Meatballs are such a versatile food. They can be anything from a finger food, to a sandwich, added to a casserole, to an addition to pasta. They really can be included in so many things. I wanted to provide another meatball recipe that not only was oven baked rather than fried, but included turkey rather than beef. Sometimes when you just exchange turkey for beef, your final product sometimes will lack flavor.

It was my goal with these guys to be sure that with the lack fat, they didn’t lack flavor. I feel like these succeeded in that, but remember that you can always add or subtract any seasonings and spices that suit your tastes to customize them in a way you and your family love.

One thing that I like to do with these Oven Baked Turkey Meatballs is make a large batch and freeze them. They make a wonderful freezer meal. If you freeze them on a cookie sheet, once they are frozen you can put them in a large freezer zippie and just grab as many out as you’d like. It’s a great way to be meal-prepped without actually spending a day doing meal prep.

One item that I’ve included in these is cayenne pepper. This is a spice you can choose to omit entirely (if you want no spice) or amp it up (if you love spicy!) I feel like with the measurement I’ve used in the recipe as published below, it doesn’t make them spicy, but adds a depth of flavor. Since it’s Fall, I also included sage. I love sage and always equate it with Fall. Since it runs through a lot of my Thanksgiving recipes, my brain feels like sage = Fall! I have an upcoming recipe for a stuff acorn squash that includes sage and it is DEEEEEEELICIOUS. I can’t wait to share it with y’all.

Oven Baked Turkey Meatballs

Author: Sweetly Splendid - Kara Myers
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 50 meatballs

Ingredients

3lbs 99% fat free ground turkey
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp + 1 tsp dried sage (or 4 tbsp fresh)
1 cup onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1 cup Parmesan cheese
pinch of salt & pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, combine bread crumbs, spices, onion, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

Add in ground turkey and using your hands, gently combine the turkey into the mixture. Don’t over mix.

Once that is mixed, add in the eggs and mix to combine.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop onto a cookie sheet. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, you can also measure out about 1 1/2 tbsp and roll into balls before adding to cookie sheet.

Place in oven and bake for 20-23 minutes or until it reaches 165°F internal temp.

Notes

If you are freezing the meatballs, allow them to cool completely before freezing. Freeze them separated on a cookie sheet, and once frozen add to a freezer safe zippie. To reheat, we recommend placing on a cookie sheet and warming in the oven.

Weight Watchers Freestyle Points: 0 for one, 1 for two-three, 2 for four-five, or 3 for six