These Baked Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional meatballs! They’re incredibly juicy, packed with flavor from mozzarella and herbs, and baked instead of fried. I love how they’re finished with a bright and zesty lemon garlic butter sauce that takes them over the top. This recipe is easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner, meal prep, or even as an appetizer.
Why You’ll Love These Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Juicy and Flavorful: Using ground turkey combined with mozzarella cheese and seasonings ensures these meatballs are moist and full of flavor.
- Bright Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce: The sauce is light, zesty, and infused with fresh herbs, perfectly complementing the turkey.
- Easy Baked Method: Baking the meatballs is easier and healthier than frying.
- Healthy: Ground turkey is a lean protein choice.
- Versatile: Serve them as a main course, appetizer, or add them to salads or sandwiches.
Ingredients for Baked Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
Here’s what you’ll need to make these flavorful meatballs. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Turkey Meatballs
- Ground turkey (Meat)
- Shredded mozzarella (Dairy)
- Egg (Binder)
- Italian seasoning, chopped (Spice Blend/Herb)
- Onion powder (Spice)
- Fresh minced garlic (Aromatic)
- Crushed red chili pepper flakes (optional) (Spice)
- Grated or shredded Parmesan (for garnish) (Dairy)
Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
- Unsalted butter (Fat)
- Lemon, juiced (Fruit)
- Fresh rosemary, chopped (Herb)
- Fresh thyme, chopped (Herb)
- Fresh sage, chopped (Herb)
- Fresh cracked black pepper (Spice)
- Hot sauce (optional) (Condiment) Sriracha recommended in original
- Fresh chopped parsley (Herb)
- Garlic, minced (Aromatic)
- Salt
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love these Baked Turkey Meatballs as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Different Ground Meat: Use ground chicken or a mix of turkey and chicken.
- Add Vegetables: Finely chop some spinach or zucchini and add it to the meatball mixture.
- Different Cheese: Use cheddar, provolone, or feta instead of mozzarella in the meatballs.
- Make it Spicy: Add more red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the sauce.
- Different Herbs: Experiment with different fresh herbs in the sauce, like dill or oregano.
How to Make Baked Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
Let me show you how easy it is to make these Baked Turkey Meatballs:
Prepare Meatballs
- I preheat my oven to 400ºF (200ºC). I lightly spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
- I combine the ground turkey, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan (save some for garnish), egg, onion powder, minced garlic (the 2 teaspoons listed in meatball ingredients), Italian seasoning, and crushed chili pepper flakes (if using) in a large salad bowl.
- I use a cookie scoop to form the turkey meatballs all the same size.
- I arrange the turkey meatballs in the baking dish.
Bake Meatballs
- I bake the turkey meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F/74°C).
- I remove the baked turkey meatballs from the oven and drain the excess fat with a spoon, if necessary.
Make Lemon Garlic Butter Herb Sauce
- In the meantime, I make the garlic butter herb sauce: I melt the butter in the microwave in 30-second increments, until completely melted.
- I add the lemon juice, chopped parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage, minced garlic (the 3 cloves listed in sauce ingredients), hot sauce (if using), salt, and pepper to the melted butter and stir well.
Finish and Bake Again
- I drizzle the baked turkey meatballs with the garlic butter herb sauce and sprinkle with the reserved grated Parmesan if I like.
- I return the turkey meatballs to the oven and finish baking for 5 to 10 minutes, making sure not to dry up the meatballs.
Serve
- Remove from the oven
- Serve
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Turkey Meatballs
Here are my secrets for making these meatballs truly exceptional:
- Don’t Overmix: Gently combine the meatball ingredients just until mixed to keep them tender.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: This ensures evenly sized meatballs, which helps them cook uniformly.
- Bake Until Cooked Through: Use a meat thermometer (165°F/74°C) to ensure the turkey is fully cooked.
- Fresh Herbs: Using fresh herbs in the lemon garlic butter sauce provides the best flavor.
- Don’t Dry Them Out: Be careful during the final 5-10 minutes of baking after adding the sauce; you just want to heat everything through.
How to Serve
These Baked Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce are delicious served:
- Over Rice: Serve with white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice.
- With Pasta: Toss with your favorite pasta, like spaghetti or orzo.
- With Vegetables: Serve alongside roasted vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or zucchini noodles.
- As an Appetizer: Serve with toothpicks for an easy party appetizer.
- With a Side Salad: A simple Greek or green salad complements the flavors well.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can form the meatballs ahead of time and store them uncooked in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. You can also bake the meatballs completely and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Prepare the sauce just before reheating and serving. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.
FAQs about Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Can I use ground chicken instead of turkey?
- Yes, ground chicken works perfectly as a substitute.
- Can I freeze these meatballs?
- Yes, you can freeze the baked meatballs (before adding the final sauce drizzle is best). Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat before adding the sauce.
- What if I don’t have fresh herbs?
- You can substitute dried herbs, using about 1/3 the amount called for fresh herbs.
Enjoy these juicy, flavorful, and easy-to-make Baked Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce! They’re a perfect healthy and delicious meal.
Print
Baked Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Main Course, Appetizer, Meatballs
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Description
These Baked Turkey Meatballs are tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Made with ground turkey, mozzarella, Parmesan, and herbs, they’re baked until cooked through and then coated in a delicious lemon garlic butter sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Turkey Meatballs:
- 2 pounds (900g) ground turkey
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons fresh minced garlic (about 2–3 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes (optional)
For the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 1 stick (1/2 cup, 113g) unsalted butter
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Sriracha, optional)
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
Optional Garnish:
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray a baking dish (9×13-inch or similar size) with nonstick cooking spray.
- Make Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, egg, onion powder, minced garlic (2 teaspoons), Italian seasoning, and crushed chili pepper flakes (if using).
- Mix Gently: Use your hands to gently mix the ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
- Form Meatballs: Using a cookie scoop (about 1-2 tablespoons) or a regular tablespoon, scoop out portions of the turkey mixture. Gently roll each portion between your hands to form meatballs (about 1.5 inches in diameter).
- Arrange in Dish: Arrange the turkey meatballs in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C) and lightly browned.
- Drain Fat (Optional): Remove the baking dish from the oven. If there is a significant amount of fat released from the meatballs, carefully spoon it out and discard it.
- Make Sauce: While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments until completely melted. Add the lemon juice, chopped fresh rosemary, chopped fresh thyme, chopped fresh sage, minced garlic (3 cloves), black pepper, hot sauce (if using), and salt to taste. Stir well to combine. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley.
- Coat Meatballs: Pour the lemon garlic butter sauce evenly over the baked turkey meatballs in the baking dish. Gently toss or spoon the sauce over the meatballs to ensure they are well coated.
- Final Bake: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, just until the sauce is bubbly and the meatballs are heated through. Be careful not to overbake, as this can dry out the meatballs.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Ground Turkey: Lean ground turkey (like 93/7) works well. You can also use ground chicken.
- Mixing Meatballs: Mix gently and just until combined to keep the meatballs tender.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs provide the best flavor for the sauce. If using dried herbs, use about 1/3 the amount (e.g., ~1/4 teaspoon each of dried rosemary, thyme, sage).
- Doneness: Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the meatballs are cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these meatballs as an appetizer, or as a main course over cauliflower rice, rice, pasta, or with a side salad or steamed vegetables.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently.