A Delicious and Healthy Recipe
Honey Garlic Turkey Meatballs are a delicious, healthy, and easy-to-make recipe that the whole family will love. Made with lean ground turkey and flavored with a savory honey garlic sauce, these meatballs are perfect for a weeknight dinner or meal prep. They’re juicy, flavorful, and made with wholesome ingredients including whole wheat breadcrumbs and fresh herbs.
- Author: luca
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 20-24 meatballs (serves 4-6) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying and Simmering
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably whole wheat)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
For Cooking and Garnish
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Combine Meatball Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, whole wheat breadcrumbs, and grated Parmesan cheese to form the base of the meatballs.
- Add Aromatics: Mix in the finely chopped onion and minced garlic into the bowl to add flavor and texture to the meatball mixture.
- Add Egg: Crack the large egg into the mixture to help bind the ingredients together for a cohesive texture.
- Season: Pour in the soy sauce, then sprinkle the salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and dried thyme evenly over the mixture.
- Mix Gently: Use your hands or a spoon to mix the ingredients together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: With clean hands, take about 1.5 tablespoons of the mixture and roll it into approximately golf ball-sized meatballs.
- Place on Baking Sheet: Arrange the formed meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to keep them from sticking.
- Finish Forming: Continue rolling the remaining mixture into about 20-24 meatballs in total.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine honey, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar. Place over medium heat and stir until the mixture is well combined and bubbling, about 2-3 minutes.
- Simmer Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to thicken and blend flavors.
- Heat Oil: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat to prepare for browning the meatballs.
- Cook Meatballs: Add the meatballs carefully to the skillet, avoiding overcrowding. You may need to cook them in batches. Fry for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally to brown all sides evenly.
- Coat with Sauce: Pour the prepared honey garlic sauce over the browned meatballs in the skillet and gently toss to coat them evenly.
- Simmer Meatballs: Cover the skillet and allow the meatballs to simmer in the sauce for 10-15 minutes until fully cooked and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley, and serve warm as a flavorful main dish.
Notes
- To ensure moist meatballs, avoid overmixing the mixture.
- You can bake the meatballs at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes as a healthier cooking alternative to frying.
- Ground turkey breast works best for a lean and tender result, but a mixture of dark and light meat is acceptable.
- Adjust soy sauce amount to low sodium if you want to reduce salt content.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure meatballs are cooked thoroughly to 165°F for food safety.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- The sauce can be doubled for extra coating or dipping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (approx. 100g)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: honey garlic turkey meatballs, healthy meatballs, turkey meatball recipe, low-fat dinner, easy family meals, honey garlic sauce