Lighten up your spaghetti dinner with these delicious baked turkey meatballs. They are tender, juicy, and have that mouthwatering sear that every good meatball needs. These meatballs are ready in about 30 minutes and are sure to be a hit. They couldn’t be easier to make!
Turkey is a leaner option than beef or pork meatballs and it is full of good protein. I love a good beef or pork meatball just as much as the next person, but there are days when I know I need to cut back on the red meat. So, if I can make a traditional comfort food like meatballs that is also healthier and tastes just as good, I’m all for it!
I added onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning to make them taste like real Italy. I also added breadcrumbs to keep the balls together while they’re cooking. Say goodbye to bland turkey and believe me when I say these meatballs are bursting with flavor. You may just find yourself unable to resist eating them off the pan!.
Although I like to bake my turkey meatballs so I don’t have to stand over the stove, I’m also going to show you how to fry them in a pan on the stove, just in case that’s what you’d rather do. Both ways are easy and work well on busy weeknights, so pick the one that works best for you.
It’s easy to make this dish, and it goes well with pasta or zucchini noodles for a healthier option. It’s also quick and easy to make. This recipe for turkey meatballs is one that you’ll turn to again and again!.
Juicy, flavorful turkey meatballs are a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main dish. Getting the doneness just right is key for a tender, moist interior encased in a browned exterior. Undercooked meatballs are unsafe to eat, while overcooking leads to a tough, rubbery texture.
As a home cook and food blogger who makes turkey meatballs often, I get asked frequently how to tell when they are fully cooked without cutting them open. Through trial and many tasty meatballs, I’ve discovered several reliable techniques to determine doneness.
In this comprehensive guide I’ll share my proven methods to test when turkey meatballs are done both with and without a meat thermometer. Let’s dive in!
Use an Instant-Read Thermometer
Using an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature is by far the most accurate way to assess doneness.
To test with a thermometer:
- Insert the probe into the thickest part of a meatball.
- When the temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), the meatballs are cooked through and safe to eat.
An instant-read thermometer like the Thermapen provides precise results in just seconds I recommend taking the temperature of meatballs in several spots to confirm even cooking
Look for Visual Cues
While not as precise as thermometer. you can get helpful clues by examining the meatballs’ appearance
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Properly cooked meatballs will be firm and spring back when pressed gently. If still soft or mushy, they need more time.
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The exterior should be browned, with no raw-looking pink spots.
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Meatballs may puff up slightly when done. Deflated or sunken meatballs likely need longer cooking.
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Fat rendered from the meatballs may pool on the baking sheet when fully cooked.
Do a Poke Test
Gently press a meatball with your finger, the back of a spoon or a toothpick. It should feel firm with some springiness when done.
Check Interior Texture
You can sneak a peek inside a meatball without cutting it fully open:
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Use two forks or your fingers to tear a small nick or opening in an individual meatball.
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Peek at the texture and color inside. When cooked through, the interior should be brown with no traces of pink.
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Immediately discard the torn meatball after checking it.
Estimate Cook Time
Cooking time can provide a general gauge for when meatballs may be done:
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In a 375°F oven, turkey meatballs typically take 15-20 minutes to reach 165°F internally.
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Larger meatballs will need more time compared to smaller, bite-sized ones.
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Adjust cook time based on your particular oven’s true heating capability.
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Always confirm doneness with a thermometer since cook times are not completely reliable.
Avoid the Juices Test
Some sources advise checking meatball juices as an indicator of doneness. However, this method is risky:
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Piercing meatballs can lead to loss of juices and a drier finished product.
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Clear juices do not guarantee safety, and pink juices do not definitively mean undercooked.
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You may contaminate the surrounding area and other meatballs.
For safety and quality, rely on other doneness indicators instead of the juices test.
Extra Tips for Perfectly Cooked Meatballs
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For evenly cooked meatballs, choose similar sizes when shaping them.
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Arrange them evenly spaced on a sheet pan so air circulates and promotes even browning.
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Brush meatballs with oil before baking for enhanced browning and moisture.
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Preheat your oven fully before baking to ensure the correct temperature.
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For food safety, never eat meatballs that did not reach 165°F internally.
Common Turkey Meatball Cooking Questions
Can you eat turkey meatballs pink?
No, for food safety turkey meatballs should always be cooked to 165°F internally until no pink remains. Any pink indicates undercooking.
Do turkey meatballs shrink when cooked?
Yes, turkey meatballs often puff up and then shrink slightly when fully cooked through. The exterior will also become browned.
How long to bake turkey meatballs at 400°F?
At 400°F, turkey meatballs typically take 12-15 minutes to reach 165°F internally. Always confirm doneness with a thermometer.
What oven temp for turkey meatballs?
Any temperature from 375-425°F will work. Higher heat cooks faster but may dry them out. Lower heat takes longer but keeps them moister.
The Takeaway
Checking turkey meatball doneness properly is simple with a few handy techniques. An instant-read thermometer provides foolproof results, while visual cues, poke tests, and estimating cook time can also indicate when they’re done. With these tips, you’ll serve perfectly safe and delicious meatballs every time.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Lighter and healthier option. It’s possible that ground turkey breast is better for you than ground beef because it has less saturated fat. Because they are high in protein, these meatballs will fill you up and taste great.
- Quick to make. From start to finish, these meatballs take about 30 minutes. They’re a great choice for a busy weeknight dinner.
- Make ahead. Without cooking the meatballs, you can freeze them. To save even more time, cook the meatballs ahead of time and freeze them to use later. Great for meal prepping!.
What you’ll need to make this recipe
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- I like to make meatballs with ground turkey breast instead of ground thigh. Being leaner makes it more expensive, but that’s great because these meatballs should be pretty light. Should you choose ground thigh, it is a cheap choice with a little extra fat. You can also use ground chicken, pork, or a mix of the two instead of turkey.
- Onion—Dice the onion as small as you can so that there aren’t any big pieces in the meatballs.
- For garlic, using fresh garlic is always best because it gives food a strong, new taste. If you have garlic in a jar on hand, you can use that instead.
- Bread crumbs help the meatballs stay together and add moisture. They also give the balls their structure. Homemade or store-bought will work. Breadcrumbs like Panko or Italian seasoned breadcrumbs can be used instead of regular breadcrumbs. In this case, skip the Italian seasoning.
- Egg – Use large for binding the mixture together. I use one egg for every pound of ground turkey. It gives the meatballs just the right amount of moisture and helps them stay together.
- Fresh parsley: I like Italian parsley, which has flat leaves, but you can use curly parsley instead if you’d like.
- A mix of herbs like rosemary, basil, oregano, and thyme that is used in Italian seasoning. Try my easy recipe that only needs six simple ingredients! It’s really simple to make at home.
- Turkey has a mild flavor (sometimes it’s even bland), so adding salt and pepper makes it taste much better.
- Olive oil: To brush on the meatballs before baking or when frying them in a pan (helps them brown). It also makes the balls a little more moist. You should use an oil with a high smoke point when you brown or fry something. Because of this, if you use olive oil, choose light olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil. The latter is not meant for high heat.
- *Parmesan cheese: You don’t have to add this, but you can if you want to add more moisture and savory flavor to the meatball mixture.
Turkey Meatballs
FAQ
How do you tell if turkey meatballs are fully cooked?
Can turkey meatballs be a little pink?
How do you know when meatballs are done without a thermometer?
How do you tell when ground turkey is done?
How long do you bake Turkey meatballs?
Don’t roll the meatballs too tightly or the consistency will be rubbery instead of tender. 1.5 inch Turkey Meatballs can be baked at 350° for 30 minutes. I prefer to bake them at 350° for 22 minutes and at 450° for the last 5 minutes to create color and texture on the outside. Let them rest for 5 minutes prior to serving.
Can you cook Turkey meatballs in a slow cooker?
These Tender Turkey Meatballs are easy to make from scratch and bake in the oven or in the Slow Cooker! Combine them with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese or serve them with brown gravy and mashed potatoes. This recipe makes a perfect freezer food for easy weekday meals!
How do you make Turkey meatballs?
Onion: Dice one small onion. Eggs: The eggs act as a binder. Milk: Adds a bit of moisture and helps keep it all together. Garlic: Minced or finely chopped. These turkey meatballs are super easy to throw together. Roll them up and bake them for juicy perfection. They are so good and a healthier alternative to beef meatballs.
Are Turkey meatballs dry & flavorless?
Turkey meatballs get a bad rap for being dry and flavorless, but you’ll never have that problem again after making our easy recipe. Carrots, onion, mushroom, and garlic, add loads of flavor and keep the meatballs super moist. Save this recipe! Save this recipe! Enter your email below and we’ll shoot it straight to ya!
How long do Turkey meatballs last?
Poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming. This is especially true when using ground meat as it has a higher risk of contamination. The best way to be sure your meat has reached a safe internal temperature is with a meat thermometer. You can freeze turkey meatballs and they will last for several months.
Can you cook Turkey meatballs in tomato sauce?
Turkey meatballs in tomato sauce are pure comfort! You can warm the sauce in a small pot on the stove, then serve the turkey meatballs in sauce, or take our favorite approach: warm the sauce in a large skillet, then simmer the meatballs at the end to heat them through. Pesto Sauce. Serve these meatballs with Basil Pesto and Pesto Pasta.