Should I brush the turkey meatballs with oil before baking?

You can brush the meatballs with oil before baking if you like, but I didn't include that in this recipe because I don't think it's necessary. I tested this out by brushing only half the batch of the meatballs with oil before baking. Then, after baking, I asked my husband to see if he could tell a difference between the oiled vs. non-oiled meatballs (without telling him which was which). He couldn't tell a difference either in appearance or taste. So, brush or not, the choice is yours. They will taste delicious either way!

Can I freeze these meatballs?

Yes, these turkey meatballs freeze well. I like to freeze them in 1 - 2 serving size containers with an airtight lid. I didn't have any issue with them sticking together. As long as they are sealed well, they should last in the freezer for 3 - 4 months. When you want to eat them, you can reheat them in a baking tray covered with aluminum foil, in a 350 degree F (17 7 degree C) oven for about 20 - 25 minutes, or until the meatballs reach 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) . Or, you can reheat them in the microwave for about 1 - 2 minutes on high, again until they reach 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) . Make sure to cover the meatballs with a damp paper towel when microwaving so they don't dry out. For more tips and tricks on reheating frozen meatballs, check out this cool article on five ways to reheat frozen meatballs .

Can I freeze the lemon herb sauce?

Because the sauce has yogurt and mayo, both of which don't freeze well, I do not recommend that you freeze the sauce. But, it will keep in the fridge for 3 - 4 days in a covered container .

How do I serve baked turkey meatballs?

There are so many delicious ways to serve these turkey meatballs! My favorite way is to serve them as a part of a grain bowl , with either farro, rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa . Add a cooked veggie or a side of arugula or mixed greens for a complete meal! The best part is that you can drizzle the creamy lemon herb sauce over the whole shebang. You can also serve these meatballs on top of a salad, in a lettuce wrap, or stuffed in a pita. Or, serve them alongside a baked potato and sautéed veggies for a delicious and easy main course.

Garlic Herb Baked Turkey Meatballs

Name: Garlic Herb Baked Turkey Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound (454 g) 93% lean ground turkey; 1/2 cup (62 g) finely chopped onion (about 1/2 medium onion); 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 large egg; 1/2 cup (18 g) chopped fresh herbs (see note 1); 1/2 cup (73 g) breadcrumbs; 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (see note 2); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; nonstick spray or oil; 3 tablespoons (7 g) chopped fresh herbs; 1/2 cup (113 g) plain Greek yogurt; 1/4 cup (56 g) mayonnaise; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 - 3 tablespoons water

Garlic Herb Baked Turkey Meatballs

Print Recipe

5 from 8 reviews

Baked turkey meatballs are easy to make and ready in 35 minutes. Topped with a delicious creamy lemon herb sauce for an extra pop of bright flavor!

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 24 meatballs 1x
Category: main course, entree
Method: bake
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the meatballs:

1 pound (454 g) 93% lean ground turkey
1/2 cup (62 g) finely chopped onion (about 1/2 medium onion)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg
1/2 cup (18 g) chopped fresh herbs (see note 1)
1/2 cup (73 g) breadcrumbs
1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (see note 2)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
nonstick spray or oil

For the creamy lemon herb sauce:

3 tablespoons (7 g) chopped fresh herbs
1/2 cup (113 g) plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup (56 g) mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 - 3 tablespoons water

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil (optional, for easier cleanup). Top with a wire baking rack (see note 3). Spray the rack with nonstick spray. Alternatively, wipe down the rack with a paper towel dipped in oil.
Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic. Chop the fresh herbs (to save time, chop enough for both the meatballs and creamy lemon herb sauce).
Add the finely chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, 1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs, breadcrumbs, 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to a large bowl. Mix together until evenly combined.
Add the ground turkey to the bowl and mix with clean hands until evenly combined.
Roll the turkey mixture into 1 1/4 inch (3.2 cm) balls and place on greased wire baking rack. You should have about 24 meatballs.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 - 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) on an instant-read thermometer.
While the meatballs are baking, add all ingredients for the creamy lemon herb sauce to a small bowl. If you want a thicker sauce, only add 1 tablespoon of water, for a thinner sauce, add 2 - 3 tablespoons. If you aren't sure, start with the smaller amount of water. Whisk with a fork until smooth. If needed, add more water and whisk again until desired consistency is reached.
Serve the turkey meatballs immediately, drizzled with the creamy lemon herb sauce.

Notes

I used half dill and half parsley. Chives, basil, thyme, and even cilantro would be delicious. The recipe calls for a lot of herbs, so if you want to use a stronger flavored woody herb (like oregano or rosemary, for example), I would definitely use only about 1/4 of that herb and mix it with 3/4 of another, more delicate type such as parsley or chives.
Kosher salt is coarse grained; if you want to substitute fine grain salt, use 1 teaspoon rather than the 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt called for in the meatball recipe.
If you don't have a wire baking rack, just place the meatballs directly onto a greased baking pan (first lined with aluminum foil if you want easier cleanup). The meatballs will be less crisp underneath but will still taste delicious!
If you want the turkey meatballs to be a little browner, you can broil them for 1 - 2 minutes after baking. Position the baking sheet in the oven so the top of the meatballs are a few inches below the top broiler (I used the second oven rack position from the top). Please note: If your baking rack is not designed to withstand the high direct heat of the broiler (for example, if it has a coating on it), remove it before broiling.
The nutrition information below was calculated using 2% Greek yogurt. This nutrition information is an estimate only, provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full disclosure policy.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
Calories: 356
Sugar: 2.5 g
Sodium: 424 mg
Fat: 20.6 g
Saturated Fat: 4.4 g
Carbohydrates: 13.5 g
Fiber: 1.1 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 140 mg

Keywords: baked turkey meatballs, turkey meatballs

Find it online: https://nibbleanddine.com/garlic-herb-baked-turkey-meatballs-3/