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    Pinch Me Good! » Main Dishes » 10 Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs – Air Fryer Recipe

    10 Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs – Air Fryer Recipe

    March 9, 2021 by Amy Estes 18 Comments

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    Please note that some of the links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links.

    These healthy turkey meatballs are so simple and easy to make in just 10 minutes in the air fryer! They are made with only a few simple ingredients and they come out perfectly juicy and flavorful every single time. Toss them in a sweet and spicy sauce and enjoy them as a healthy main dish everyone will love!

    2 round gray bowls filled with brown rice and a pile of red sauced healthy turkey meatballs topped with fresh green herbs with two forks next to it.

    My family goes crazy for these healthy turkey meatballs that I have been making for years. I used to make them in the oven like these greek meatballs but now I make them a little faster in the air fryer. They come out so juicy and flavorful and they only take 10 minutes!

    We love them tossed in a 2 ingredient sweet and spicy sauce or you can warm them in some tomato sauce if you prefer. They make the best quick and easy weeknight meal that the whole famil will enjoy!

    Why you’ll love this recipe

    • Packed with flavor and nutrition.
    • Only 10 minutes to make it!
    • Requires only a few simple ingredients.
    • Super moist center with a crazy crispy outer layer
    • They are so good tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce.
    • Great for meal prep for a simple healthy dinner.
    • Gluten free!
    • Kid-friendly!
    ground turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan, mustard, chili sauce, herbs, egg, and olive oil in bowls on a white surface

    Ingredients and substitutions

    You can find a complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    • Ground turkey – I used 93/7 organic ground turkey but any ground turkey will work in this recipe. If you are using a leaner ground turkey then you may need to add a bit of oil (about 1 teaspoon) to the meatball mixture if it looks dry. You can also add some chicken stock or turkey stock.
    • Breadcrumbs – any breadcrumbs will work in this recipe. I used gluten-free breadcrumbs. You could also use cooked, cooled quinoa.
    • Grated parmesan cheese – this gives the meatballs a slightly salty, cheesy flavor with a nice golden outer layer.
    • Egg – one large egg to help hold the meatball mixture together.
    • Olive oil – to help them get nice and golden when they cook.
    • Worcestershire sauce – to give the meatballs a nice umami flavor that is so good!
    • Dijon mustard – for a little zippy taste to the meatballs.
    • Seasoning – garlic powder, chili powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper.
    • For the sweet and spicy sauce – chili sauce + apricot preserves.

    How to make healthy turkey meatballs

    This is a quick and easy 10-minute meatball recipe that your whole family will love!

    1. Make the meatball mixture: Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl and mix well to combine.
    2. Form the meatballs. Use a small ice cream scoop or a rounded tablespoon to equally measure the meatballs into 1.5-inch balls. This recipe will make 15-17 meatballs.
    3. Cook. Working in batches, add the meatballs in a single layer to a preheated air fryer and cook them for about 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees F. Per the recipe card below.
    4. Mix up the sauce. Add the chili sauce and apricot preserves to a small mixing bowl and stir well to combine into a crazy good sweet and spicy sauce.
    5. Serve. When the meatballs are done cooking, transfer them to a large mixing bowl, pour the sauce over them and toss them in the sauce. Serve warm over cooked rice and veggies.
    Add all ingredients to a bowl
    Mix well to combine
    Form and add to air fryer.
    Cook for 8-10 minutes
    Mix up the sauce
    Toss the meatballs in the sauce

    These meatballs are so delicious, super moist and so crispy on the outside. Don’t get me started on this sauce that is just the perfect compliment to this recipe and really takes it to a whole new level.

    close up of round healthy turkey meatballs covered in chili sauce over cooked brown rice with a fork cutting into one of the meatballs

    Recipe Tips for making healthy turkey meatballs

    • Use good quality ground turkey meat. I used organic 93/7 lean ground turkey for this recipe, which was perfect.
    • Cook the meatballs until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. You can check this using a meat thermometer.
    • Roll the meatballs a little smaller than usual. Rolling these meatballs into 1.5-inch balls or smaller will allow them to cook faster and not dry out. Also using a small ice cream scoop or rounded tablespoon to portion the mixture will really help create even size meatballs that will all cook at the same time.
    • Use a little bit of olive oil in this recipe. There is a little bit of olive oil in this recipe which allows the meatballs to get nice and crispy when cooked in the air fryer. It still ends up being much less oil than what is used to make traditional meatballs.
    • Make sure to spray the air fryer basket with non-aerosol olive oil cooking spray before you add the meatballs so that they don’t stick to the basket.
    • Flip the meatballs in the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time to get them nice and gold on all sides.
    • Toss the meatballs in the sauce right after they are done cooking, while they are still hot so the sauce sticks to them better. You can also serve them with your favorite tomato sauce.

    How to make turkey meatballs in the oven

    To make these meatballs in the oven, mix and roll them as directed in the recipe then place them onto a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Then bake them at 400 degrees F for 15-17 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

    How to make these turkey meatballs on the stovetop

    Mix and roll the meatballs then heat a skillet with 2 tablespoons of oil to medium heat. Add the rolled meatballs in a single layer and cook for about 8-10 minutes, tossing them as they cook so they get browned on all sides.

    Recommended tools for making this recipe

    Here are some key tools needed to make this recipe.

    • Air Fryer
    • Use your hands or this great everyday rubber spatula to mix up the meatball mixture.
    • Measure out even size meatballs using this small ice cream scoop that I love or this rounded tablespoon.
    • Mixing bowl
    • Olive oil cooking spray

    Meatballs are always the first thing to go at any party for sure. Especially these easy Crockpot BBQ Meatballs that everyone loves. Which is why I just know you are going to love this recipe!

    Ways to serve turkey meatballs

    These meatballs work great as an appetizer or complete meal paired with some other easy healthy side dishes. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve these healthy turkey meatballs.

    • Layered on top of this Simple Sautéed Spinach With Garlic.
    • Enjoy these meatballs with some healthy easy Roasted Broccoli.
    • Lay them on top of this insane Mashed Butternut Squash.
    • Pair them with these Butternut Squash Noodles for a lower-carb spin on spaghetti and meatballs.
    • Serve them with a hearty, healthy salad like this Easy Kale Salad, this Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad, or this Roasted Beet and Butternut Squash Salad.
    two grey round bowls filled with rice and meatballs covered in sauce with herbs on top of them and a fork sitting in one of the bowl.

    Storing and reheating tips

    Storing: If you plan to make these ahead of time then do not roll them in the sauce until you are ready to serve them. After you cook them, let them cool and keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Reheating: you can reheat these meatballs right in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes, then roll them in the sauce.

    To freeze turkey meatballs

    After you have cooked the meatballs, before you toss them in the sauce, let them cool then place them onto a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for at least 1 hour. Then transfer them to a freezer-friendly container and keep them in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    To reheat from frozen, place them right into the air fryer straight from the freezer and cook them at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Then toss them in the sauce or your favorite tomato sauce.

    healthy turkey meatballs rolled in chili sauce in a bowl on top of brown rice with chopped scallions on top of it.

    More healthy meatball recipes to try!

    • Baked Eggplant Meatballs
    • Air Fryer Ground Chicken Meatballs
    • Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
    • Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

    Questions? Leave a comment below!

    Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

    Made this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!

    You can also share and tag me @pinchmegoodfood on Instagram.

    Print
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    10 Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs – Air Fryer Recipe


    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Amy Estes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 15–17 meatballs 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Juicy and golden healthy turkey meatballs that cook in 10 minutes! Cook them in the air fryer, oven, or on the stovetop with only a few simple ingredients. You can even make them ahead or freeze them! They are great served with a 2 ingredient sweet and spicy sauce or your favorite tomato sauce. Plus, they are gluten-free!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the Meatballs

    • 1 pound (16 oz) ground turkey – I used 93/7
    • 1 large egg
    • 1/4–1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
    • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • Salt and pepper

    For the sauce

    • 1/2 cup chili sauce
    • 1/4 cup apricot preserves

    Instructions

    Make the meatballs

    1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. 
    2. While the air fryer is preheating you can mix up and form the meatballs.  Add all meatball ingredients to a medium size mixing bowl and mix well with a rubber spatula or use your hands. Use a small ice cream scoop or rounded tablespoon to form and roll the meatballs into about 1.5 inch balls and place them onto a clean plate. 
    3. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray.  Working in batches, place the meatballs in a single layer in the basket about 1 inch apart. Lightly spray them with olive oil spray then close the basket and cook for 7-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time. This took about 8 minutes in my air fryer. 

    Mix up the sauce

    1. While the meatballs are cooking, mix up the sauce. In a small mixing bowl combine the chili sauce and the apricot preserves.  Mix well to form the most delicious meatball sauce. 
    2. Once all of the meatballs are done cooking, transfer them to a large mixing bowl, pour on the sauce, and toss the meatballs to coat all of them in the crazy good sweet, and spicy sauce. 

    Serve

    1. Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley over cooked rice. 

    Equipment

    Image of mixing bowls

    mixing bowls

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    Image of Air Fryer

    Air Fryer

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    olive oil spray

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    Notes

    • Use good quality ground turkey meat. I used organic 93/7 lean ground turkey for this recipe, which is perfect.
    • Roll the meatballs a little smaller than usual. Rolling these meatballs into 1.5 inch balls or smaller will allow them to cook faster and not dry out. Also using a small ice cream scoop or rounded tablespoon to portion the mixture will really help create even size meatballs that will all cook at the same time.
    • Use a little bit of olive oil in this recipe. There is a little bit of olive oil in this recipe which allows the meatballs to get nice and crispy when cooked in the air fryer. It still ends up being much less oil than what is used to make traditional meatballs like this, making this a healthier meatball recipe.
    • Make sure to spray the air fryer basket with non-aerosol olive oil cooking spray before you add the meatballs so that they don’t stick to the basket.
    • Toss the meatballs in the sauce right after they are done cooking so the sauce sticks to them
    • To store these meatballs: let them cool completely but do not roll them in the sauce. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • To reheat these meatballs: Reheat them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350 degrees F. Then mix up the sauce and coat the meatballs.
      • Prep Time: 5 minutes
      • Cook Time: 10 minutes
      • Category: Main dishes
      • Method: Air Fryer
      • Cuisine: American

      Keywords: healthy turkey meatballs, turkey meatballs, meatballs, turkey

      Did you make this recipe?

      Tag @pinchmegoodfood on Instagram and hashtag it #pinchmegoodfood

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      Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Air Fryer Recipes, Favorite Winter Recipes, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Main Dishes, Meal Planning and Prep

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Lou

        March 13, 2021 at 6:45 pm

        Just made these ! They are soooo good. Hubby ate half before I could take a picture. Sauce is great with these. I only had sugar free apricot jam and I loved it with the chili sauce. Thanks for a great recipe, Amy. Served it with stuffed mushrooms and cooked broccoli!

        Reply
      2. Sarah

        July 7, 2021 at 4:47 pm

        I accidentally broke my air fryer last week, can I make these in the oven? What would be the best settings for that?

        Reply
        • Amy

          July 8, 2021 at 7:41 am

          Hi Sarah, Yes you can cook these at 400 degrees for about 15-17 minutes on a baking sheet in the oven, then just toss them in the sauce when they are done cooking. Thank you for asking. I will add this to the recipe card.

          Reply
      3. Vfreems

        July 20, 2021 at 5:20 pm

        These are delicious! My kids just love them. Great recipe, thanks so much!

        Reply
      4. Marie

        September 5, 2021 at 8:29 pm

        If I don’t have apricot jam could I use grape jelly or another jam with the chili sauce to coat the meatballs?

        Reply
        • Amy

          September 7, 2021 at 8:25 am

          Hi Marie, yes you can use grape jelly or another jam. I have tried it with apricot jam as well as fig preserves and both were great!

          Reply
      5. Leslie Ballan

        October 8, 2021 at 8:01 pm

        Is it hot chili sauce or sweet chili sauce?

        Reply
        • Amy

          October 10, 2021 at 7:42 pm

          Hi Leslie, it is just plain chili sauce. I linked to the one I used. You can use sweet or hot if you prefer that.

          Reply
      6. Judy spence

        January 5, 2022 at 5:30 pm

        Does anyone know how many WE points?

        Reply
        • Amy

          January 7, 2022 at 12:00 pm

          Hi Judy, I do not do weight watchers but I would think there is some type of online calculator you can use to plug in the ingredients and determine how many point the recipe is.

          Reply
      7. Valerie

        February 2, 2022 at 6:25 pm

        These were amazing! I made this twice and both times it came out great. I served the meatballs with brown rice and a green veggie. The meatballs are tender and really tasty.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Amy

          February 9, 2022 at 9:55 am

          Hi Valerie! I am so glad you enjoyed them.

          Reply
      8. Christina

        October 27, 2022 at 5:59 pm

        Oh.My.Word…these were so delicious!!!! Been trying to clean up my diet a bit. I wasn’t super excited about meatballs with no ground beef. However these were phenomenal!!! They were crispy, moist & so flavorful. Made exactly as written. Will be making these often.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          November 2, 2022 at 12:01 pm

          Thank you, Christina! I am so happy you liked them! They are one of my favorite recipes!

          Reply
      9. Meg

        January 12, 2023 at 6:13 pm

        Fantastic. We have learned to leave them in the air fryer until nice and crispy. Served with rice or alone — both are fantastic.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          January 19, 2023 at 9:05 am

          Hi, Meg! I am so happy you liked them!

          Reply
      10. Sherra Wagner

        February 19, 2023 at 7:59 pm

        I made these tonight and the only difference is that I used a 20oz package of ground turkey instead of a 16oz and I didn’t make the sauce – used them with marinara sauce and pasta. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly. My husband and son both loved them. They were so easy to make and I will definitely make them again.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          February 20, 2023 at 3:12 pm

          Hi Sherra, I am so glad you liked them.

          Reply

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