Turkey and Veggie Meatballs

Looking for a delicious and healthy twist on traditional meatballs? Look no further than our mouth-watering turkey meatballs! Made with lean ground turkey, a blend of savory herbs, and sneaky veggies, these meatballs are a nutritious and flavorful addition to any meal.

Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe

• It’s SO easy. Even a beginner cook could make these meatballs.
• It’s healthy. Ground turkey is much leaner than other meats. Plus we sneak in some extra veggies that even the pickiest eater won’t notice.
• Turkey meatballs are freezer-friendly. This is such a great recipe to prep ahead for the freezer or to prep as a meal to take to others.
• This recipe can be used in many different ways: Over pasta, in a sub, as an appetizer and so much more!
• It’s family-friendly. This recipe is one that all ages will enjoy.

• Lean ground turkey* – you can also sub ground chicken. *We recommend NOT using the 99% lean ground turkey. It’s much better to get turkey that’s less lean, so the meatballs are more moist and flavorful.
• Shredded zucchini or carrots – Use a food processor to make the job easier and to blend up the veggies even more
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Panko bread crumbs – preferably whole wheat
• Minced fresh parsley
• Minced garlic
• Egg – this helps hold the meatballs together
• Ketchup – organic is preferred
• Salt & Pepper
• Marinara sauce – You can make your own or buy it from the store.
• Optional for serving: 1 pound whole grain spaghetti or angel hair pasta

Form the Turkey Meatballs & Bake

In a large mixing bowl, you will add all of the meatball ingredients and mix them together. I use a small ice cream scoop and then my hands to form its shape.

Place baking sheet on the middle rack in the oven. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165°F.

Warm in Sauce

Place all the cooked meatballs and marinara sauce in a large pot. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce is warmed through and the flavors blend, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve and Enjoy!

There are many ways you can serve your turkey meatballs.

1. Over pasta: As mentioned in the method above, serve your turkey meatballs over your favorite pasta.
2. With veggies: Serve your turkey meatballs with a side of roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, green beans, or carrots.
3. Make a meatball sub: Make a turkey meatball sub by placing the meatballs in a roll or baguette with some marinara sauce and melted cheese.
4. With rice or quinoa: Serve your turkey meatballs over a bed of rice or quinoa, along with roasted veggies.
5. As an appetizer: Serve mini turkey meatballs as an appetizer at your next party or gathering. You can make them bite-sized and serve them on toothpicks with a dipping sauce.

FAQs

We recommend NOT using the 99% lean ground turkey. It’s much better to get turkey that’s less lean, so the meatballs are more moist and flavorful. If you can get organic meat, that is also preferable.

Yes, you can absolutely substitute ground chicken in this recipe without making any other recipe changes.

Turkey is a leaner meat than beef or pork, meaning it has less fat and fewer calories. This makes it a healthier choice for those watching what they eat.

Turkey meatballs can dry out quickly if overcooked or if the mixture is too lean. To prevent this, we have moist shredded veggies and egg in our recipe. Also, be sure not to overcook the meatballs – they should be cooked through but still moist and tender.

The safe cooking temperature for turkey meatballs (and all ground poultry) is 165°F. This is the temperature at which harmful bacteria like salmonella are destroyed. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meatballs.