These Oven Baked Turkey Meatballs are easy to make and so delicious. Serve them for a quick weeknight meal or prep a batch to enjoy all week long.
Baking turkey meatballs is a great way to prepare a healthier, leaner alternative to beef or pork meatballs. With the right technique, turkey meatballs can turn out incredibly moist, flavorful and tender. But one of the most common questions is how long to bake turkey meatballs at 350°F?
The baking time can vary based on the size of the meatballs. To help you nail the timing and temperature every time, I’ll share tips on how long to bake turkey meatballs at 350°F along with my foolproof recipe below.
How Long Should You Bake Turkey Meatballs at 350°F?
The baking time for turkey meatballs depends on their size Here are some general guidelines
- 1-inch meatballs: Bake for 15-20 minutes
- 1.5-inch meatballs: Bake for 20-25 minutes
- 2-inch meatballs: Bake for 25-30 minutes
For best results, I recommend starting with 1-1.5 inch meatballs which require less time in the oven This makes it easier to prevent overcooking
Once you get comfortable with the recipe, try making larger 2-inch meatballs which will need a little more bake time at 350°F.
Tips for Moist, Tender Turkey Meatballs
Follow these tips for turkey meatballs that turn out perfect every time:
- Use a light hand when mixing the ingredients. Over-mixing can make meatballs dense and rubbery.
- Make evenly sized meatballs for uniform cooking. A cookie scoop can help.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet. Leave at least 1-inch between meatballs.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Internal temp should reach 165°F.
- Let meatballs rest 5 minutes after baking so juices can redistribute.
How to Tell When Turkey Meatballs Are Fully Cooked
It’s important to accurately determine doneness to avoid undercooked meatballs. Here are some ways to check that turkey meatballs baked at 350°F are ready:
- Insert a meat thermometer into the center of a meatball. It should read 165°F minimum.
- Check firmness by gently pressing on a meatball. It should spring back and not indent.
- Cut a meatball in half to inspect the internal color. It should be brown throughout, not pink.
- Refer to the bake time estimates provided earlier based on meatball size.
If the meatballs fail any of these tests, return them to the oven for 5 more minutes until fully cooked.
My Favorite Baked Turkey Meatballs Recipe
Ready to make your own moist and delicious turkey meatballs? Follow this simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey (93% lean)
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian herb blend
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
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In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until just combined.
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Form mixture into 1-1.5 inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted in the center of a meatball reads 165°F minimum.
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Allow meatballs to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
That’s it! With this easy recipe, you’ll pull tender, juicy turkey meatballs from the oven every time.
Serving Ideas for Baked Turkey Meatballs
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving baked turkey meatballs. Here are just a few tasty ideas:
- On pasta with your favorite marinara or pesto sauce
- In subs, hoagies, meatball sandwiches
- Mixed into soups, stews or chilis
- On top of salads or grain bowls
- As an appetizer with a tangy dipping sauce
- Added to skewers or kabobs
Get creative with herbs, spices and sauces to customize your turkey meatballs.
Common Questions about Baking Turkey Meatballs
What temperature is best for baking turkey meatballs?
350°F is ideal. Higher temps may dry them out while lower temps will increase bake time.
Can I bake turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs?
Yes, but the breadcrumbs help bind them. Substitute with quick oats or panko.
How do I reheat leftover baked turkey meatballs?
Microwave, sauté in a skillet, or bake in oven until heated through 165°F.
Can I freeze cooked turkey meatballs?
Yes! Let them cool completely before freezing in airtight bags or containers for up to 4 months. Thaw before reheating.
What if my turkey meatballs don’t brown much during baking?
No worries, focus on safely cooking them to 165°F. You can broil briefly to brown the tops if desired.
Get Perfectly Cooked Turkey Meatballs Every Time
Mastering the baking time is key to getting tender, juicy results with turkey meatballs. Refer to the size-based guidelines and recipe provided above to nail the bake time at 350°F.
Be sure to use a meat thermometer to accurately determine doneness. In no time, you’ll be serving incredibly moist and flavorful turkey meatballs that please the entire family. Enjoy!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy and ready in 30 minutes – This meatball recipe is so easy to make and comes together in a half an hour!
- Great for meal prep – I love making a double batch of baked turkey meatballs to enjoy all week long for quick and easy lunches.
- Delicious high protein meal – Three meatballs will give you over 40 grams of protein! I love having these on hand in a pinch.
- Freezer friendly – Make extra meatballs and toss the leftovers in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for the next time you need an easy meal.
I love enjoying these meatballs over pasta or in a sandwich with tomato sauce. You could even serve them over rice, or own their own with toothpicks as an appetizer. The leftovers are also great in salads! Make a dressing like my Greek yogurt dressing or mason jar dressing and serve these meatballs on a simple greens salad.
If you want a quick and easy green on the side, you could make air fryer asparagus or air fryer brussels sprouts.
- Yellow onion – the onion provides the base of flavor in your meatballs
- Olive oil – I used extra virgin olive oil to saute the onions, but you can use any neutral oil
- Ground turkey – I recommend using 93/7 lean ground turkey so there is enough fat to keep your meatballs tender
- Egg – use a large egg to bind the turkey meatball mixture together.
- Grated parmesan cheese – freshly grated parmesan cheese is best for melting into your meatballs
- Bread crumbs – plain panko breadcrumbs add texture to the ground meat and help keep these meatballs tender. I recommend using plain so you can control the amount of seasoning
- Kosher salt – just a teaspoon of salt makes a big difference in enhancing the flavor of your meatballs
- Italian seasoning – I use pre-made seasoning, but you can make your own mix of oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, parsley, black pepper, or anything else you would like!
It is very easy to make this meatball recipe gluten-free. Use gluten-free panko instead of bread crumbs.
If you do not have ground turkey, you can also use ground chicken or ground beef for this baked meatball recipe.
I only used dried herbs, but you can feel free to add fresh herbs like chopped fresh basil or parsley. You could also add minced garlic cloves with your onions, but I personally don’t find you need them. Plus, it makes for less chopping!
Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium low. Add diced onion to warm oil and saute until soft and translucent – about 5-7 minutes ( 1).
Add ground turkey to a large bowl with the egg, grated parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt, italian seasoning and sauted onions ( 2).
Mix everything together until just combined – be careful not to overmix because that will result in tough meatballs.
Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop ¼ cup of meat mixture onto the lined baking sheet ( 3). You should have about 10 meatballs total. Using wet hands. Roll the meatballs with damp hands into smooth balls.
Bake at 350F for a total time of 20 minutes ( 4). Serve with warm marinara sauce.
Once prepared, allow the meatballs to cool completely and transfer to an airtight container. Then, store the meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, take the leftover out of the fridge and reheat in an oven, toaster oven, or in microwave. It sometimes helps to slice the meatballs before reheating to make sure they heat all the way through.
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