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Baked Turkey Meatballs are perfectly seasoned, tender, juicy and absolutely delectable! Super easy and healthy your whole family is going to love these!

These baked meatballs are amazing all on their own. Place them on a mound of noodles and smothered in one of these incredible sauces and they will be divine. Try them with the Homemade Best Basil Pesto Sauce, Easiest Marinara Sauce or the Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce.

Delicious Baked Turkey Meatballs in a white dish.

The Best Turkey Meatballs

Let’s talk meatballs! Everyone loves to eat meatballs, especially kids. This make it an easy winner for dinner. Everyone will eat them and love them. I’m still not entirely sure why meatballs are so fun to eat, but they just are. They are a definite favorite at our house. These baked turkey meatballs are no exception. Juicy and tender and seasoned just right I could eat them straight from the pan. These turkey meatballs are so dang good!

They are super easy too! In about 30 minutes you can have a superb dinner on the table, even on a weeknight. Baking the meatballs means you don’t have to babysit a pan over the stove. It gives you time and space to get the rest of dinner done or do something else. These are fast, easy and absolutely luscious meatballs! You have to put these on the menu tonight!

Is Turkey more Nutritious than Beef?

Both turkey and beef are great sources of protein and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Turkey, however is generally lower in saturated fat than beef and so is a better choice for heart health. It can also be a great choice for weight loss as it is often lower in calories. Turkey can provide up to 24 grams of protein per a serving and is extremely high in niacin, B6, and B12. It also contains zinc, selenium and phosphorus. All of the health benefits of course depend on the cut and quality of turkey and whether you are eating it with the skin on or not. These turkey meatballs are light and tasty!

Ingredients for Turkey Meatballs

The same ingredients that make beef meatballs are the same that will make up these baked turkey meatballs. Ingredients that you can find in your pantry or at your local grocery store. Have them on hand and ready to go for a quick and easy dinner!

  • Ground Turkey: This can be found near the ground beef.
  • Italian Bread Crumbs: I love these bread crumbs are already seasoned.
  • Onion: small chopped.
  • Eggs: This acts as the binder.
  • Milk: Adds a bit of moisture and helps keep it all together.
  • Garlic: Minced or finely chopped.
  • Salt and Pepper: Add to taste

How to Bake Turkey Meatballs

These turkey meatballs are super easy to throw together. Roll them up and bake them for juicy perfection. They are so good, you will keep them in a regular rotation.

  1. Mix: In a medium bowl place the ground turkey, eggs, milk, onions, bread crumbs, garlic and salt and pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined.
  2. Roll: Roll into 2 inch balls and place in a greased baking dish
  3. Bake: Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 min or till cooked through out. Internal temp should be165 degrees.

Making Turkey meatballs for cooking.

Tips for Moist Turkey Meatballs

These turkey meatballs are all purpose. Meaning they can be used in just about any capacity you need them to. Add them to rice or mashed potatoes. Smother them with BBQ sauce, Cheese Sauce or even Tzatziki Sauce. Use these in so many different ways, they’re scrumptious any way you serve them.

  • Keep them Moist: Turkey is leaner than beef so can dry out quickly. If you find your meatballs are too dry add a little olive oil to the mixture. Or make sure to use some dark turkey meat mixed in with the white.
  • Don’t over cook: Check your meatballs after 15 minutes. The internal temperature should be 165 when done. Over cooking will dry them out and make them tough.
  • Same size: Keep the meatballs the same size as much as possible. This will ensure that they cook at the same rate and some won’t be under done or over done. You can use a cookie scoop or the same sized spoon to help keep them uniform.
  • Use a light hand: Don’t over-mix or over handle the turkey mixture. It can break it down and make it tough. It can also make the meatballs hard to form and turn them more into meat discs than meatballs.
  • Intensify the Flavor: There are many ways to make these meatballs sing with even more flavor if you wish. Add fresh herbs, parmesan or other grated cheese, and add spices that will complement your dish. They are so easy to customize and make how you wish. Get creative and have some fun. Try a different variation every night you make them!

Freezing and Storing Easy Baked Meatballs

I love meatballs! Did I say that already?! They are so easy to store and freeze for a later time. I love to make a double batch and freeze the leftovers for a night when I’m really scrapped for time. It’s a double winner for dinner!

  • Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container or even a zip lock bag and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or you can even warm them up in a sauce you plan to eat them with.
  • Freeze: Let the meatballs cool to almost room temperature. Place on a cookie tray and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Freeze for 2 hours. Transfer the partially frozen meatballs to a freezer safe gallon zip lock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or warm them straight from the freezer in the microwave at 50% power till heated through. Enjoy in your favorite dishes.

Perfectly baked turkey meatballs with spaghetti noodles and sauce.

More Meatball Loving Recipes

Meatballs are just plain fun to make and eat. They are so versatile and easy to customize. Your family and friends will love trying all these delectable meatballs!

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Baked Turkey Meatballs

4.78 from 31 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Baked Turkey Meatballs are perfectly seasoned, tender, juicy and absolutely delectable! Super easy and healthy your whole family is going to love these!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 People

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium size bowl combine turkey, breadcrumbs, onion, eggs, milk, garlic, and salt and pepper. Mix until incorporated.
  • Roll into 2 inch balls and place onto a greased baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked throughout.

Video

Notes

*Or can use regular breadcrumbs with 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 35gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 789mgPotassium: 503mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 98mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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Recipe Rating




67 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    these are really good! moist and would definitely make them again. I doubled the recipe and added 1/4 cup of shredded parm.

  2. you did not include any measurements for each of the diff ingredients. you did not tell what temperature to cook it at and how long to leave in oven

    1. Hi Tim. All measurements are in the recipe card at the end of the post (you can click on jump to recipe at the top of the page.) Temperatures and cooking times are listed in the instructions- 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Hope this helps!

  3. 4 stars
    I reduced the breadcrumbs by 1/3 because it seemed excessive. It was still too much. Like other comments, mine didn’t brown in that timeframe either. I found it helped to flip them half way through. Overall good but recipe needs some fine tuning.

  4. Hi,
    Can Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk substitute dairy milk? Or would that taste odd? Or could chicken stock/broth replace dairy milk?

  5. 5 stars
    We loved this recipe. Only changes we that I added finely chopped red pepper and used oat milk. Perfect in every way. Thank you. Linda

  6. 5 stars
    Very moist and flavorful. Hopped turkey doesn’t have much flavor. I added 1/8 cup ( yes it sound like a lot, but needs it ) of dried Italian seasoning, 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese and 1/8 cup grated Parmesan.
    The flavors reminded me of regular beef meatballs ( we don’t eat red meats any longer )
    Let them sit overnight in sauce and they were spectacular!!

  7. 5 stars
    OMG..
    Seriously the best chicken meatballs we’ve ever had.
    I’ve tried many on Pinterest.
    Nope.. not good..
    These are in a different class!
    My search is over..
    Awesome!

  8. 3 stars
    Went back to check I’d not misread the recipe, but all checked out. They were juicy as others note, which was wonderful. But absolutely tasteless. I did add spinach and parsley, which I do with every meatball I make, and generally enhances both taste and nutrition. But these were just so bland. Thank goodness for sauce and cheese! Buried under both and sitting on top of a beautiful pasta, you couldn’t tell. Will continue to ponder why mine were underwhelming at best while someone else said “super delicious.”

    1. 3 stars
      I followed every step exactly, but mine came out super bland as well. As you said, these are OK smothered in good sauce and cheese, but I didn’t care for them by themselves.
      The meatballs also didn’t brown like the photo shown here. I’d reduce breadcrumbs and add cheese and some more salt next.

  9. 5 stars
    Mmm…yumm-O! These meatballs were super tender and super easy! They were also super juicy as well too! My handsome, fierce, hubby and rest of my family super couldn’t wait to scarf them down super fast! They were also super cheap to make and super nutritions as well. As an added bonus, they were also super awesome as well. Soooooooo super delicious!

  10. Hello if I don’t have bread crumbs can I use oatmeal. I’m trying to eat healthier but trying to find the right spices that goes well with turkey.

    1. You can use oatmeal, but it will give the meatballs a slightly different texture. I would recommend using a blender or food processor to make the oats a little bit more fine before you use them.

  11. Hi! If I want to bake these with the sauce, how far into the baking should I add the sauce? Thanks!

  12. 5 stars
    Worked out great for us. I had to sub cornmeal for bread crumbs and only used about 3/4 c. Lots of chopped garlic and some dried Basil. Yum!

    1. Doubled the recipe, larger meat balls gave me about 15 flipped halfway through cooked an additional 5 or so minutes, topped with sweet chilli sauce and sesame seed served with Asian salad 🥗 .