With ground turkey instead of beef, homemade baked turkey meatballs offer the comforting familiarity of your favorite meatball recipe. They use ingredients from the pantry, are juicy and moist (no dry meatballs allowed here!), and go great with a big bowl of spaghetti. Mangia!.
No one wants to risk undercooked meatballs, especially when it comes to poultry. But who wants to sacrifice perfectly formed meatballs by slicing them open to check for doneness? Fear not, culinary adventurers, for there are several ways to determine if your turkey meatballs are cooked through without resorting to such drastic measures.
1. The Thermometer Test: Your Most Reliable Ally
This is the gold standard for ensuring food safety and perfect texture Invest in a good instant-read thermometer – it’s a kitchen essential that will serve you well beyond meatballs Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of a meatball. Once the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), you’re good to go!
2. The Visual Inspection: Look for Clues
While not as precise as a thermometer, visual cues can offer valuable insights. Perfectly cooked meatballs will be firm to the touch and slightly browned on the outside. If you see any pinkness remaining, they need more time in the oven.
3 The Internal Texture: A Gentle Squeeze
Gently press a meatball with a spoon or your finger. If it feels firm and springs back it’s likely done. If it feels soft or mushy it needs more cooking time.
4. The Time Test: A Rough Estimate
This method is less reliable, but can be helpful if you’re in a pinch. Generally, turkey meatballs take about 15-20 minutes to cook through in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C). However, factors like size and oven temperature can influence cooking time.
5. The Juices Test: A Risky Business
Some cooks rely on checking the juices that run out of the meatballs when pierced with a fork. Clear juices indicate doneness, while pink or reddish juices mean they need more time. However, this method can be unreliable and potentially contaminate your food.
Bonus Tip: Trust Your Intuition
With experience, you’ll develop a sense for when your meatballs are done. The aroma, texture, and appearance will all give you clues.
Remember:
- Always cook ground turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure food safety.
- Use a meat thermometer for the most accurate results.
- Visual cues and gentle pressure tests can also provide helpful information.
- Time is a rough guide, adjust cooking time based on your oven and meatball size.
- Avoid relying solely on the juices test.
By following these tips, you can confidently cook delicious and safe turkey meatballs without sacrificing their integrity. Now go forth and conquer the culinary world, one perfectly cooked meatball at a time!
How to Make Turkey Meatballs
- Ground Turkey. Unlike traditional meatball recipes, which often call for up to three different types of meat, this turkey meatball recipe is simple and only uses ground turkey. Try combining ground beef and ground turkey or ground pork and ground turkey for a flavor that is most like a traditional meatball.
- Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs + Egg. These bind the meat and keep the meatballs moist. For this recipe, I do not suggest using panko breadcrumbs because they are drier and will not bind the meatballs as well.
- Lazy Girl Basic Spices. Garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, red pepper flakes. Because I occasionally want meatballs when I’m hungry and don’t want to grate an onion or mince garlic cloves for them
- Parmesan. Because meatballs are better with cheese. It’s true. Parmesan also helps to ensure the meatballs are moist.
- Start the Recipe. Place the ground turkey, Parmesan, and spices in a large bowl.
- Add the Egg. Be gentle when combining.
- Shape into Meatballs. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Brush the Meatballs with Olive Oil. These helps them crisp outside and stay moist.
- Bake. Cook the turkey meatballs for 15 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, or until a meat thermometer registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for a 1 1/2-inch meatball. The meatballs should be cooked through when you cut into them.
- Air Fryer. Use my recipe for Air Fryer Meatballs to learn how to make turkey meatballs.
- Without Breadcrumbs. If you want turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs, try my Whole30 Paleo Meatballs, which are made with almond flour instead of bread crumbs.
- Gluten-Free. Use your preferred gluten-free Italian breadcrumbs in place of the Italian breadcrumbs in this recipe. Another option is to try making the meatballs with finely ground oats in a food processor (season the oats with extra salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning).
- To Store. Meatballs can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days in an airtight container (either with or without the sauce).
- To Reheat. Reheat leftovers in the microwave (with or without the sauce), on the stovetop, or in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To Freeze. Turkey meatballs can be frozen cooked or raw. Put the meatballs on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and freeze until solid. For up to three months, store frozen meatballs in an airtight freezer-safe container or ziptop bag.
Why You’ll Love These Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Easy. These turkey meatballs come together quickly, just like all of my 30-minute meals, which makes them a lifesaver on hectic evenings. Baking makes them hands-free!.
- Juicy and Moist. Have you ever been burned by tasteless or, gasp!, dry turkey meatballs? I was too, which is why I made sure the meat in all of my ground turkey recipes, from Turkey Burgers to Turkey Chili, is moist and tender.
- Simple Ingredients. You probably already have everything you need in your pantry to make these easy turkey meatballs once you have your ground turkey and Parmesan in the fridge.
- Pure Comfort. Good ol’ spaghetti and meatballs is about as intrinsically satisfying as it gets, and pasta recipes always seem to work no matter what day of the week.
- Makes Plenty. Our two-person household loves leftovers, so the recipe makes about 20 meatballs, which is enough to feed a small dinner group or several dinners. My Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs are a great option if you need to make more turkey meatballs for a large gathering.
The BEST Baked Turkey Meatballs | LOADED With of Flavor!
FAQ
Can turkey meatballs be a little pink inside?
How do you know when meatballs are fully cooked?
How do you know when ground turkey is done cooking?
What Colour is cooked turkey meatballs?