Easy Turkey Meatballs In The Oven: A healthy and delicious alternative to traditional meatballs. These lean turkey meatballs are packed with flavour and perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
These Baked Turkey Meatballs are a versatile and delicious addition to any meal. Pair them with pasta for a hearty dinner or a fresh aubergine salad on a crusty slice of bread for a lighter option. Use them as protein in your 15-minute noodles or pepper and chickpea stew.
They're also perfect for dipping into homemade mayo or a tomato and garlic bean. Serve with garlic green beans, chickpeas ratatouille or a Mediterranean saksuka for a complete and satisfying meal.
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These easy-to-make turkey meatballs are a delicious option for any occasion. Made with simple ingredients, they're a great choice for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Perfect for parties, appetizers, or packed lunches, these meatballs are sure to please everyone, from kids to adults. Same as these 5-ingredient zucchini egg muffins,
There are lots of ways to enjoy these meatballs! Add them to a toasted bun with your favourite toppings, like lettuce, tomato, cheese, and some sauce for a quick sandwich. You can also toss them into a bowl of soup for extra protein or serve them as a side with some Lebanese rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted veggies. Or enjoy them solo, dipped in homemade high-protein mayo.
💭 Expert Tips
- Give them a chill - Pop your mix in the fridge for 30 minutes before shaping. They'll hold together like a dream when cooking.
- Size matters - A cookie scoop isn't just for cookies! It's your secret weapon for evenly-sized meatballs that cook perfectly.
- Keep them tender - A splash of milk or some milk-soaked breadcrumbs work wonders. Your meatballs will stay juicy and delicious.
💗 Why This Recipe Works
- Easy & adaptable – Whip them up fast, then pair them with pasta, sandwiches, or veggies.
- Meal-prep heroes – Cook once, eat all week (hello, stress-free dinners!).
- Meal-prep magic – Freezer to table in a flash.
🥘 Ingredients
- Minced meat: Options include turkey, chicken, beef, or pork. Popular combinations are ground beef + pork for a juicy texture or ground turkey + chicken for a leaner option.
- Chopped onion: Use yellow onions for balanced sweetness, white onions for a sharper taste, or shallots for a milder flavour.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground turkey – Swap with chicken, lean beef, or pork. A mix of beef and pork gives a richer taste.
- Vegetarian option – Use lentils or a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Grated potatoes – Substitute with breadcrumbs or cooked quinoa.
- Eggs – A flaxseed meal and water mix (1 tablespoon flaxseed + 2.5 tablespoon water) works as a vegan binder.
- Chopped onion – Replace with shallots for a milder taste or green onions.
- Caramelized onions – Add for a touch of sweetness instead of raw onions.
- Chopped parsley – Swap with cilantro, basil, or thyme for a different flavor. Add spinach for extra nutrition.
- Salt, pepper, and paprika – Try cumin, chili powder, or Italian seasoning. For heat, add crushed red pepper.
- Cheese – Mix in shredded mozzarella, feta, or another favorite cheese for creaminess.
- Vegetables – Finely grate carrots, zucchini, or bell peppers for added moisture and nutrients.
👩🍳 How to Make Easy Baked Turkey Meatballs
Ready to make something delicious? Give our meatballs a try! This recipe is quick and simple, packed with tasty ingredients that will keep you coming back for more. We’ll guide you through each step, from mixing the meatball mixture to baking them to perfection. Your kitchen will be filled with amazing aromas as they cook!
Step 1: Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all the meatball ingredients thoroughly in a mixing bowl and season.
Step 2: Use water to dip your hands while forming the meatballs, then place them on the baking sheet with space between each.
Step 3: Bake until golden brown and ensure they are fully cooked.
Step 4: Let the meatballs cool briefly before serving them with your favourite sides.
Pro Tip: Make an extra batch and freeze the shaped meatballs in a sealed bag. They’ll be ready to cook straight from the freezer on a busy day!
🥗 Serving suggestions
- Over Pasta: Serve meatballs with marinara sauce over spaghetti: Best Italian Spaghetti and Meatballs or any pasta of your choice, topped with grated Parmesan cheese. Add your meatballs in Gnocchi with Pesto and Zucchini.
- In a Sandwich: Place meatballs in a toasted sub roll with marinara sauce and melted cheese for a delicious meatball sub.
- With Rice or Quinoa: Pair meatballs with Lebanese Rice and Broken Vermicelli, Sweet & Sour Vegetable Stir Fry or quinoa and your preferred vegetables for a balanced meal.
- As an Appetizer: Serve meatballs on toothpicks with dipping sauces like barbecue, Easy Chimichurri Sauce, teriyaki, Oil-Free 3-Ingredient Mayo or garlic aioli for easy snacking.
- On Pizza: Add sliced or whole meatballs as a topping on homemade or store-bought pizza.
- In a Salad: Toss meatballs into a fresh salad Vegan Salad with Chickpeas & Lentils or serve them on a bed of greens like Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic.
- With Roasted Vegetables: Serve meatballs alongside a medley of roasted vegetables - Şakşuka (Turkish fried vegetables).
❓ FAQs
For perfectly baked turkey meatballs, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C). For best results, chill the mixture for 30 minutes before shaping and spacing the meatballs evenly on a parchment-lined tray. These juicy, flavorful meatballs pair wonderfully with pasta, salads, or sandwiches!
Refrigerate: Keep meatballs in an airtight container for up to 4 days, with or without sauce.
Reheat: Warm them on the stovetop, in the oven at 350°F, or in the microwave, with or without sauce.
Freeze: Store cooked or raw meatballs by freezing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet until solid, then transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 3 months.
Frying meatballs is often the better choice because it gives them a crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy. After frying, you can simmer them in sauce for even more flavor. That said, baking meatballs on a baking sheet is a great option if you prefer a simpler, less hands-on method.
Meatballs can fall apart if they aren’t properly bound. As the meat cooks, it shrinks, causing the proteins to separate. Using ingredients like breadcrumbs, egg, or salt helps hold the meat together, keeping your meatballs soft and intact. Without these binders, they’re more likely to crumble during cooking.
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Turkey Meatballs in the oven
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Grater
- Chopping knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 500 gr minced meat (I used turkey) about 1.1 lbs
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 carrots grated
- 2 potatoes peeled and grated
- 2 eggs
- 5 garlic cloves grated
- 1 small bunch of parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For serving
- Prepared pasta sauce
- Prepared brown rice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) on the grill setting and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the minced meat, chopped onion, and grated potatoes. Be sure to squeeze out the excess water from the grated potatoes before adding them to the mixture. Then, add the grated carrots, eggs, grated garlic, and chopped parsley.500 gr minced meat (I used turkey), 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 potatoes, 2 eggs, 5 garlic cloves, 1 small bunch of parsley
- Add salt, pepper, and paprika to the meat mixture. Mix everything together using your hands or a spoon until well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika
- Use a small bowl of water to dip your hands while forming the meatballs. This will help prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands. Scoop out portions of the mixture and roll them into balls, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each meatball.
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on them as they cook, and ensure they are golden brown on the outside.
- If you have a meat thermometer, you can check that the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F (75°C), which means they are ready.
- Once done, remove the meatballs from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Serve them as desired—over pasta, in a sandwich, or with your favourite sides! Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Choose your preferred minced meat (turkey, chicken, beef, or pork).
- Squeeze out excess water from the grated potatoes to prevent the mixture from being too wet.
- Combine ingredients gently to avoid overmixing, which can result in tough meatballs.
- Use a small bowl of water to wet your hands while shaping the meatballs to prevent sticking.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) on the grill setting for even cooking.
- Keep an eye on the meatballs during baking and check for doneness with a meat thermometer.
- Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) to ensure they are fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Serve these meatballs over pasta, in a sandwich, or with sides like roasted vegetables or rice.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
My family loved this!
Rãzvan says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Amy says
This worked out so well! Our cooktop died so was looking for oven recipes. Yum!
Jacqueline says
I served these turkey meatballs as an appetizer with a cranberry sauce dip. Really good!
Genevieve says
Turkey meat balls are SO good and you can use them for so many things
Swathi says
Turkey meatballs is delicious, I have tried I made it. family enjoyed with some homemade pasta.
Nicole Kendrick says
These are so good! I love getting all that meatball flavor with less fat.