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Easy Baked Turkey Meatballs | The Recipe Critic


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Baked Turkey Meatballs are tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. They’re made with simple ingredients but big on flavor! These homemade meatballs are easy to make and healthy for the whole family!

We love meatballs at our house! There are so many tasty versions that it’s hard to pick just one! I have some family favorites that you need to try. Swedish Meatballs are always requested, and my kids always beg for these fun Porcupine Meatballs. But if you’re looking for the perfect appetizer to serve at your next party, these Grape Jelly Meatballs are a MUST!

Reasons to Love This Recipe

  • Quick and Easy Dinner: These baked turkey meatballs are a quick and easy weeknight dinner! They only take 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to bake. Dinner will be ready in 30 minutes!
  • Versatile: Turkey meatballs can served in so many different ways. Switch up the seasonings any way you like, or smother them with any flavor of sauce. Enjoy them in a sandwich, or on top of rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes!
  • Healthy Alternative: Ground turkey is a healthy option for homemade meatballs. The result is fewer calories, lots of protein, and less fat than ground beef.

The Best Baked Turkey Meatballs

Everyone loves to eat meatballs, especially kids. These baked turkey meatballs are an easy winner for dinner and will be a new family favorite! The ground turkey bakes up so juicy and tender that you won’t believe it’s ground turkey. My recipe is perfectly seasoned with onion, garlic, and Italian breadcrumbs. The texture and moisture in these baked turkey meatballs will blow your mind! You’ll devour every bite and wish you had leftovers!

These baked meatballs are amazing all on their own. Place them on a mound of noodles and smothered in one of these incredible sauces and they will be divine. Try them with my Basil Pesto Sauce, this easy Marinara Sauce, or this delicious Homemade Alfredo Sauce. It’s the perfect meatball recipe for anything!

Ground Turkey vs Ground Beef

Which one is better for you? Both turkey and beef are great sources of protein with a variety of vitamins and minerals. Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef and so is a better choice for heart health. All of the health benefits of depend on the cut and quality of turkey and beef, but ground turkey is generally a healthier option.

Ingredients for Turkey Meatballs

These baked turkey meatballs use simple ingredients that you may already have on hand. Ground turkey is easy to find at any store and is a healthy alternative to beef. Your family will love these meatballs so much that they won’t even miss the beef!

  • Ground Turkey: This can be found near the ground beef.
  • Italian Bread Crumbs: I love that these bread crumbs are already seasoned.
  • Onion: Dice one small onion.
  • Eggs: The eggs act as a binder.
  • Milk: Adds a bit of moisture and helps keep it all together.
  • Garlic: Minced or finely chopped.
  • Salt and Pepper: Season to taste

How to Make Baked Turkey Meatballs

These turkey meatballs are super easy to throw together. Roll them up and bake them for juicy perfection. They are so good and a healthier alternative to beef meatballs. You’ll want to keep them in a regular rotation for weeknight dinners!
  1. Combine Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a medium baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside. Combine all of the meatball ingredients into a medium bowl.
  2. Mix: Mix together until incorporated.
  3. Roll: Roll the mixture into 1 ½-2-inch balls and place in the prepared baking dish.
  4. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the tops are lightly browned.

Tips For Moist Baked Turkey Meatballs

I have lots of good tips to help you achieve perfectly moist and delicious turkey meatballs. It’s so easy to make homemade meatballs and this ground turkey version is the BEST!

  • Moisture: Turkey is leaner than beef so can dry out quickly. If you find your meatballs are too dry add a tablespoon of olive oil to the mixture. Overcooking the meatballs can also dry them out, so be sure to remove them from the oven once they reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Chopping: I love to throw the onion and garlic into a small food processor and pulse it several times. This is a quick way to mince them up and make them easy to add to the meatball mixture.
  • Breadcrumbs: Instead of Italian breadcrumbs, you can substitute plain breadcrumbs and add 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning. Panko breadcrumbs can also be used!
  • Uniform Size: Keep the meatballs the same size as much as possible. This will ensure that they cook at the same rate and some won’t be underdone or overdone. You can use a cookie scoop or a kitchen scale to help keep them uniform.
  • Don’t Overmix: This can cause the meatball mixture to break down and become tough. It can also make the meatballs hard to form and turn them into meat patties instead of meatballs.
  • Flavor Variations: There are many ways to make these meatballs sing with even more flavor if you wish. Add a couple of teaspoons of finely chopped fresh herbs, ⅓-½ cup of parmesan or other grated cheese, or a dash or two of spices that will complement your dish. They are so easy to customize and make how you wish.

Storing Leftover Baked Turkey Meatballs

These baked turkey meatballs are so easy to store and freeze for a later time. I love to make a double batch and freeze the leftovers for busy weeknights.

  • In the Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container or sealable zip lock bag. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  • To Reheat: Reheat them in the microwave for a few minutes in the microwave until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the air fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In the Freezer: Allow the cooked meatballs to cool to room temperature. Place on a cookie tray and cover loosely with plastic wrap then freeze for 2 hours. Transfer the partially frozen meatballs to a freezer-safe gallon zip lock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or warm them straight from the freezer in the microwave at 50% power till heated through.

More Meatball Recipes to Love

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  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a medium baking dish with pan spray and set aside.

  • Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl until everything is incorporated. Roll the mixture into 1 ½-2-inch balls and place in the prepared baking dish.

  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the tops are lightly browned.

*Or you can use regular breadcrumbs with 1 Tablespoon of Italian seasoning

Updated on August 21, 2024
Originally Posted on January 3, 2021

Serving: 4meatballsCalories: 238kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 28gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 630mgPotassium: 406mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 185IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.





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6 months ago

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