Tender Turkey Meatballs with Tomato Sauce (Printable Version)

Juicy turkey meatballs baked until golden, then simmered in rich homemade tomato sauce. Perfect over pasta or rice for a comforting 50-minute meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1.1 pounds ground turkey
02 - 1 large egg
03 - 0.6 cups breadcrumbs
04 - 2 tablespoons milk
05 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
10 - 0.5 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 - 0.5 teaspoon sugar
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ To Serve

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet 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 on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake meatballs for 18-20 minutes, turning halfway through, until lightly golden and 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, 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 Tips:

01 -
  • The meatballs stay incredibly moist without any heavy cream or excessive fat
  • Everything comes together in under an hour with ingredients you probably already have
  • The sauce simmers while the meatballs bake, making this feel fancy without the fuss
02 -
  • Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough and rubbery, so mix until ingredients are just combined
  • The meatballs will continue cooking slightly in the sauce, so dont worry if they seem slightly underdone when they first come out of the oven
  • Letting the sauce simmer while you finish the pasta allows flavors to deepen and meld together beautifully
03 -
  • Use wet hands when shaping meatballs to prevent the mixture from sticking to your palms
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre-grated cheese for better melting and flavor
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