BAKED TURKEY MEATBALLS

BAKED TURKEY MEATBALLS

These simple turkey meatballs are the perfect protein-packed healthy midday snack all on their own, serve with a little marinara sauce for an appetizer or throw them over some pasta and make a complete meal out of them, either way, you’ll love adding these to your meal prep rotation.

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Ingredient notes:

• Ground turkey – Ground turkey is a much leaner choice which is why it’s used in this recipe. I’m a big fan of Fulton Farms ground turkey which can be found in a two-pack (1.5 lb each) at your local Costco. It’s a great choice for texture and moistness. I also like to enjoy my food and am not the biggest fan of extra lean turkey meat, but the choice is yours!
• Eggs – Using egg whites in lieu of whole eggs is a great way to shave down a few extra grams of fat without compromising flavor. This recipe calls for 1/4 cup of egg whites but you can also substitute for 2 whole eggs if preferred.
• Breadcrumbs – Traditionally regular breadcrumbs are used in a meatball recipe, however, these Japanese panko breadcrumbs from Trader Joe’s did the trick. You can absolutely find flexibility in most of my recipes and this is definitely one of them.
• Oil – There is not much oil involved in this recipe, just a few simple sprays on the baking rack to the meatballs don’t stick is all you need. Here I used what I had which is avocado oil (which I pour into my spritz bottle for a controlled amount), so use what you have.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is always the best option, however, I appreciate a simplified version of any recipe and for that reason, the minced garlic jar from Costco is my go-to for any dish.

Substitution and variations:

• Gluten-free – Try gluten-free breadcrumbs and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce (as pictured from Sprouts).
• Cheese – Feta cheese crumbles would be an excellent addition to the mixture.
• Fresh herbs – If you have access to an herb garden, swap the dried stuff for freshly chopped herbs.

What you’ll need to make these simple turkey meatballs:

• 1.5 pounds of ground turkey 
• 3/4 cup Trader Joe’s Japanese panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/3 cup freshly chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup egg white 
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp olive oil olive oil

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a baking rack on top.
3. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, panko bread crumbs, onion, parsley, eggs, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, basil, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. 
4. Using a strong spatula or your hands, mix well. Wet your hands then shape the mixture into 1-inch balls, you have about 25.
5. Spray baking rake lightly with olive oil, then place on top of the rack and insert into the oven for about 20-25 minutes.
6. Serve as desired, enjoy!

Frequently asked questions

What is good to eat with turkey meatballs?

These meatballs are great in so many different ways. Serve them over a bed of pasta, or zoodles, eat them on their own as a snack or serve them on a large plate with toothpicks and your favorite marinara sauce as an appetizer!

How do you keep the meatballs from falling apart?

Binders, IE the egg and bread crumbles should do the trick!

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