These Easy Baked Turkey Meatballs are a healthier meatball recipe perfect for making in bulk and freezing, with just 5 ingredients excluding spices.
Turkey meatballs have always been in a staple in my life – there is something so comforting about a bowl of pasta with perfectly moist meatballs swimming in tomato sauce. I like my pasta jazzed up!
Frozen meatballs are my fall back for prepping lunches when I don’t have anything else planned– popping them out of the freezer on top of a bowl of veggies and leftover grains in the morning so they defrost by lunchtime.
After buying so many packages of Trader Joe’s frozen turkey meatballs, I realized how much tastier I could make these in bulk and then freeze for the same quick bowls of pasta.
- 2 pounds lean ground turkey (93% lean or higher)
- ½ cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
- ½ cup carrot
- ¼ cup onion
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: dash of red pepper flakes
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Finely mince carrot and onion by hand or in a food processor and then combine all ingredients. This is easiest if you use your hands to gently mix everything - over mixing will make them tougher.
- Shape meatballs into 2-tablespoon-sized-balls and place on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, checking at 30 minutes to ensure there is no pink in the middle of the meatballs. Continue cooking 5 minutes if they aren't cooked through.
- Freeze in a plastic bag in the freezer for up to 3 months, letting them defrost in the fridge or in the microwave before eating.
Serve with pasta or spaghetti squash, and your favorite tomato sauce (still working on perfecting my quick recipe and hope to share it soon!). I love adding sautéed onion, zucchini, red pepper, and grape tomatoes.
Looking for more freezer-friendly recipes? Try my crockpot shredded chicken, black bean & spinach baked taquitos, or date truffles!
Marisa
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
Since I don’t eat red meat, I’m a big fan of turkey meatballs! They sound delicious and super flavorful!
Marisa says
I haven’t made beef meatballs in a long time- I much prefer turkey! Let me know if you try them out! xo
Farrah says
I love food-prepping for the week with meatballs. :]! I’ve never actually tried freezing them though. I should really get on that!
Marisa says
Let me know if you try freezing them, Farrah – I almost think they become juicier after defrosting (which I love).
Traci says
I’m not sure that I’ve ever had turkey meatballs…and I definitely haven’t made them! But these look great, and I’m bookmarking the recipe.
Also, I was just in Oregon over the weekend. What a beautiful state! I can’t wait to go back and explore further.
Marisa says
I’m glad you enjoyed your Oregon vacation, Traci! I try to get home on a regular basis for my Portland fix 🙂 Let me know if you try the recipe – would love to hear your thoughts on how they turn out!
Rachel says
These look divine! Turkey meatballs are a staple for me too, especially when I’m trying to slim down. I skimp on the breadcrumbs and eat them plain – they’re so delicious and hearty!
Marisa says
Thanks Rachel! They are such a tasty and healthy addition to lots of different meals. I have made them without breadcrumbs before too and they’re just as good!
Despoina says
Just made them with chicken instead of turkey! They’re so delicious!
Rachael says
These were so easy to make and SO delicious! I put mine in the freezer and are perfect to have on hand, especially because they are quick to defrost!
Marisa says
So happy to hear that, Rachael! Glad you’re enjoying them and find them easy to use from the freezer!
Leigh says
Very good meatballs! Nice and juicy, delicate flavor. Thanks for the recipe!
Stephanie says
Great recipe! Thanks for posting! I made these for my teenage daughter and she loved them – couldn’t stop eating them out of the oven!! She can pop them in ramen noodles for a quick lunch or after school snack. I did a few additions to pack in more veggies. I diced the onion and carrot as indicated, but also added finely diced spinach, a little parmesan and minced celery. garlic salt and lemon pepper. To make the rolling process go faster and easier, I lined a large sized baking sheet with foil then brushes with about 1-2 tbs. olive oil. Then using a small sized cookie scoop, make the 48 balls, just scooping then plopping the amounts on the baking sheet. Once all scooped out, pick up one by one to roll. They will now have a little olive oil on them, which makes rolling go so much faster, cleaner, and produce a clean ball shape (nothing sticks to your hands either – bonus!). This is a trick to speed up the process. Thanks again for posting…very delicious!!
Marisa says
I’m so glad to hear it, Stephanie! I love your recipe notes – thanks for sharing this with other readers.
Nancy says
We LOVE these meatballs! Have you ever tried this recipe in the crockpot and if so, how did you do it?
Marisa says
Hi Nancy – No, I have not! I would recommend finding a recipe that specifies slow cooking.
Beth says
This is my go to recipe for meatballs! My family and I love them and they are SO easy to make! Thanks for sharing!
Marisa says
Awesome, Beth! Thanks for letting me know.
Melodi says
Just made these..delicious! So simple, flavorful and moist. A keeper!
Steve says
Make this all the time. Kids love them too. Question – my wife has been to really limit her gluten intake, would you expect any issues using a Panko bread crumb vs. a normal one?
Marisa says
Yes, that should be no problem! Enjoy, Steve.
Evelyn says
Hey! Just wondering for the nutrition part, is it 117 calories per meatball or per serving (4 meatballs)?
Marisa says
Hi Evelyn, For any nutritional calculations, I do it by serving size. You should always do your own calculations if it’s important to you as ingredients may vary!
Rachel says
I can’t express how many turkey meatball recipes I have butchered but this is NOT one of them! This will now always be my turkey meatball recipe. SO easy and delicious and they freeze great! I use ground oats instead just because I always have oats. Love these meatalls!
Marisa says
I’m so glad to hear it, Rachel! I love freezing this as well and will have to try substituting oats as you mention.
Jan says
I’m making the turkey meatballs half recipe.. To go with spaghetti squash and home made pasta sauce. I’m cooking meatballs on air fryer. Hopefully all will be as delish as I think.
Marisa says
Fantastic! I hope they turned out well in the air fryer.