These healthy Turkey Meatballs are the best! They are super easy to make, too! Flavored with parmesan cheese, herbs and spices and baked until golden brown. These meatballs are great served with a couple of sides, or over a big bowl of spaghetti.

turkey meatballs served in sauce with pasta

These Turkey Meatballs are a go-to for dinners in my household. I love that they are healthier and packed with protein and my kiddos love that they’re super tasty. It’s a win-win situation!

So tender, so juicy, and so good! Sometimes we enjoy these meatballs served over a bed of pasta with marinara or I make the special sauce in the recipe card below and serve them with roasted veggies or roasted red potatoes and some type of other hearty side dish. As an added plus… leftovers are delicious!

Loved these meatballs!! They were way better than any beef meatballs I have ever had and better than most restaurant meatballs. I will definitely be making them again.

— Michelle

Why you will love this recipe

  • Healthy. This turkey meatball recipe is high in protein and made with simple, nutritious ingredients. Served along with some sides, you’ll have a complete balanced meal.
  • Quick & easy to make. This recipe is super easy to make and can be ready to enjoy in under 30 minutes!
  • Warm & comforting. Nothing tastes more cozy and satisfying than a tasty bowl of meatballs and spaghetti.

Ingredients needed

  • Ground turkey. Most meatball recipes call for beef or pork or both, but by using one pound ground turkey you can cut the calories and fat, but still get a good amount of protein. These are plenty flavorful too!
  • Breadcrumbs and egg. Both the breadcrumbs and egg will bind the meatballs and keep them moist. Feel free to use any breadcrumbs you have on hand. The Italian seasoned ones would work great in this recipe. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs as needed.
  • Parmesan cheese. The cheese adds great flavor and also helps these bake up nice and tender.
  • Spices. The spices needed for this recipe are probably ones that you already have in your pantry. You’ll need dried parsley, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
  • Optional garnish. For an extra pop of color and freshness, feel free to garnish with fresh herbs, such as fresh basil, fresh parsley or oregano.

How to make this recipe

These turkey meatballs could not be easier to make! Here’s the simple process:

  1. Prep. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease it with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Mix ingredients. Combine ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings in a large bowl. Get your hands in there and mix everything together thoroughly.
  3. Roll into balls. Then, use a tablespoon to scoop out meatballs. Roll into small balls and place on prepared pan.
  4. Bake. Place them in the oven and broil for 7 to 9 minutes. Leave them in the oven and bake them 4 to 5 minutes longer at 350ºF to finish cooking through. Alternatively, after broiling them, you can add them to this homemade marinara sauce to simmer for 15 minutes.
  5. Serve. Once they’re fully cooked, serve them your favorite way and enjoy!
Ingredients in a glass mixing bowl for turkey meatballs.
Rolled meatballs on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Cooked turkey meatballs on a baking sheet pan.

Expert tips

  • Feel free to swap out the ground turkey for ground chicken or lean ground beef, if preferred.
  • For the most tender turkey meatballs, I recommend choosing 93 to 96% lean ground turkey. Avoid 99% lean ground turkey, as these meatballs might cook up a little on the dry side, if the turkey is too lean.
  • To keep the meatballs plenty moist, do not over bake the them. Watch them close under the broiler and either turn the heat to 350ºF to continue cooking or remove them to simmer in marinara sauce.
  • To keep the meat from sticking to your hands when you are rolling it into balls, try putting a little cooking oil or even water on your hands.
  • If you are using these meatballs for subs, you may want to shape your meatballs a bit bigger than what is listed in the instructions.

Frequently asked questions

How do you keep turkey meatballs from falling apart?

This recipe calls for one lightly beaten egg and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, which act as a binder to keep the meat together. They also help to keep it perfectly moist.

Are meatballs better baked or cooked in sauce?

These are great broiled and browned in a hot oven to seal in all the juices. You can then finish baking them in the oven or simmer them in tomato sauce to ensure they soak up all of the wonderful flavors.

How do you add flavor to ground turkey?

These are plenty flavorful because we’re adding parmesan cheese and lots of seasonings to the meat mixture. Also, serving them with either spaghetti sauce or the homemade barbecue sauce included in the recipe, makes them even more delicious.

Variations

This turkey meatball recipe is awesome because it’s so customizable. Feel free to use any favorite sauce or change them up as you like. Here are some ideas to try:

  • Add veggies. Stir in 1/2 to 1 cup finely chopped cooked veggies, like spinach, mushrooms, or carrots to the meat mixture.
  • Cheesy. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese to the meatball mix.
  • Mexican. Use crushed corn chips instead of breadcrumbs and instead of the parsley and basil add 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Use shredded cheddar cheese instead of parmesan cheese. Serve them in enchilada sauce with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
  • Swedish. Serve these in a Swedish gravy sauce with egg noodles. Here’s a yummy Swedish meatball gravy to try.

Serving suggestions

There are a ton of ways to serve these meatballs! I suggest making a double batch, so that you have extras for another meal. Here’s some options:

  • Spaghetti. Simmer meatballs in this homemade marinara sauce and serve them over any favorite pasta or even zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
  • Subs. These make the best sub sandwiches! Add them to Italian rolls with marinara, top with mozzarella cheese and broil until the cheese is melted.
  • Soup. Meatball soup is a family favorite!

Another idea is to serve these with a couple of sides. Use the sauce in the recipe card below and serve the meatballs with rice, macaroni and cheese, roasted broccoli and/or scalloped potatoes.

Storage recommendations

  • Leftover storage. Meatballs keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or with marinara sauce on the stovetop.
  • To freeze meatballs. These can be frozen, baked or unbaked, for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Thaw before reheating them or baking them in the oven.
    turkey meatballs over pasta in a white bowl

More Italian recipes

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

turkey meatballs over pasta in a white bowl
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Turkey Meatballs

Yield: 20 meatballs
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Total Time: 21 minutes
These healthy turkey meatballs are the best! They are super easy too! Flavored with parmesan cheese, herbs and spices and baked until golden brown. These meatballs are great served with a couple of sides, or over a big bowl of spaghetti.
Author: Kim

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • optional for serving: marinara sauce or sauce below

Optional sauce for serving

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard

Instructions 

  • Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease it with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Use a tablespoon to scoop meatballs and place them on the baking sheet (each of my meatballs was approximately 25 grams).
  • Broil for 7-9 minutes. Leave in oven and bake 4-5 more minutes at 350ºF to finish cooking through or add to marinara sauce to simmer for 15 minutes.
  • If using optional sauce, combine the sauce ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a light simmer. Add sauce to meatballs to serve or use the sauce as a dip for meatballs.

Notes

Leftover storage: Meatballs keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or with marinara sauce on the stove.
Freezing meatballs: Cooked meatballs can be frozen, baked or unbaked, for up to 3 months. 
Nutritional information does not include sauce.
 
Photos by Sasha at Eat Love Eats
Author: Kim
Course: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Serving: 1meatball, Calories: 47kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.7g, Protein: 5.3g, Fat: 2.4g, Saturated Fat: 0.8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 31.4mg, Sodium: 114.2mg, Potassium: 4.7mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 21IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg

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