Go Back

Turkey Meatballs

Flavorful, tender, and juicy turkey meatballs made with lean ground turkey, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, parmesan, and herbs. Baked to perfection and served with marinara sauce.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 16
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatball Ingredients
  • 0.33 cup dry bread crumbs homemade or store-bought
  • 4 Tbsp milk
  • 0.5 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese plus more for serving if desired
  • 0.25 cup very finely chopped yellow onion
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley plus more for garnish
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil plus more for garnish
  • 0.5 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey very cold
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 0.75 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
Sauce
  • 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce Rao's Tomato Basil recommended

Method
 

Preparation Steps
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Spray a rimmed 18x13-inch baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, toss bread crumbs with 3 tablespoons of milk. Let stand for a few minutes. If crumbs seem dry, moisten with another tablespoon of milk. Toss with a fork to separate clumps.
  3. Add parmesan cheese, onion, garlic, parsley, basil, and oregano. Toss to combine.
  4. Add the ground turkey. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over the top. Break the egg yolk and drizzle over the turkey.
  5. Toss the mixture with clean hands until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
  6. Divide the meatball mixture into 16 equal portions (about 40g or a little over 2 tablespoons each).
  7. Roll the portions into balls. If the mixture is sticky, dipping your hands in water before rolling can help.
  8. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Brush the tops and sides with olive oil.
  9. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Check the bottoms of the meatballs; if they are golden brown, turn them to the opposite side. If not, let them continue to sit upright and brown on the bottom. Bake until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) in the center of the meatballs, about 5 minutes longer.
  10. Meanwhile, heat the marinara sauce over low heat in a large saucepan, covered.
  11. Toss the cooked meatballs with the marinara sauce and serve warm, garnished with more parsley, basil (optional), and parmesan cheese.

Notes

These turkey meatballs are delicious served with pasta, as an appetizer, or in a sandwich. For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.