Easy Turkey Meatballs

Types of Meatballs

If there's one thing food lovers across the globe can agree on, it’s that meatballs are downright delicious. Different cultures have their own unique takes, so let’s take a quick spin around the world and check out a few popular varieties.

Starting in Sweden, we have the famous Swedish köttbullar. These are typically smaller than their Italian cousins, seasoned with allspice and nutmeg for a distinctive warm, slightly sweet flavor. They're often served with creamy gravy, lingonberry jam, and mashed potatoes—true comfort food!

In Italy, meatballs, or polpette, are much smaller than what we are accustomed to and are usually mixed with garlic, parsley, and Parmesan, giving them a signature Italian zest. Unlike in the U.S., Italians often serve polpette on their own or as a side, hold the sauce. Sometimes, they’re even added to soups.

In Greece, you’ll find keftedes, which are usually made with ground lamb or beef mixed with mint, onions, and bread soaked in milk. These are typically fried to crispy perfection and served with tzatziki sauce and a squeeze of lemon for an extra tang. If you’d like to try out some of these savory greek flavors, Greek-Style Meatball Bites are a great dish to try.

Then, there’s the Spanish version—albóndigas. These meatballs can be found simmering in tomato-based or clear soup and are infused with flavors of garlic, parsley, and sometimes a bit of Spanish smoked paprika for a kick.

There are so many more varieties of meatballs, but these are just a few of the most popular. The most common style of meatball in America is very similar to the Italian polpettes, but they’re larger, often have cheese added to them, and are most often served with pasta.

Meatball Ingredients

With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up these homemade ground turkey meatballs in no time. Here’s what you’ll need.

Ground turkey: Ground turkey is a stellar pick for meatballs! It's leaner than beef but still packs a juicy punch, making it a lighter choice without skimping on flavor. Plus, its subtle taste takes on herbs and spices like a champ, so you can go wild with your favorite flavors.

Breadcrumbs: This easy turkey meatball recipe uses Progresso™ Italian style bread crumbs, but you can use panko if you prefer. Breadcrumbs give a tighter bind and a soft texture, perfect for a classic feel. Panko, on the other hand, keeps things lighter and airier, adding a bit of crunch. It's all about the texture you’re craving!

Parmesan cheese: Parmesan adds salty, nutty goodness to your homemade meatballs, while helping to bind ingredients together, giving your meatballs a perfect texture.

Milk & eggs: The dynamic duo of meatball-making. Eggs act as the main binding agent, while milk keeps the mixture moist and tender. Together, they ensure your meatballs turn out just right—flavorful, succulent, and downright delicious! You can use whatever kind of milk you have on hand: skim, low fat or whole. Even non-dairy soy milk will do the trick. The higher the fat content, the richer your final dish—but any kind of milk will add the moisture you need.

Seasoning: This recipe features onion powder, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning, but you can experiment with different seasonings to suit your taste. Add crushed red pepper for a hint of heat, or fresh herbs like parsley or oregano for a bit of brightness.

These ingredients are ultra-versatile and contribute to many other meals for meat lovers, so why not try something new while you have them on hand?

How to Make Meatballs

Making these delicious oven baked turkey meatballs is so quick and simple. The full detailed directions for this recipe are below, but here’s how to mix and roll your way to dinner in no time.

Mix

Stir up your turkey, bread crumbs, cheese, onion powder, garlic salt and Italian seasoning in a large bowl until all the ingredients are well-mixed. Then add your milk and eggs and stir again until just combined. You or little ones have the choice to dive in hands first knowing you’ll get messy in the next step, or opt for your favorite utensil to combine. Just be sure everything is mixed together well for a consistent quality in your meatballs.

Roll

Next, shape your mixture into balls. Aim for about 15 balls of slightly less than ¼ cup each. A cookie scoop makes quick work of portioning the meat mixture so your easy turkey meatballs are all the same size. Wear food-safe gloves or lightly wet hands when rolling so the meat doesn’t stick. Place meatballs on a greased baking sheet and they’re ready for the oven!

Storing Leftover Meatballs

Leftover ground turkey meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Ground turkey meatballs are also great stashed in the freezer to make quick work for dinner later, so feel free to double this Easy Turkey Meatballs recipe. Portion out the meatballs onto a large parchment-lined baking pan and freeze them until firm. Transfer them to an airtight container (you decide the right amount for quick meals) for up to 1 month. Remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator before baking.

Reheating leftover baked turkey meatballs is a breeze! Place meatballs on a baking sheet, and cover with foil to keep them moist. Heat in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes until warmed through. In the microwave, place meatballs on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals until hot. Or pop them in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes for a crispy finish.