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Home By Meal Lunch and Dinner

Easy Turkey Meatballs (Gluten-free)

★★★★★ 16 Reviews Recipe Print
gf nf
By: Erin2/18/19

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Easy Turkey Meatballs are a gluten-free, juicy, and flavorful meal. Made with only a handful of simple ingredients, they’re quick and fast to prepare and deliver a delicious result. Serve alone or alongside your favorite sauce and pasta.

skillet of easy turkey meatballs with spoon

The most delicious turkey meatballs

For the longest time, my boyfriend would always rave about his mom’s turkey meatballs. Long before I ever met her, I was hearing about this recipe. He spent the longest time hyping them up, so I was pretty excited to give them a try.

After one of our visits we were sent home with a freshly made batch, and the rest is history.

I make these meatballs all. the. time. now! No exaggeration, they’re the best meatballs I’ve ever eaten, and that includes those made at authentic Italian restaurants. I know that sounds dramatic, so you’ll just have to try them for yourself!

These gluten-free meatballs are kid-approved, so it’s a perfect recipe for the entire family. It isn’t a bad idea to have a second batch on backup, because they’re guaranteed to go pretty quickly.

I love making these in advance and freezing them and then pairing them with my Healthy One Pot Pasta Recipe for dinner.

ingredients for easy turkey meatballs

What’s included in easy turkey meatballs

The ingredients in this recipe for meatballs are to die for. The turkey is used as the base (obviously), and we use parsley, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper to add flavor. For binding (and for cheesy goodness, because why not?), we’re using ricotta and parmesan cheese. The two cheeses work very well to form the meatballs and provide a ton of savory flavor while they’re at it.

  • Ground turkey (I prefer an 85/15 blend)
  • Fresh parsley
  • Fresh basil
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Minced garlic
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Tools used to make gluten-free meatballs

To make this recipe, you’ll only need a number of items. Grab your baking sheet, parchment paper, nonstick spray, large mixing bowl, and a stirring utensil, and get to prepping!

You will also need a few measuring cups in the following sizes: 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 3/4 cup, and 1 cup.

tray of easy turkey meatballs

How to make easy turkey meatballs

Dinner doesn’t have to take a long time to prep, and it shouldn’t! With all of the recipes right at our fingertips today, it’s possible to find quick and easy meals that use any ingredients you could imagine.

With these easy turkey meatballs, prep is an absolute breeze. Just mix, form, and bake! That’s all. Preparation will require 10 minutes or less. Let’s get started!

To begin your meatball prep, preheat the oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Drizzle the sheet with olive oil.

Next, in a large bowl, mix the turkey, parsley, basil, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.

Once combined, roll the mix into individual balls. They should use about 2-3 tbsp of mix each, which will make them slightly larger than a golf ball.

Place each ball onto the baking sheet and then brush the tops with olive oil.

Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly browned.

Remove from the oven and let sit for ten minutes before serving. Alternatively, add them to a simmering pot of your favorite sauce on the low setting.

skillet of easy turkey meatballs with spoon

Perfect for serving up at get togethers

The first time we served this dish at a house party, it was an absolute hit. One of my favorite parts about having guests over is deciding what to cook, and I had a feeling that meatball sandwiches would be a great idea.

Lo and behold, I was correct! Everybody absolutely loved them and went back for seconds.

We served the meatballs alongside provolone cheese, fresh rolls, and side salad to give guests the option of eating them alone or enjoying them sandwich style. We set up all of the mix-ins on the counter next to the stove, where the meatballs were simmering on low heat to stay warm.

Tip: You can make the meatballs ahead of time so that prep isn’t required during the actual party!

easy turkey meatballs in a skillet

On a turkey kick?

If you’re like me, you love to add turkey to your meals for a lean protein bump, so here are some more turkey recipes for you to enjoy! I love the Three Bean Turkey Chili and cannot recommend it enough.

  • Healthy Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki
  • Three Bean Turkey Chili
  • Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Sauce
best ever easy turkey meatballs

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I love to see your recipes in action. If you make this one, snap a photo and use hashtag #ELWeats so that I can see!

easy turkey meatballs in a skillet
★★★★★ 4.8 from 16 reviews

Easy Turkey Meatballs (Gluten-free)

Easy Turkey Meatballs are a gluten-free, juicy, and flavorful meal. Made with only a handful of simple ingredients, they’re quick and fast to prepare and deliver a delicious result. Serve alone or alongside your favorite sauce and pasta.

Prep: 10Cook: 20Total: 30 minutes
Yield 25–30 meatballs 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground turkey – I prefer 85/15 blend.
  • 3/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine
  • 3/4 cup fresh basil, chopped fine
  • 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp. minced garlic
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425F and line with parchment paper or foil.
  2. Drizzle sheet with olive oil.
  3. In a large bowl, mix turkey, parsley, basil, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper in one bowl until well combined.
  4. Roll turkey into 2-3 tbsp sizes or a little big larger than a golf ball.
  5. Place onto sheet and brush tops with olive oil.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes at 425F, until slightly browned.
  7. Let rest ten minutes before serving or add to your favorite sauce simmering over low on a stove.
  8. Enjoy!
Author: Erin Lives WholeCategory: dinner, lunch, gluten-free
easy turkey meatballs in a skillet

Did you make this?

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There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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chocolate chip cookies
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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. A says

    Posted on 8/28 at 10:52 am

    Hi Erin!

    My husband and I looove this recipe. I’m trying to adapt it for my baby (doing baby led weaning, which is great!) and wanting to decrease the sodium. Ricotta is generally fairly low sodium so was planning to just leave out the parm and salt, do you think that would work?

    Thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 9/1 at 5:31 pm

      Hi, so happy you both loved them and yes that should be fine. Let me know they come out!

      Reply
  2. Jessica says

    Posted on 7/26 at 6:36 pm

    This recipe is absolutely incredible! Way more flavorful and moist than a typical beef meatball, which is challenging with turkey but this recipe is a game changer! We love it for an easy weeknight meal, plus it makes plenty of leftovers for a yummy lunch this next day. My go-to meatball recipe forever! Thanks so much, Erin – these are a 12/10!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/29 at 3:17 pm

      Hi Jessica, so happy you enjoyed them so much!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Lauren says

    Posted on 6/13 at 8:55 pm

    Erin’s recipes are basically the only way to get my boyfriend to eat ground turkey! Thanks for another great dinner, Erin!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/16 at 8:13 pm

      Hi Lauren, so glad he loved them!!

      Reply
    • Robin Iaconianni says

      Posted on 3/20 at 8:10 pm

      Delicious!! My oven wasn’t working, so I air fried them and they came out great! Thanks for recipe 😊

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin says

        Posted on 3/23 at 10:35 pm

        Hi Robin, so glad you loved them!

  4. Avery says

    Posted on 4/13 at 8:37 pm

    Delicious, easy, and so versatile! Paired with pesto penne and some vegetables. Will be making again soon!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 4/18 at 5:52 pm

      Hi Avery, so glad you loved them! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Maria says

    Posted on 4/11 at 7:18 pm

    Wow! These are amazing! So so flavorful and easy to make. We ate them as sandwiches this time but can’t wait to try with pasta again! You have to make these ASAP.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 4/12 at 6:17 pm

      Hi Maria, so glad you loved them!!

      Reply
  6. Lauren says

    Posted on 2/7 at 8:11 pm

    Super delicious and moist! I know everyone hates they word but they are. 🙂 I had to half the recipe because I only had a pound of 93/7 turkey but they still turned out great. Simmered them in Rao’s sauce for about 30 min after baking.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 2/8 at 1:32 pm

      Hi Lauren, so glad you loved them and made them your own!!

      Reply
  7. Valerie says

    Posted on 9/4 at 11:54 am

    Hi Erin,
    This recipe sounds amazing! Finding gluten free options for family favorites can be a challenge. But I’m looking for a recipe that freezes well so can make them ahead and store in the freezer. Have you tried freezing these?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 9/6 at 10:59 am

      Hi Valerie, thanks so much for your kind words and yes they do!! Let me know how yours come out!

      Reply
  8. ANDREA WHALEN STONE says

    Posted on 9/3 at 9:11 am

    These are the first GF meatballs my daughter didn’t hate. I thought they were awesome! The fresh herbs are pretty important for moisture and flavor. I did add about a third of a cup of oatmeal because my mixture felt a little gooey. That might have been too much water left on my herbs or something, but it was a quick fix that extended my meat a bit! My meatballs were about two inches in diameter, so they weren’t quite ready after 20 minutes in the oven, so you may want to just go for about 24 minutes to start for the larger size meatballs. These get better as they sit and are amazing simmered in sauce to finish. They freeze well too, so make a full batch and just save some for later!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 9/4 at 11:45 am

      Hi Andrea, so so happy you and your daughter both loved them!! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Emma says

    Posted on 11/30 at 9:55 am

    These are the best meatballs ever!!!! My family loves them so much and requests them all the time! I even took them to a party once and had people asking me to send them the recipe! They have so much flavor and go great with anything! Also, they are very easy to freeze and keep on hand for busy nights!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 11/30 at 4:28 pm

      Hi Emma, thank you for sharing! I am thrilled you love them!

      Reply
  10. Aw says

    Posted on 11/14 at 8:26 pm

    I made these by the recipe but they just didn’t have much flavor at all.

    ★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 11/18 at 8:33 pm

      Hi Aw, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t like them! Maybe your seasonings were old or expired?

      Reply
  11. Katie says

    Posted on 10/6 at 12:25 am

    YUM! These are so good!! I used them to make turkey meatball subs. They were moist, fresh, and definitely tasted Italian. 10/10 recommend!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/6 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Katie, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy you liked them!

      Reply
  12. Doreen says

    Posted on 9/30 at 7:47 pm

    Made these for dinner last night and they were absolutely delicious. Might have left them in the over for a little too long (oops) but can’t wait to remake!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/1 at 8:10 am

      Hi Doreen, thank you so much for sharing. Hope they still came out okay and let me know how they go next time!

      Reply
  13. monika says

    Posted on 9/30 at 10:42 am

    Do you think these will still bind without the parmesan? No one likes parmesan in this house. It smells like feet…dirty disgusting feet…

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/1 at 2:14 pm

      Hi Monika, I would add some form of breadcrumb, same amount. Let me know how yours come out!

      Reply
  14. Riana G says

    Posted on 4/11 at 2:08 am

    These were delicious! Full of flavor and moist. Didn’t even NEED a sauce. But will try again with pesto or marinara y

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  15. Jessica says

    Posted on 2/10 at 6:10 pm

    The flavor of these are amazing – my recommendation would be to bake them with a wire sheet on a cookie sheet so the grease runs off. When I took my tray out, they were sitting in a good amount of grease.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/9 at 9:34 pm

      Hi Jessica, thanks for your kind words and great tip!

      Reply
  16. Carly says

    Posted on 1/15 at 10:29 pm

    These turned out great! Really flavorful and moist. Thanks for the recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/12 at 7:42 am

      Hi Carly, thanks for the kind words! I’m so happy you liked them!!

      Reply
  17. Tom says

    Posted on 7/7 at 9:54 am

    These are incredible. So juicy and better than normal beef!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  18. Nellie Yates says

    Posted on 3/21 at 12:26 pm

    Can you substitute the ricotta cheese with anything not-cheese? Wondering how to lower the cheese for my husbands health risks. We can do the Parmesan. Thanks! These look delish!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/21 at 3:43 pm

      Can you do cottage cheese?! The only other non dairy I can think of is my vegan ricotta cheese recipe!

      Reply

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I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

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