Healthy Turkey Meatballs are a nutritious twist on a classic Italian dish. Whole30 friendly, paleo, gluten free, dairy free and so delicious! Made with lean turkey and fresh herbs- they’re the perfect dinner! I love pairing with tomato sauce and zucchini noodles.
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Whether you’re Italian or not – there’s no denying that there are few better things in life than a big bowl of pasta + meatballs. Especially when they’re gluten free, dairy free, paleo, whole30 AND taste just like what you grew up eating!
These Healthy Turkey Meatballs are loaded with flavor, packed with lean protein and super easy to make.
Plus.. they have no breadcrumbs! Yes, it’s possibly to make meatballs with out breadcrumbs, I’ll show you how!
When I tell you that my Gram could easily win awards for her cooking – I’m not joking.
There is always something going on in her kitchen – whether it be a Banana Cake (another one of her famous recipes, which I made healthier in this Healthy Banana Bread recipe), chicken cutlets, or dessert of some sort.
Another thing that she makes that are SO delicious are her meatballs.
When I did my first Whole30… I knew I was going to have a big problem with giving up pasta and meatballs. It’s something we eat almost every week, and it’s one of my favorite meals.
I was determined to come up with a Whole30 meatball recipe that tasted amazing + wouldn’t leave me feeling left out on Sunday dinners.
Nothing can compare to my grandma’s recipe – but these Healthy Turkey Meatballs are a close second.
What you need to make Healthy Turkey Meatballs
You only need a few ingredients to make healthy turkey meatballs, and you can easily customize them depending on what you have on hand. These healthy meatballs are bursting with flavor from the fresh herbs that we use, lower in fat with the swap from beef to turkey, and are so easy to make!
How to make Healthy Turkey Meatballs
To make healthy turkey meatballs add al of your ingredients into a bowl. Mix together until combined. Roll into balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake + enjoy!
We love to make a big batch of these and freeze half of it. That way you can have dinner for another night all ready go, or a simple snack waiting for you in the freezer.
These clean eating turkey meatballs are perfect with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper on top, or they are great when cooked in our Healthy Crockpot Tomato Sauce low and slow for hours.
The longer you cook them in sauce for, the better they taste and the more tender they are!
Tips for making the Best Healthy Turkey Meatballs
- Use fresh herbs! Dried herbs will work in a pinch, but these are SO much better when you use fresh herbs!
- Make a full batch or double batch and freeze some of these clean eating meatballs. It will make your life SO much easier. These freeze perfectly in a big ziploc bag and then you can just defrost them as you need them!
- Cook the meatballs in sauce after baking them. They’re delicious on their own, but so yummy when you let them cook low and slow!
How to serve Healthy Turkey Meatballs
- Over zoodles (zucchini noodles)– If you don’t have a spiralizer
you have to get one! As much as I love eating a bowl of pasta – it’s nice to have a lighter alternative and a spiralizer is key for getting through Whole30. The zucchini noodles are a great swap when you’re craving pasta. They are also great if you are gluten free or paleo.
- Over pasta– My favorite gluten free pasta is Modern Table.
- Over a salad
- With our Healthy Crockpot Tomato Sauce (If you’re still buying jarred sauce PLEASE try this!!)
you have to get one! As much as I love eating a bowl of pasta – it’s nice to have a lighter alternative and a Can you freeze these Healthy Turkey Meatballs?
YES! And you totally should. I like to double the batch and freeze half of them.
Then you can quickly defrost for busy nights or a simple lunch! I recommend allowing them to cool completely and putting in a container or freezer size ziploc bag.
When you’re ready to eat you can microwave them or heat in a pan!
Substitutions for Healthy Turkey Meatballs:
- Nut free: sub almond meal with breadcrumbs (this will make the meatballs non-whole30)
- Coconut/Almond Flour – If you don’t have coconut flour or almond meal you can sub whole wheat breadcrumbs
- Herbs – If you don’t have fresh herbs you can used dried (but fresh have so much more flavor!)
- Meat- You can sub chicken or beef for the turkey
- Extra Veggies –You can add in chopped spinach or kale for extra veggies. I actually like to pulse in the food processor so it get’s super find. You can’t even taste it!
- WW Freestyle Note: Points calculated using 99% fat free turkey
Looking for other healthy turkey recipes? Check these out!
- Turkey Mushroom Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Paleo Turkey Chili
- Whole 30 Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Zucchini
- Paleo Turkey Taco Stuffed Delicata Squash
Healthy Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons almond milk
- 3/4 cup onion (finely chopped, I pulse mine in a food processor)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Optional if not paleo/whole 30:
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Spray a lined baking sheet with olive oil. (Or use nonstick foil/parchment paper).
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined
- Roll into approximately 1.5 inch balls and place on cookie sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 10-15 minutes, then flip and bake for another 10-15 minutes on the other side.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until combined. Roll into approximately 1.5 inch balls and place on cookie sheet.
- Freeze meatballs for 10 minutes to make them easier to handle.
- Once meatballs have been frozen, place trivet insert into Instant Pot. Pour 1 cup of water into bottom of pot.
- Place meatballs on top of trivet, stacking as needed.
- Cover instant pot and make sure the pressure release is set to sealing. Set instant pot to pressure cook for 7 minutes.
- Allow pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes. Release any remaining pressure and remove with tongs.
- See Notes for additional tips/tricks for cooking meatballs in instant pot.
Notes
- Nut free: sub almond meal with breadcrumbs (this will make the meatballs non-whole30)
- Coconut/Almond Flour - If you don't have coconut flour or almond meal you can sub whole wheat breadcrumbs
- Herbs - If you don't have fresh herbs you can used dried (but fresh have so much more flavor!)
- Meat- You can sub chicken or beef for the turkey
- Extra Veggies -You can add in chopped spinach or kale for extra veggies. I actually like to pulse in the food processor so it get's super find. You can't even taste it!
- WW Freestyle Note: Points calculated using 99% fat free turkey
- Cook time does not include time to come to pressure (about 14 minutes).
- Freezing meatballs isn't necessary but will make the meatballs easier to handle and they won't cook together in the pot.
- If you want the meatballs to be browned, you can either sauté them before cooking. In the Instant Pot you can use the sauté method - be sure to scrape off any bits of food on the bottom of the pan before cooking or you may get a burn notice.
- You can also sauté or broil meatballs after cooking to brown them.
GiGi Eats
July 27, 2016 at 9:33 amMeat balls are something I DO not make often but I LOVEEEEEEE them so I must! They’re just so so so easy!
thecleaneatingcouple@gmail.com
July 27, 2016 at 11:42 amI love em’ too, girl!
Cassie
July 29, 2016 at 11:02 amI used to smash meatballs in my face like no other! They were absolutely addictive 🙂
thecleaneatingcouple@gmail.com
July 29, 2016 at 11:37 amThey’re sooo good!
Renee @ The Mind-Body Shift
August 3, 2016 at 12:29 pmSounds tasty! I’ll have to tinker around with this to see if I can find a lower carb substitute for breadcrumbs that won’t compromise texture and flavor.
thecleaneatingcouple@gmail.com
August 3, 2016 at 2:38 pmYou could swap the bread crumbs for almond meal! 🙂
Birdie
November 16, 2016 at 5:06 pmSub oatmeal quick oats for breadcrumbs still very tasty
The Clean Eating Couple
November 16, 2016 at 10:07 pmI’ve never tried quick oats as a sub in this recipe so I’m not sure if it would be successful. I have tried almond meal which is a lower carb option!
Madison | A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
June 25, 2018 at 10:25 amThese meatballs were SO good! We used fresh basil and you’re so right, definitely makes a big difference! We’ll be making these OFTEN!
The Clean Eating Couple
July 2, 2018 at 12:31 pmYou’re the sweetest!! I’m so glad you like them!
Molly
October 23, 2018 at 3:35 pmThe first time I made these I was skeptical because there’s no cheese and no breadcrumbs. I wanted meatballs without the dairy and the extra carbs, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they would actually taste good. THEY DO. THEY TASTE SO GOOD. When I tasted them for the first time, I actually said out loud (to no one by myself and my dog), “Holy (beep beep), these are amazing!!!” (I’m censoring myself so you can keep your blog PG.) Now whenever I’m making them, I double the batch. I make them every 2-3 weeks and always have these delicious and healthy meatballs in my freezer for those nights I don’t want to or don’t have time to cook!
The Clean Eating Couple
October 23, 2018 at 4:02 pmEven I was skeptical about making a cheese and breadcrumb free meatball, but they really ARE delicious!! Love that you double batch them – I do the same thing!!
Courtney
October 24, 2018 at 8:14 pmThese turkey meatballs are my go-to meal prep item. I love that they’re Whole 30 friendly, simple ingredients and can eat them for any meal. My personal fave is over zoodles with a good tomato basil marinara!
The Clean Eating Couple
October 24, 2018 at 9:42 pmThank you so much, Courtney!! I’m with you on the zoodles and marinara.. that’s the best!
Linda
September 4, 2019 at 1:56 pmI have a granddaughter who LOVES meatballs, but I haven’t been able to make them for her since her family began eating grain-free. I am super excited because there isn’t anything in these she can’t have! So, even though I haven’t made them yet, I am giving them 5 stars, because there is hope! Woohoo!
The Clean Eating Couple
September 5, 2019 at 2:55 pmYou are so sweet, Linda! I can assure you – grain free meatballs ARE possible!! I grew up in a big Italian family. When you cook these in sauce all day on the stove they get SO tender – your grandaughter will love them!
Kaitlyn Woods
September 15, 2019 at 7:23 pmProbably my favorite go to quick dish! I like to add some greens into the mixture and freeze the turkey when they’re cooked.
The Clean Eating Couple
September 16, 2019 at 7:55 amThank you so much, Kaitlyn! We always freeze these too – they’re great to be able to defrost for a quick meal!
Kimberly Mowdy
September 17, 2019 at 10:18 amI made a batch of these to freeze so I would have meals for surgery recovery. There’s so many things you can do with these and they taste amazing!
The Clean Eating Couple
September 17, 2019 at 3:57 pmYay!! Totally agree- they’re perfect for stocking your freezer/fridge with! So easy and yummy!
Alyssa Maas
September 24, 2019 at 5:38 pmThese are my favorite go-to meal prep recipe!! I love them. So good with pasta or on their own.
Gigi Lee
October 3, 2019 at 10:48 pmso good!! i froze half of it and they were super easy!!
The Clean Eating Couple
October 4, 2019 at 11:37 amSo glad you liked them, Gigi!