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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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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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 (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.
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
- Preheat oven to 425F and line with parchment paper or foil.
- Drizzle sheet with olive oil.
- In a large bowl, mix turkey, parsley, basil, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper in one bowl until well combined.
- Roll turkey into 2-3 tbsp sizes or a little big larger than a golf ball.
- Place onto sheet and brush tops with olive oil.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 425F, until slightly browned.
- Let rest ten minutes before serving or add to your favorite sauce simmering over low on a stove.
- Enjoy!
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Ciara says
This ELW Turkey Meatball recipe will never fail you and will always wow and impress your guests!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ciara, so happy you loved them so much!! 🙂
Rachel says
My go to meatball recipe! I have been using this recipe since you posted it in 2019 and it never fails! Meatballs are very moist and flavorful and so easy to make.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so happy you loved it!!
A says
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!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi, so happy you both loved them and yes that should be fine. Let me know they come out!
Jessica says
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!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessica, so happy you enjoyed them so much!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Lauren says
Erin’s recipes are basically the only way to get my boyfriend to eat ground turkey! Thanks for another great dinner, Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so glad he loved them!!
Robin Iaconianni says
Delicious!! My oven wasn’t working, so I air fried them and they came out great! Thanks for recipe 😊
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Robin, so glad you loved them!
Avery says
Delicious, easy, and so versatile! Paired with pesto penne and some vegetables. Will be making again soon!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Avery, so glad you loved them! 🙂
Maria says
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.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Maria, so glad you loved them!!
Lauren says
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.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so glad you loved them and made them your own!!
Valerie says
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!
Erin says
Hi Valerie, thanks so much for your kind words and yes they do!! Let me know how yours come out!
ANDREA WHALEN STONE says
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!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Andrea, so so happy you and your daughter both loved them!! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Emma says
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!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emma, thank you for sharing! I am thrilled you love them!
Aw says
I made these by the recipe but they just didn’t have much flavor at all.
★★
Erin says
Hi Aw, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t like them! Maybe your seasonings were old or expired?
Katie says
YUM! These are so good!! I used them to make turkey meatball subs. They were moist, fresh, and definitely tasted Italian. 10/10 recommend!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy you liked them!
Doreen says
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!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Doreen, thank you so much for sharing. Hope they still came out okay and let me know how they go next time!
monika says
Do you think these will still bind without the parmesan? No one likes parmesan in this house. It smells like feet…dirty disgusting feet…
Erin says
Hi Monika, I would add some form of breadcrumb, same amount. Let me know how yours come out!
Riana G says
These were delicious! Full of flavor and moist. Didn’t even NEED a sauce. But will try again with pesto or marinara y
★★★★★
Jessica says
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.
★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessica, thanks for your kind words and great tip!
Carly says
These turned out great! Really flavorful and moist. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Carly, thanks for the kind words! I’m so happy you liked them!!
Tom says
These are incredible. So juicy and better than normal beef!
★★★★★
Nellie Yates says
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!
Erin says
Can you do cottage cheese?! The only other non dairy I can think of is my vegan ricotta cheese recipe!