Touchdown Turkey Meatballs Marinara (Printable)
Juicy turkey meatballs gently simmered in a flavorful marinara sauce. An ideal main course for any occasion.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Turkey Meatballs
01 - 1 pound ground turkey
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 2 tablespoons milk
12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning)
→ For the Marinara Sauce
13 - 2 cups jarred or homemade marinara sauce
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
15 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
16 - Salt, to taste
17 - Pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, finely chopped onion, chopped parsley, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and milk. Mix gently with your hands until just combined, taking care not to overmix the ingredients.
02 - Divide the mixture and form into 16 golf ball-sized meatballs.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully place meatballs in the skillet in batches to avoid crowding. Brown the meatballs on all sides, turning occasionally, for approximately 5 minutes.
04 - If necessary, carefully drain any excess oil from the skillet. Return all browned meatballs to the skillet.
05 - Pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs. Stir in the dried basil and red pepper flakes. Gently stir to ensure all meatballs are coated evenly with the sauce.
06 - Cover the skillet and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
07 - Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve the meatballs hot, optionally garnished with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- You'll adore how quickly these come together, making them a weeknight savior when you're craving something comforting and delicious.
- They're incredibly versatile, equally at home as a hearty main course or a fun, crowd-pleasing appetizer for game day.
02 -
- The biggest lesson I learned the hard way is that overmixing the meatball mixture leads to a dense, chewy texture instead of a tender one, so be gentle!
- Discovering that browning the meatballs first, even if just lightly, adds an incredible depth of flavor that simmering alone can't achieve.
03 -
- Never overcrowd your skillet when browning; cook the meatballs in batches to ensure they get a beautiful, even sear.
- The real secret to tender meatballs is to mix the ingredients just until combined and then stop; excessive handling develops the proteins too much.