Tender Turkey Meatballs with Tomato Sauce (Printable)

Tender turkey meatballs baked then simmered in homemade tomato sauce. Perfect over pasta or rice for a comforting, nutritious dinner.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1.1 pounds ground turkey
02 - 1 large egg
03 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
04 - 2 tablespoons milk
05 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Tomato Sauce

11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
13 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
14 - 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (2 cans)
15 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
16 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
17 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ To Serve

19 - 10.5 ounces pasta or cooked rice
20 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)
21 - Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Shape mixture into 16–18 golf-ball-sized meatballs and place them on the prepared tray.
04 - Bake meatballs for 18–20 minutes, turning halfway, until lightly golden and just cooked through.
05 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
06 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, sugar (if using), salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Transfer baked meatballs into the sauce. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, spooning sauce over the meatballs.
08 - While meatballs finish in sauce, cook pasta or rice according to package instructions.
09 - Serve turkey meatballs and sauce over pasta or rice. Garnish with fresh herbs and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These meatballs stay incredibly tender thanks to the milk-soaked breadcrumbs, a trick I learned from an Italian neighbor
  • You get all the comfort of classic spaghetti and meatballs with half the guilt and none of the grease
02 -
  • Overmixing the meat mixture makes tough, rubbery meatballs, so mix only until everything is just combined
  • Letting meatballs rest in the simmering sauce for the full 10 minutes is non-negotiable for that tender, juicy texture
03 -
  • Chill your meatball mixture for 15 minutes before shaping if it feels too soft or sticky to work with
  • Use a small cookie scoop to get perfectly uniform meatballs that all cook at the same rate
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