Confetti Turkey Meatballs

Confetti Turkey Meatballs

Big or mini, everyone loves a good homemade meatball! Made with ground turkey and the simplest of ingredients, these light ‘n healthy morsels will be gobbled up in seconds. And pssst…don’t tell the kids there is a burst of veggie goodness hiding in every bite! While perfect for busy weeknights or Sunday supper, these yummy meatballs would also make a fun party nibble.

Yield:4 to 6 servings (24 to 36 meatballs depending on desired size)
Author: Linda Shapiro, © Meal Planning Maven

Ingredients

  • Parchment paper or olive oil spray
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 large red bell pepper
  • 2 carrots peeled
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground turkey I prefer a mixture of white and dark for added moisture
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup ground oats or whole-grain or gluten-free bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground pepper as desired

Optional

Instructions

  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. (or lightly coat with olive oil spray) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a food processor or by hand, finely chop onion, pepper and carrots.
  • In a medium pan, heat olive oil over medium-high setting until hot. Sauté chopped onions, peppers and carrots for about 8 minutes or until softened and just beginning to brown. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together remaining ingredients plus reserved sautéed vegetables.
  • Form mixture into 24 to 36 meatballs (depending on desired size). Place meatballs on baking sheets .
  • Bake meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. (or cut one open to ensure no pink color remains) Serve hot.
  • Variation: if serving meatballs in sauce, under-bake by about 5 minutes. (or about 155 degrees F) In a large pot, heat sauce over medium setting until hot, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low setting. Immerse meatballs in sauce. Cook, covered for about 10 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Stir occasionally.

Notes

Make Ahead and Storage: meatball mixture may be prepared 1 day ahead. Shape; cover and refrigerate until baking time. Cooked meatballs may be stored, covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a covered pan, at 325 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until heated through. If meatballs are in sauce, reheat in a covered pot over medium-low setting for about 8 minutes or until hot, stirring occasionally. May also be frozen for up to 4 months.
These meatballs are adaptable to any combinations of spices you like. How about “going Moroccan” by swapping the Italian seasoning with cumin, coriander, cinnamon and ginger? (or try the spices I used in my Moroccan Turkey Mini Meatloves.
Lots of delicious ways to enjoy! Try serving over spaghetti squash, rice, whole-grain or gluten-free pasta as well as your favorite greens. (such as kale, spinach or chard) Or make into “mini’s for a super-fun (and addictive) party treat.
Love dishes made from ground turkey? Then try these! Moroccan Stuffed Peppers, Confetti Turkey Chili, Rustic Turkey-Vegetable Marinara and Crockpot Turkey Sausage Marinara.

 

7 Responses

  1. Kecia
    I absolutely love meatballs! And turkey ones to boot! I must try these soon!<br /><br />Thank you so much Kecia! These are so fun to make and eat...hope you try them soon! I am so excited you stopped!
  2. Joanne T Ferguson
    G'day! What a healthy and inviting dish Linda! YUM!<br />Cheers! Joanne<br /><br />Thank you so much Joanne! So fun to make and eat! I'm so happy you stopped by!
  3. lovekeil
    these are soooo delicious love how they turned out...thank you for sharing with this yummy recipe!!!<br /><br />http://www.munchkintime.com/ground-turkey-and-veggie-meatballs/<br /><br />Hi Keil! I'm thrilled my recipe was a success! Having taught cooking to preschoolers for 9 years plus raising two very picky daughters I know how challenging it can be to get them to eat healthy foods. Thanks so much for linking back to my recipe on Meal Planning Maven!
  4. Delicious turkey meatballs, Thanks for sharing with hearth and soul blog hop, pinning.
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks so very much Swathi! I am so grateful for all your hard work and support!
  5. What a wonderful - and very delicious - way to incorporate lots of veggies in your meal! Your Confetti Turkey Meatballs look so colourful and appealing, Linda! I've featured them at this week's Hearth and Soul Hop - thank you so much for sharing them with us!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Ooooh April! Thank you so much! I am honored to have my meatballs featured in this week's Hearth and Soul Hop!