Basic Turkey Meatballs Recipe and 10 Ways To Eat Them

These basic turkey meatballs are easy to make and can be frozen, then re-heated for a quick meal or snack. Make them in bulk, then use them to make one of the 10 different dinners ideas.

Do you ever stare into your refrigerator, hoping to find something easy to make for dinner? Something that everyone will eat, without complaining? I hate those days. Unfortunately,  I’m having more of those days since the coronavirus pandemic started.

One meal I try to always have on-hand is meatballs. They’re one of the foods that everyone in my family eats, that is easy to bake in bulk and can be stored in the freezer. They can be used to make a quick dinner or can be used for a quick lunch or even snack, by taking just 1 or 2 out of the freezer at a time.

How To Cook Basic Turkey Meatballs

This recipe for turkey meatballs is extremely basic. All you need is lean turkey, Italian-flavored bread crumbs, 1 egg and fresh parsley. I add some salt and pepper, too. You simply combine all of the ingredients together, roll into balls, place them in a shallow baking dish, then bake in the oven at 350 degrees.

The recipe I share below is for meatballs that are ~1.3 ounces per ball, before cooking. They bake in the oven for ~25 minutes, though cooking time will vary based on your oven. The best way to make sure your meatballs are well-cooked is to use a food thermometer to test them. Turkey is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Ten Ways To Eat Turkey Meatballs

Meatballs can be used in a variety of ways, which is why I suggest making extras and freezing them for future use. Below are a few ways you can use these meatballs to make a meal.

• Eat Them Plain – heat them up and eat them just as they are, or dip them in your favorite mustard sauce for an easy snack
• Prepare a Traditional Meal – spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce and a side of vegetables.
• Make a Meatball Hoagie – combine the meatballs with sauce and cheese and serve on a toasted bun
•  Make Mini Meatball Sliders – if a hoagie is too much, make mini meatball sliders instead.
• Add To A Special Soup – break apart these larger meatballs and add them to wedding soup or use this recipe to make mini meatballs.
• Make Swedish Meatballs – and serve over noodles with a side of vegetables
• Add to a Salad – as a quick protein source.
• Put on Pizza – in place of other meat toppings to boost the protein and reduce the fat. Try one of these pizza recipes.
• Toast a Grilled Cheese with Meatballs – slice the meatballs, then layer them on your favorite bread with cheese for a flavor-filled grilled cheese sandwich.
• Make An Appetizer – use this recipe to make cocktail meatballs covered in a sweet-and-sour sauce.

What’s your favorite way to eat meatballs?

Print Recipe

Basic Turkey Meatballs Recipe

These basic turkey meatballs are easy to make and can be frozen, then re-heated for a quick meal or snack. Make them in bulk, then use them to make one of the 10 different dinners ideas.

Author: Heather Mangieri, RDN

Ingredients

• 1 pound Lean Ground Tureky, 7% fat
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup classic bread crumbs
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1 tbs parsley

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray
• Put all ingredients in a medium bowl, and mix together with your hands. Use a scoop to portion the meat into equal portions, then roll with your hands to form balls. Each raw meatball is ~1.3 ounces.
• Put them in the baking dish then transfer to the oven to bake for ~25 minutes uncovered. For crispier meatballs, continue baking for an additional 5-7 minutes.
• Eat immediately or seal in an air-tight freezer bag for a future meal

Notes

• Recipe makes ~ 15 meatballs.
• Nutrition Facts (per meatball): 45 calories, 1 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 8 g protein, 1 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 55 mg sodium, 6% DV iron
• Meal Planning Serving Sizes (per 1 meatball): 0 CHO, 1 PRO, 1 FAT

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?  Tag @heathermangieri  on Instagram and hashtag it #HeatherMangieriNutrition to all recipes. Or, Pin it on Pinterest for later!

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