and freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months.
Reheating: I like to reheat my leftover meatballs on the stovetop in a skillet set over medium heat. Add a splash of water, cover with the lid, and let them steam until they're warm. Alternatively, you can microwave meatballs in 20-second intervals until warm or reheat many at once in an oven set to 325°F for 8-10 minutes or until reheated.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY ARE MY MEATBALLS TOUGH OR RUBBERY?
Your meatballs are likely tough and rubbery because you overmixed the meat or shaped the meatballs too densely.
CAN I MAKE THESE HEALTHY TURKEY MEATBALLS GLUTEN-FREE?
Yes! Simply swap the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs to make your turkey meatballs gluten-free.
MORE TURKEY RECIPES TO TRY NEXT
Healthy Low Calorie Turkey Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ***Optional (Cooked pasta, to serve with the meatballs)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Make the meatballs; combine all the listed ingredients in a bowl.
- Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1 ½ tablespoon balls. Place the meatballs onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the meatballs for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Serve meatballs warm, with cooked pasta, or with fresh salad.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 13 Serving Size: 1 MeatballAmount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 124mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 10g
Made these turkey meatballs for a family dinner. They were excellent.
These low calorie turkey meatballs were a hit at my house.
The turkey meatballs were banging