Description

These ultra-juicy baked turkey meatballs are tender, flavorful, and hold together perfectly. Made with grated onion and baked then simmered in garlic marinara, they are a family-approved, make-ahead friendly dinner option.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds ground turkey (93% lean)
1 medium yellow onion, grated
2 large eggs
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups marinara sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, grated onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, milk, Parmesan, minced garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands until just combined; do not overmix.
Form mixture into 1.5-inch balls (about 24 meatballs) using an ice cream scoop or hands. Place on prepared baking sheet.
Bake meatballs for 20 minutes until lightly browned and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add marinara sauce, oregano, and sugar to the saucepan. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened.
Gently add baked meatballs to the sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow meatballs to absorb flavor.
Serve immediately topped with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Grate the onion instead of chopping it to release moisture and keep meatballs juicy. Do not overmix the meatball mixture to avoid toughness. For gluten-free, use GF breadcrumbs. For dairy-free, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and milk with almond milk. Meatballs can be frozen before or after baking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4 meatballs and 1/2
Calories: 280
Sugar: 8
Sodium: 650
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 3
Carbohydrates: 18
Fiber: 3
Protein: 22

Keywords: turkey meatballs, baked meatballs, healthy dinner, garlic marinara, meal prep, family friendly, gluten-free option, dairy-free option