This pan seared herb turkey meatballs recipe is full of flavor. These are incredibly tender from slow simmering in pasta sauce.
You wouldn't even know these are made with lean ground turkey and you won't mind at all that they are.
Spaghetti and (turkey) meatballs.
Such an iconic and timeless duo!
Today I'm sharing with you my special easy turkey meatballs and pasta recipe. These are the best turkey meatballs, ever.
Let's face it, if you are swapping out regular meatballs with turkey then they better be damn good! Juicy, full of flavor and tender.
The thing I love about ground turkey is that it picks up all the flavors of whatever you cook it with.
And you know these are packing tons of flavor!
Things like fresh parmigiano reggiano and fresh basil leaves really make these meatballs awesome.
My sister-in-law actually turned me on to ground turkey years ago.
She made spaghetti but instead of using beef in her spaghetti sauce she used turkey and I was a little skeptical at first but she was on to something because it rocked!
From then on out I used ground turkey for my pasta sauce and my meatballs and my life was complete and delicious.
How To Make Turkey Meatballs
There are tons of methods to making meatballs.
And I really think this recipe is fool proof. Here are the basics of making turkey meatballs.
Everything goes in a bowl. The turkey and all the ingredients, you use your hands to mix it around and form little balls.
Alternatively you could use an ice cream scoop for larger meatballs and small cookie scoop for mini meatballs. This is a good method to use so that all the meatballs cook evenly.
You don't have to worry about overworking the meat either, so sigh a relief at that.
Ingredients
Here's a rundown of everything that's going in the world's best turkey meatballs recipe (snicker snicker).
- ground turkey
- tomato paste - a bit of tomato flavor and gives it depth
- cream - just a splash to make them moist
- parmigiano cheese - go for the good stuff not the stuff in the plastic container, you will taste a huge difference
- panko bread crumbs - acts as a binder
- egg - another binder
- garlic cloves - you have to have garlic in meatballs
- onion
- parsley - fresh parsley is the perfect herb to elevate your meatballs and make them super delicious
- salt
- pepper
FAQ
Got questions? Let's see if we can tackle them before you start cooking.
Of course you can! I would keep the meatballs and zoodles separately. If you mix everything together in the pan it could make the zucchini noodles mushy.
A google search says 165. I always just make sure there isn't any pink in the middle before serving by cutting in to one. And you can always check with a thermometer to be 100% sure.
I wouldn't suggest it. Extra lean ground turkey is dryer and absorbs a lot more liquid. I've made them with extra lean a few times and always regret it. Just get the regular, lean ground turkey.
Pan searing the meatballs couldn't be any easier and you'll wind up with a nice golden crust on the outside.
The magic really happens once you let them slow cook in pasta sauce, then toss them with your pasta and some fresh chopped basil.
Is this a restaurant or moms kitchen? Your family will love this recipe!
To make dinner fun I use different shaped noodles for my pasta and meatballs every time.
Two kids under 5 you have to keep it fun and exciting and I like it when they get excited about what they are eating. With all the fun shapes available, why not!
More Family Friendly Pasta Recipes
- Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta – spicy, made with greek yogurt instead of mayo
- Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta – full of sun dried tomatoes
- Lemon Basil Chicken Pasta with Tomatoes – a light lemon basil pasta with tomatoes
- Broccoli Chicken Cheese Pasta – your kids will love this mac and cheese variation!
- Tara’s Easy Stovetop Lasagna – a quick lasagna substitute
- World’s Best Beef Stroganoff – the most popular recipe on Modern Crumb
- 20 Minute Pumpkin Ravioli - a reader favorite
Ground Turkey Meatballs and Pasta
Pan seared herb turkey meatballs full of flavor and incredibly tender. You wouldn't even know these are made with lean ground turkey. Parsley, basil and parmesan cheese give these meatballs all the good flavor they need.
Ingredients
- 1 pkg ground turkey
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- splash of cream
- ¼ c parmigiano cheese
- ¼ c panko bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 big garlic cloves, minced
- ½ small yellow onion, fine chop (pulsed)
- 3 tbsp Italian parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- pepper
- 8 oz pasta noodles
- jar of sauce
- 3 tbsp fresh basil
- ½ c pasta water
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together ground turkey, tomato paste, cream, parm cheese, panko, egg, garlic, onion, parsley, salt and pepper
- Form into 1 tbsp round balls (easiest to use a tbsp cookie scoop)
- Heat a large pan over medium heat
- Drizzle the pan with olive oil
- Place the meatballs in the pan, so they are not touching and have enough room to brown
- Cook until the bottom is golden, turn over
- Cook for a few minutes
- Grab the pan by the handle and in a swirling motion, roll the meatballs around a bit, gently, getting all sides to cook a bit more
- Transfer to a plate and do another batch
- Continue this process until all the meatballs are cooked
- Add the sauce to the pan and 2 tbsp of chopped fresh basil
- Return meatballs to the sauce and cover with a lid
- Bring the sauce up to a low bubble and cook for 20-25 minutes
- Halfway through the meatballs cooking in the sauce bring a pot of water to a boil, add a few pinches of salt and the noodles
- Once the noodles are al dente, take ½ c of the pasta water and add it to your sauce
- Put pasta in a bowl, top it with the meatballs and some fresh basil and parm cheese
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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