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A bowl of savory turkey meatballs tossed in marinara sauce and garnished with fresh parsley.

Turkey Meatballs

These juicy Turkey Meatballs are packed with flavor and baked to perfection! A lean, protein-packed alternative to beef meatballs — perfect for pasta, subs, or meal prep.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 280
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatball Mixture
  • 1 lb ground turkey lean (93% preferred)
  • 1/3 cup breadcrumbs plain or Italian style
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • olive oil spray for greasing baking sheet
Optional Sauce
  • 2 cups marinara sauce for serving

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Sheet
  • Parchment Paper

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with olive oil.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix until just combined — do not overmix.
  3. Form mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until meatballs are golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F / 74°C).
  5. Optional: Warm marinara sauce in a skillet and toss cooked meatballs in the sauce before serving.
  6. Serve with spaghetti, on a sub roll, or alongside roasted vegetables.

Notes

For extra moisture, add 1 tablespoon of milk or olive oil to the mixture. These meatballs freeze beautifully — just cool and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.