Made By Emily
Main Dishes
Turkey Meatballs in Simple Tomato Sauce
Recipe Summary
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Cuisine: American / Mediterranean-inspired
- Course: Main dish
- Calories: Approx. 280 per serving
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground turkey
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup (35 g) breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated onion
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups (480 g) plain tomato passata
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, gently mix together the ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, grated onion, salt, and black pepper until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.
- Shape the mixture into about 20 small meatballs, roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) diameter, and place them spaced apart on the lined tray.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until browned and firm. Use a meat thermometer to check centers reach 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
- While meatballs bake, heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the tomato passata and dried oregano, then simmer gently for 8 minutes to develop flavor.
- Add the cooked meatballs to the simmering sauce and cook together for 5 minutes so the flavors meld.
- Remove from heat and cool quickly if storing. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze in portions with the sauce for up to 2 months. Reheat until steaming before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Don’t squeeze or pack the meat mixture too tightly to keep the meatballs light and tender.
- Grate onion finely so it blends well in the meat and adds moisture without large chunks.
- A meat thermometer ensures perfectly cooked meatballs without drying them out.
Nutrition Estimate
Per serving (about 5 meatballs with sauce):
- Calories: 280
- Protein: 28 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fat: 12 g
Values are estimates and may vary by ingredients and portion size.