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About This Recipe
If you’re craving classic Italian comfort food without the guilt, these healthy turkey meatballs are just what you need! They’re made with lean turkey, fresh parmesan cheese, and crispy panko breadcrumbs. These meatballs are so delicious, super easy to make and guaranteed to be a family favorite! Whip these up in just 30 minutes for an easy, high-protein weeknight meal!
The best part about these homemade meatballs? There are so many tasty ways to enjoy! You can go the classic route with spaghetti noodles and marinara. Or serve them with my buttered noodles for a kid-friendly option! You can also serve them over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash for a lower carb option, pair them with roasted potatoes and green beans, or throw them in a hoagie roll for a quick sub!
And like my healthy ricotta turkey meatballs, these Italian turkey freeze well so you can stock up and pull them out in a pinch!
Why You’ll Love These Healthy Meatballs
- Quick and easy! These meatballs are ready in just 30 minutes!
- High protein! Packed with over 26 grams of protein per serving!
- So many ways to enjoy for the whole family! Serve with your favorite pasta, marinara, on top of a salad, in a sub, etc.
- Great for meal prep! These meatballs are great for meal prep and freeze great!
- Simple ingredients! These flavorful meatballs are so tender, juicy and made with just a few pantry staples!
- Olive oil: or your favorite cooking oil.
- Ground turkey: I used 93/7 lean ground turkey. You could use whatever kind you prefer here. You could also use ground chicken or beef.
- Garlic: fresh minced or frozen garlic cubes also work great.
- Panko bread crumbs: use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed.
- Onion: I used a yellow onion.
- Parmesan cheese: I highly recommend using freshly grated for these meatballs for the best flavor!! The pre-shredded kind in the bag just doesn’t taste or melt the same.
- Eggs: The eggs are what helps bind our ground turkey and seasonings together so they stay in meatball form.
- Seasoning: Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper
- Optional for serving: cooked pasta or spaghetti noodles, marinara sauce, grated parmesan cheese, etc.
- Gluten-Free: Swap the panko breadcrumbs for gluten-free bread crumbs or almond flour.
- Dairy-Free: Sub the parmesan with a dairy-free cheese substitute.
- Different protein: Substitute the ground turkey for ground chicken or lean ground beef.
- Spicy kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little bit of heat.
- Fresh herbs: Throw any fresh herbs that sounds good to you. Try fresh basil, parsley, or oregano.
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. To a large bowl, add the ground turkey, minced garlic, bread crumbs, onion, parmesan, eggs, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper.
2. Use your hands to mix until combined.
3. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Use a 2 tablespoon scoop to scoop meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your fingertips to gently smooth out if needed (greasing your fingertips with a little olive oil from the pan makes this easier).
4. Bake for about 15 minutes or until baked through (165F internal temperature). Serve meatballs hot with spaghetti, marinara sauce and grated parmesan (or how you like!) and enjoy!
- Storage: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Freeze: To freeze, let cool completely then put in an freezer-safe airtight container or Ziploc bag. Try to remove as much air out of the bag as possible to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat in the oven, air fryer or on the stove.
Helpful Tip
The meatball mixture will be a lot easier to roll if your hands are slightly wet. I usually roll the meatballs next to the sink, with the faucet barely running so I can wet my hands a few times or use a little more olive oil in my palms to roll them.
Ways To Enjoy
There are so many delicious ways to serve these easy turkey meatballs! A few of my favorites include:
- Pasta: Serve with your favorite pasta like my buttered noodles!
- Marinara: Homemade or store-bought both work great.
- Rice: Serve with a side of white rice, brown rice or cauliflower rice for a lower carb option.
- Vegetable: These meatballs go great with any roasted vegetable. Serve with my favorite roasted sweet potatoes & green beans, broccoli, air fryer green beans, or roasted parmesan zucchini.
- Salad: Serve these meatballs with your favorite side salad or chop them up to use a a lean protein for any salad recipe.
- Potatoes: These meatballs also pair well with my favorite roasted potatoes!
Can I cook these meatballs on the stovetop?
Yes, to cook in a skillet just add 1/2 Tbsp olive oil to a large skillet and set to low-medium heat. Let the oil warm up for 1-2 minutes. Then, add half of the meatballs to the skillet. Place a lid on top and let cook for 5-6 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown. Flip the meatballs to the other side and cook for another 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Do I need sauce for these meatballs?
These meatballs are delicious served with pasta and sauce but it’s not required! These well-seasoned, tender meatballs will taste great however your decide to serve them for an easy dinner recipe.
Can I prep these meatballs in advance?
Yes, you can prep the turkey mixture, roll them out and store them uncooked in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Healthy Italian Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil (10g)
- 2 lb. lean ground turkey 93%
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs (60g)
- 1/2 cup yellow onion (70g) finely minced
- 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan (56g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
Optional for serving:
- Cooked pasta or spaghetti noodles
- Marinara sauce
- Grated parmesan cheese
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- To a large bowl, add the ground turkey, minced garlic, bread crumbs, onion, parmesan, eggs, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Use your hands to mix until combined.
- Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with olive oil.
- Use a 2 tablespoon scoop to scoop meatballs onto the greased baking sheet. Use your fingertips to gently smooth out if needed (greasing your fingertips with a little olive oil from the pan makes this easier).
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until baked through (165F internal temperature).
- Serve meatballs hot with spaghetti, marinara sauce and grated parmesan (or how you like!) and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
