I love my classic homemade meatballs recipe, but ground beef is getting expensive lately! So when ground beef is out of budget or I’m craving a slightly lighter flavor, I’ll make these super easy Turkey Meatballs. These meatballs freeze well, so consider making a double batch and freezing half for a rainy day. Spaghetti and meatballs is the ultimate quick weeknight dinner, especially when you’ve got homemade turkey meatballs in the freezer ready to go. 😏
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These meatballs have been on rotation for me. They are easy to put together, turkey is somewhat inexpensive for a single income home. They provide great protein for a long day at work and are tasty!
Anna
These turkey meatballs are incredibly easy to make and only require eight simple ingredients. Ground turkey keeps them lean, and pantry staple seasonings keep them super budget-friendly without compromising on flavor. These are a great healthy alternative to beef meatballs.
Cooking Options
Baking is my favorite method for making meatballs because it’s hands-off, but you can also make these turkey meatballs in an air fryer or a skillet. Here is how to cook turkey meatballs with each of the three methods:
- Skillet: Cook the meatballs in a skillet with olive oil over medium heat until browned on each side and cooked through (about 2-3 minutes on each side). Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Oven Baked: Bake the meatballs at 400ºF for 20 minutes. Or, bake for 15 minutes and transfer the meatballs to a hot skillet with butter to cook for the remaining five minutes, which gives them a nice golden brown exterior.
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Cook the meatballs for 8 minutes, shaking once halfway through, or until cooked through and golden brown on the outside. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket and preventing airflow.
Turkey Meatballs
Servings 4 (4 meatballs each)Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs ($0.30)
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan ($0.22)
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning ($0.20)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder ($0.03)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1 lb. ground turkey ($4.99)
- 1 large egg ($0.18)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the ground turkey to a separate large bowl, then add the egg and breadcrumb mixture. Use your hands to mix everything together until evenly combined. Try not to overmix as this can make the meatballs tough.
- Divide and shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs, about two tablespoons each. To easily divide the meat evenly, first divide it into quarters, then divide each quarter into four pieces.
Baking Instructions:
- Place the shaped meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Transfer the meatballs to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through. If you prefer more browning, bake the meatballs for 15 minutes, then transfer the meatballs to a hot skillet with butter and sauté until brown, about five minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Air fry the meatballs for about 8 minutes, or until well browned and cooked through. Shake the meatballs half-way through cooking to turn the meatballs and achieve even browning. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Stove Top Instructions:
- Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium. Once hot, add the meatballs (work in batches of about 8). Cook the meatballs in the hot skillet until browned on all sides and cooked through (about 2-3 minutes each side).
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Equipment
- Enamelware Sheet Pan
Notes
Nutrition
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How to Make Turkey Meatballs – Step by Step Photos
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a bowl, combine ½ cup plain breadcrumbs, 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper.
Add one pound of ground turkey to a bowl along with one large egg and the breadcrumb mixture. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together until evenly combined, taking care not to overmix.
Divide and shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs, placing them on a parchment-baking sheet as you go. To divide them evenly, first divide the mixture in half, then in half again until you have four equal portions. Then take each portion and divide it into four, rolling them into meatballs as you go.
Once the turkey meatballs are all shaped, they’re ready to bake.
Bake the meatballs in the preheated 400ºF oven for 20 minutes, OR bake for 15 minutes and finish in a skillet to achieve more browning (shown baked for 15 minutes above).
I like to finish cooking the meatballs in a skillet with a little butter or oil to get a nice brown finish.
Enjoy the turkey meatballs as-is, or with your favorite sauce!
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these meatballs with a simple tomato sauce over a bed of pasta, but they’d pair equally as well with an Alfredo sauce. You could also drop them into a pot of soup, like Minestrone. And don’t forget the garlic bread and a simple salad on the side!
How to Freeze Meatballs
These turkey meatballs freeze really well and make for delicious weeknight dinners later. To freeze the meatballs, pack them in an air-tight container after cooking and chill completely before transferring to the freezer where they can be stored for about three months. To reheat the meatballs, simply add them to a pot of red sauce and simmer until heated through. Or, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then heat through in a skillet with butter or oil.
Thanks for the meatball recipe, they were delicious. I baked them for 30 min.’s @ 350 degrees, added extra garlic because I don’t keep onion powder, and used a scale to divide one pound (450g) into 16 portions. They turned out great.
I love this meatball recipe! It has become a favorite in our weekly dinner rotation.
These were easy to make and very tasty. A nice change from the usual ground beef meatballs. I will definitely make them again.
Very tasty, and so easy to prepare! Thank you for sharing. :)
I made zuchinni noodles to bring down the calories….a really great easy recipe. I love the way she shows the costs of the meals. From now on I will be refering to her for my recipes. Economical and simple recipes….who could ask for more!
These meatballs were really yummy and packed with flavor. Simple quick recipe. I baked them in the oven. Thank you .
Great meatballs and super easy to make. Dished up with a homemade vodka sauce on a bed of rice mixed with riced broccoli. Definitely on the list to have again.
Everything as directed only I added a little extra basil, some ground fennel and cayenne . Spicy yummy meatballs!
Add marinara & pasta, easy dinner!
I made a small batch of these last week while following the recipe exactly, which I never do. So glad I did! Fantastic recipe. This past weekend I made a double batch to be able to freeze and pop out whenever I need a quick dose of protein for after work/workouts. Great plain or with your sauce of choice.
These meatballs have been on rotation for me. They are easy to put together, turkey is somewhat inexpensive for a single income home. They provide great protein for a long day at work and are tasty!
This is similar to many recipes I have read. Not a criticism. I’m a widower and cook with an eye toward multipurpose. How might I adapt the recipe to create a basic meatball that is seasoned, but “flavored” according to my need?
(Italian/Swedish/Asian etc.) Thanks.
I’d say, if you’d like, you can make a big batch of these basic meatballs and use them for all of those purposes! You could just omit the Italian seasoning and then just use your sauces as the main flavor component. i.e. your marinara sauce, Swedish meatball sauce, a teriyaki glaze, etc.
I opted for the skillet method as I just needed a few for my spaghetti. Simply wonderfully delicious AND easy prep, quick cooking (6 min) from prep to plate, plus easy cleanup. I’m thinking these might make a perfect treat for a super bowl party. All they need is a toothpick!
I’ve made these meatballs now a handful of times and I love them! Done in the air fryer and turned out perfectly. So delicious i’m surprised they are so easy to make!
The meatballs were overcooked at 400 degrees. I think they would have been better if cooked at 350 degrees.