When I post about these ground turkey meatballs on FlavCity, you guys always ask me for the recipe. So this blog post is long overdue, but it will be worth the wait. Turkey thigh meat that has been ground up, then seared in a pan and finished cooking in a zesty marinara sauce The turkey meatballs are already tasty, but why not add more shredded cheese on top and broil them until the cheese melts and the meatballs are hot and bubbly?
This recipe is low carb and keto approved because there are no breadcrumbs in the mixture. Ground turkey thighs are so soft you don’t need them. You may notice that this recipe looks a lot like my ultimate Italian meatballs and sauce. If you want to make it keto, just swap out the breadcrumbs for almond flour.
Turkey meatballs are a versatile, protein-packed meal component that can be incorporated into a variety of dishes By omitting the carbs and making no carb turkey meatballs, you can fit this recipe into a low carb or keto diet Read on for tips, tricks and a step-by-step method for making moist, flavorful no carb turkey meatballs at home.
Why Make No Carb Turkey Meatballs?
There are several benefits to preparing no carb turkey meatballs:
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High Protein Content – Turkey is a lean meat that provides lots of protein to help you feel full and satisfied. Each serving of no carb turkey meatballs packs in about 30 grams of protein.
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Low Carb – By omitting breadcrumbs or other starchy binders, these meatballs contain zero net carbs. This allows them to fit into low carb, keto, gluten-free and paleo diets.
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Nutrient Dense – Turkey meatballs provide iron zinc selenium, vitamins B6 and B12 in addition to protein. Adding spinach boosts the vitamin and mineral content even more.
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Satisfying Flavor – Seasonings like garlic onion and Italian herbs give these meatballs plenty of savory flavor even without carbs.
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Versatile – No carb turkey meatballs can be enjoyed in many ways. Use them in low carb pasta dishes, on top of zucchini noodles, in soups or stews, over cauliflower rice or on their own.
Tips for Making No Carb Turkey Meatballs
Follow these tips for whipping up the best batch of no carb turkey meatballs:
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Choose 93% Lean Ground Turkey – Using very lean ground turkey prevents the meatballs from being too greasy while still keeping them moist.
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Blend in Finely Minced Vegetables – Grated zucchini or spinach blended into the raw meat mixture adds moisture and nutrients without carbs.
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Use Egg as a Binder – Since breadcrumbs are not included, egg acts as the binding agent to help the meatballs hold their shape.
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Chill the Mixture – Refrigerating the raw meatball mixture for 30-60 minutes firms it up for easier shaping.
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Don’t Overwork the Meat – Gently mix just until combined to prevent dense, rubbery meatballs.
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Bake at 400??F – Baking at a high temp helps the meatballs develop a nice browned exterior while cooking through.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making No Carb Turkey Meatballs
Now let’s walk through the entire process of making flavorful no carb turkey meatballs at home:
Ingredients
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup minced zucchini or spinach
- 1 large egg
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 400??F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Combine the ground turkey, zucchini or spinach, egg, garlic, parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix gently with your hands until just incorporated.
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Refrigerate the mixture for 30-60 minutes. This allows it to firm up for easier shaping.
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Form the chilled mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165??F.
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Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
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Enjoy the no carb turkey meatballs on their own, over zoodles, with low carb marinara sauce or in any way you desire!
Customizing Your No Carb Turkey Meatballs
There are endless possibilities when it comes to seasoning no carb turkey meatballs:
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For Italian-style, add dried basil, oregano, parsley and red pepper flakes.
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For breakfast meatballs, use sage, thyme andground pork sausage.
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For southwestern meatballs, opt for cumin, chili powder and cayenne.
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For Asian-inspired, try ginger, sesame oil, garlic and tamari.
Get creative with different herbs, spices, chopped veggies and cheese in the raw meat mixture. The flavor combos are endless!
No Carb Pairings and Serving Suggestions
No carb turkey meatballs are extremely versatile. Here are some tasty ways to enjoy them:
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Over zucchini noodles with low carb marinara sauce for “spaghetti” and meatballs
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In a soup or stew instead of carb-heavy starchy potatoes or noodles
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On top of a keto Cobb salad
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Rolled into lettuce leaves for a bun-less turkey meatball sandwich
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Over riced cauliflower or mashed cauliflower as the protein on top
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On their own as a high protein snack
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Baked, cooled and added to a charcuterie board
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Properly stored, no carb turkey meatballs will keep for:
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3-4 days in the refrigerator
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3 months in the freezer
To reheat, bake frozen meatballs at 400??F for 15-20 minutes until hot and sizzling. Microwaving is not recommended, as it can make the texture rubbery.
Satisfying and Nutritious No Carb Turkey Meatballs
Whipping up a batch of no carb turkey meatballs is one of the tastiest ways to fit more protein and nutrients into a low carb diet. With clever use of vegetables, seasonings and cheese instead of breadcrumbs, you can still achieve satisfyingly robust flavor. Let your creativity run wild dreaming up flavor combos. Enjoy no carb turkey meatballs as a nutritious high protein option for meals, snacks and more.
How To Make Low Carb Turkey Meatballs
To make the best turkey meatballs, add one pound of ground turkey thighs to a large bowl. I like to buy the organic ground turkey thighs from Trader Joe’s – they have a great price. Add one egg, parsley, dried oregano, pepper flakes, salt, and grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese to the turkey to make it taste better. Because ground turkey is so smooth, you don’t need to soak breadcrumbs in milk for this recipe. This means that the recipe is low carb and keto friendly.
After making meatballs about the size of golf balls, freeze them for 20 minutes to make them firm. While that’s going on, put your meatballs in a pot big enough to hold them and add your favorite marinara sauce. To make my red sauce for meatballs, you can use it, or I like to buy Rao’s Marinara from Costco. The price is right and that sauce is by far my favorite!.
Pan sear and gently simmer the turkey meatballs in the sauce for 25 minutes and they are ready. You can stop there, but I never know when to do that. So good ahead and add 1 cup of freshly grated mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs. Alternatively, you can use any good melting cheese you want such as brie style cheese or tallegio. Brie cheese is what I used for this blog post. The nutty flavor of the brie was divine and the cheese melted so well.
Put the turkey meatballs with cheese on top under the broiler for a few minutes, or until the cheese melts and bubbles.
Can I Make Meatballs From Ground Turkey Breast?
Ground turkey breast is very lean and the meatballs will be dry if you use that. It is much better to use ground turkey thighs. The added fat helps prevent the meatballs from drying out and they are still leaner than ground beef.
Easy Zero Carb Carnivore Meatballs – Deliciously Simple
FAQ
Do Turkey Meatballs have carbs?
Does turkey have no carbs?
Can I eat meatballs on keto?