Homemade baked turkey meatballs are perfect for a spaghetti dinner, feeding a crowd or freezing to have on hand for busy nights. And this easy recipe takes just minutes to prep!
I’m always tempted to buy frozen meatballs at the store. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked up various brands and bags and thought I might cave and buy them.
But I can’t not look at the ingredient list.
And every time I do, I think, I don’t really want to buy this. I don’t know what all of that stuff is. I’m sure I could make them better at home.
So finally, I did. And trust me, it's not at all complicated or difficult.
These baked turkey meatballs are super basic, with wholesome ingredients, and they couldn’t be easier.
Mix everything in a bowl, roll up your meatballs and bake them off. Done and done. (Plus, no splattering oil and having to watch and turn them on the stove.)
And the flavor is crazy good! They are tender and perfectly seasoned and ready to be drenched in sauce and devoured.
The store-bought version has nothing on us!
(You can also make these as Air Fryer meatballs if you want some crispier edges.)
Recipe Notes:
Grated onion is best, but I know it’s a pain in the butt. You can also finely chop the onion but do try to get it very finely chopped so you don’t have big onion pieces in your meatballs.
I use 93% lean ground turkey but you could substitute lean ground beef if you prefer.
You can adjust the seasoning, too, to suit your family’s tastes. Add another clove or two of garlic to emphasize that or some extra red pepper flakes for spicy meatballs. You can increase the cheese to ½ cup to make them extra cheesy if you like.
And while these meatballs are baking away, you can make the rest of dinner. Cook up your spaghetti noodles, make or warm your marinara sauce and throw together a simple spinach salad for a veggie side.
If you want to use my easy homemade spaghetti sauce with these, just get the sauce going before you fix the meatballs and everything will be ready at the same time.
And if you like to get creative with your meatballs, try these Caprese meatballs (with little mozzarella balls tucked into each one), cheesy chicken meatballs - another kid favorite, or these baked Asian turkey meatballs for a fun flavor twist.
I also love how well these store so I can have some on hand to pull out another night. They're great to add to a meal-prep rotation!
How to Freeze Meatballs:
I cook all of my meatballs before freezing, so then they are ready to reheat and serve. (It's also easier/safer than dealing with raw meat.)
Once the meatballs are cooked and cooled, you can place them in a freezer ziptop bag or a freezer-safe container. Label the bag and pop it in the freezer for 5-6 months.
To defrost, it's best to take the bag out of the freezer and let the meatballs thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then you can reheat them on the stove or in the microwave and you'll be ready to eat!
If you've been looking for a homemade turkey meatball recipe, I hope you give these a try.
You'll love how easy they are to make, how delicious they are to eat and how perfect they are to freeze for another night.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Baked Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1.25 pounds lean ground turkey, such as 93% lean
- ½ small onion, grated (or very finely chopped)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray for easy clean-up.
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until combined. Be careful not to overmix. I usually start with a fork to get things somewhat combined and then use my hands to gently mix it together well.
- Shape into 1-inch round meatballs and place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, until done.
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food
Homemade is definitely always best! Love how easy these are to prep and make. Our fridge is usually always stocked with ground turkey so I'm sure these will be making an appearance soon 🙂 So many possibilities with meatballs and who doesn't love them, right? Happy you guys are having a lovely time at the beach!! Enjoy!
Kathryn
Yes, so very versatile! And we are all about ground turkey here so I just had to go that route 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful weekend Dawn! XO
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I almost bought some ground chicken for meatballs last week...but I didn;t :/ I'll fix that with tomorrow grocery run!
Kathryn
You won't be sorry Rebecca 🙂 They're so great to have on hand!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Yay for the beach!!! So glad you guys are living it up, soaking up the sun and enjoying each other's company! Woot Woot to that! You are so right about the frozen meatballs at the store - scary. I'm not big into eating food that contains strange, unpronounceable ingredients either, so I LOVE these! I adore that you kept these simple and easy to whip (or roll) together. These look pop-tastic, my friend! Cheers - to enjoying the rest of your vacation! <3
Kathryn
Thanks so much Cheyanne 🙂 XO
Ashlyn // Dollop Of Yum
So jealous of all of your beach fun! Homemade meatballs are always delicious but sometimes on busy nights, there is just not enough time. I love how these can be frozen and the fact that they are healthier!
Kathryn
Yes! Totally agree that you need to grab and go some nights! I always make extra of these meatballs to have on hand. 🙂
Julie
Oh I am so jealous! I would love to be close to the beach instead of the muddy Missouri river. I'm with you on those darned labels. I can't buy convenience either when I know the garbage and preservatives in the product. These meatballs look delicious! Perfect for an appetizer or a meal. Enjoy your beach time!
Kathryn
Thanks so much Julie!
GiGi Eats
I really love turkey. I don't use it nearly enough in my cooking (however I did this week, SCORE) but it's just so dang good and pairs so well with pretty much ANY flavor! 🙂
Kathryn
Yes, so super versatile and convenient! I use it all the time in tacos, spaghetti, all-in-one skillet dishes, burgers and more 🙂
Claire
I just made these, Loosely following the recipe and using fresh herbs from my herb pot. One of the best meals I have ever had was spaghetti squash with meatballs and pesto and I plan to freeze these meatballs and make that for lunches at work. I noticed the meatballs flattened out, as mine always seem to do. Is there any way to keep them round?
Kathryn
Hi Claire! I'm so glad you enjoyed these! The ones I make in the recipe above flatten a bit on the bottom, where they are sitting on the pan, but otherwise stay pretty plump and round, like I roll them as I'm placing them on the baking sheet, so I'm not sure why yours fall.
D Z
I made your turkey meatballs and they were delicious. I also used a salad shooter gadget to grate the onion and cut the time in half. Also I baked your meatballs on 400 degrees but got a little burnt? Should I lower the temperature to 375 degrees instead and cook the same time 20-22 minutes?
Kathryn
Hi there! I'm so glad you enjoyed these meatballs! Mine always work great at 400 but ovens can certainly vary. Yes, I'd try baking them at 375 next time and check them at 20-22 minutes. They may need to cook a few extra minutes at that lower temperature to make sure they get cooked through.
Nikki
Looking forward to making these! Any idea what consistence would be like I omit the cheese and use ground oats instead of the breadcrumb?
Kathryn
Hi Nikki! I've never made them like that so I'm not sure. I think the oats would work fine as a substitute for breadcrumbs, but don't know about the taste and texture without the cheese. Would love to hear if you try it!
Laura
How many meatballs are a serving size it doesn't day.
Thank you
Kathryn
Hi Laura! The serving size is sort-of up to you... I usually have 3 but my husband eats 4-5. My kids (who are young) can chow down 3-4 themselves - they love them! Oh, and the nutrition info is calculated for a single meatball, in case that helps you.
Debbie Knudslien
I followed the recipe exactly, but ended up with 37 meatballs and they are definitely a bit larger than 1". I can't wait to taste them!!
Kathryn
I hope you enjoy them Debbie!
Alida | Simply Delicious
Easy, delicious family comfort food!
Kathryn
Yes! It's a regular go-to in our house!
Liren | Kitchen Confidante
These would be a hit at my house! Ground turkey is a staple for me, so I love that I already have all the ingredients on hand!
Kathryn
Yay! It's so great when you've already got everything for a recipe! 😊
Toni | Boulder Locavore
I'd happily eat this for dinner any night of the week!
Kathryn
They are a regular go-to for us!
Kristy
This is my favorite/go to turkey meatball recipe!! So much flavor, thank you for sharing!!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you love them Kristy! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊