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Baked and Juicy Turkey Meatballs {Low Carb}

Packed with tons of flavor, these Juicy Turkey Meatballs are amazingly moist on the inside and crisp on the outside. We try to limit the amount of red meat in our household, so finding ways to make ground turkey tasty is something we focus on a lot. These tasty, garlic spiced turkey meatballs have just as much flavor as any beef meatballs.

juicy turkey meatballs feature image.

Incredibly easy to make, it takes minutes to prepare the mixture and only 20 minutes of cooking time. The leaner turkey meat provides a healthier option without sacrificing any flavor. These low carb turkey meatballs are incredibly tasty on their own or can be served with your favorite tomato or dipping sauce!

Why This Recipe Works?

  • Baked Quick Appetizer or Meal.
  • Takes minutes to prepare.
  • Healthier than traditional beef meatballs.
  • Low Carb and High Protein.
  • Kid friendly.
  • Can be Made Gluten free.
  • Can be Made Vegan.
  • Easily available Ingredients.
  • Can be made in advance.
  • The Best Turkey Meatballs recipe ever!!
turkey meatballs second feature image.

Ingredients

This recipe uses super easy ingredients that can be purchased from a local grocery store if they are not already in your kitchen. Read the Recipe Card for the measurements.

  • Ground Turkey Meat – We prefer to use lean ground turkey (93%) because it is a healthier option than beef and is readily available. The same recipe works well for ground chicken, sausage or beef. For making vegan meatballs, you may use textured vegetable protein or soya granules, tofu scramble.  
  • Bread Crumbs – Bread Crumbs add crisp texture to these baked meatballs. They help absorb moisture and bind the turkey balls nicely.
  • Egg – adds creamy and fluffy texture to the meatballs. They act as natural binder.
  • Garlic Powder – We have added garlic powder. You may add minced fresh garlic as well.
  • Onion Powder – We have used onion powder as fresh onions might release water during baking.
  • Parsley – Freshly chopped parsley adds amazing color and flavor to this dish. You may also use cilantro or basil.
  • Parmesan Cheese – Has a slight hard and gritty texture which helps bind the mixture. When baked, the cheese melts to create softened layers. We have used freshly grated parmesan. You may use any preferred variety of soft cheese. 
  • Cumin – Adds the earthy flavor to these tender meatballs.
  • Chili Powder – Our daughters love the hint of a bit of spicy flavor to the meatballs. If you don’t like the heat, feel free to reduce the chili amount or skip it.
  • Italian Seasonings – We have used a local brand of oregano and it adds aroma and earthy flavor to this dish.
  • Salt and ground pepper – Table salt works best for this recipe. Black pepper creates a balance of spices. 
  • Cooking spray – We have used PAM cooking spray. You may use any cooking oil to drizzle the meatballs in a baking sheet before baking.
juicy turkey meatballs feature image.

Equipment 

Variations

  • Vegan Turkey Meatballs: Substitute the turkey meat with tofu scramble. Make sure to remove extra water from tofu. Use flax egg and vegan cheese. 
  • Turkey Meatballs without breadcrumbs: You may skip adding breadcrumbs to the meatballs mixture for making gluten free turkey meatballs. You may substitute it with cornmeal or oats mixture.
  • Asian Turkey Meatballs: Adding asian style sauces – teriyaki, sesame and soy sauce to the turkey meatballs make a perfect asian dish. 
  • Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs: These low carb turkey meatballs can be air fried for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees F.

How To Store Leftover Meatballs?

Store the leftover meatballs in an airtight dry container with the lid up to 4 days in the refrigerator. 

For next use, heat them for 3-5 minutes in the oven a 350 degrees F.

How to make These Amazing Turkey Meatballs:

Step 1: Prep It

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

Step 2: Mix It

  • In a large bowl, add ground turkey, spices, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, egg and parsley; mix to combine.
mix the ingredients in a bowl.

Step 3: Scoop It

  • Scoop meatballs with a small ice cream scoop (1-1/2 tablespoon size) and place on prepared baking sheet. Usually a bowl of water nearby comes in handy when shaping these meatballs.
  • Dip the scoop into the water in between meatballs or when they are not releasing easily. You can make these smaller or larger, just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
scoop meatballs onto baking sheet.

Step 4: Shape and Bake It

  • Shape the meatballs by wetting your fingers and palms and rolling them into a round ball (the water prevents the turkey from sticking to your hand).
  • Spray with cooking spray, such as Pam, and place into the preheated 350 degree F oven. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.

Note: The meatballs will bake just fine if you pop them into the oven without shaping.

shape the meatballs using water to help.

Remove from oven. This is how the turkey meatballs look when fully cooked .

fully cooked turkey meatballs.

Enjoy with pasta, rice, or your favorite dipping sauce. Our girls love having these meatballs with pasta, or over rice with some Sweet Chili Sauce. Some dipping sauces that go well if you treat these as an appetizer are Barbeque or the sweet chili sauce.

final hero shot of baked and juicy turkey meatballs.

juicy turkey meatballs

Baked and Juicy Turkey Meatballs

Yield: 32 Meatballs
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Bursting with flavor, these tender and juicy baked turkey meatballs will definitely have everyone asking for more! The leaner turkey meat provides a healthier option than traditional beef meatballs without sacrificing any flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds ground turkey meat (93% lean)
  • 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

    2. In a large bowl, add ground turkey, spices, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, egg and parsley; mix to combine.

    3. Scoop meatballs with a small ice cream scoop (1-1/2 tablespoon size) and place on prepared baking sheet. You can make these smaller or larger, just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

    4. Spray with cooking spray, such as Pam, and place into the preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.

    5. Remove from oven and enjoy with your favorite tomato or dipping sauce.

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