Tender Turkey Meatballs Tomato (Print version)

Tender turkey balls cooked in tomato sauce, served with pasta or rice for a healthy, comforting meal.

# What you’ll need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1.1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 large egg
03 - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
04 - 2 tbsp milk
05 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
07 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped or 1 tbsp dried parsley
08 - 1 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Tomato Sauce

11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
13 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
14 - 28 oz (2 cans) crushed tomatoes
15 - 1 tsp dried basil
16 - 1 tsp dried oregano
17 - 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ To Serve

19 - 10.5 oz pasta or cooked rice
20 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)
21 - Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Form the mixture into 16–18 golf-ball-sized meatballs and arrange them evenly on the prepared baking tray.
04 - Bake meatballs for 18 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through, until lightly golden and cooked through.
05 - While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
06 - Add crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, sugar (if using), salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Transfer baked meatballs into the tomato sauce. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, spooning sauce over the meatballs to coat evenly.
08 - While meatballs finish cooking in sauce, prepare pasta or rice according to package instructions.
09 - Serve meatballs and tomato sauce over pasta or rice. Garnish with fresh herbs and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Cooking tips:

01 -
  • Turkey keeps things light without sacrificing that satisfying, savory depth that makes people ask for seconds.
  • The entire meal comes together in under an hour, which means weeknight dinners stop feeling like negotiations.
  • One pot of sauce turns simple meatballs into something elegant enough to serve guests but casual enough for just you on a tired evening.
02 -
  • Don't skip blooming the breadcrumbs in milk; it's the difference between meatballs that stay tender and ones that seize up like rubber as they cool.
  • Once meatballs hit the sauce, the heat stays low and the time stays short—aggressive simmering makes them fall apart or toughen.
03 -
  • Chill your meatball mixture for fifteen minutes before shaping if you have the time; they'll hold their shape better on the baking tray and cook more evenly.
  • Use a slotted spoon when transferring meatballs to sauce so they move safely without breaking, and any pan drippings stay behind where they belong.
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