Please note that some of the links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links.
These crazy good 10 Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs are so easy to make and are packed with hearty protein. A super simple recipe you can make in minutes for a healthy dinner or lunch. Cooked completely in the air fryer until crispy then tossed in a 2 ingredient sweet and spicy sauce. This is a meatballs recipe you must try!
I love a good meatball and these Healthy Turkey Meatballs are currently at the top of my list. Mostly because they are packed with so much flavor, are super moist on the inside and crispy on the outside and covered in the most insanely good and easy sweet and spicy sauce.
These meatballs are the best healthy snack or appetizer
These healthy turkey meatballs are like one of the best meatball recipes I have ever made or had. Maybe I am slightly biased but they really truly are wonderful. They are perfect as a healthy snack or appetizer or as complete meal served over some rice and veggies.
The best part of all is that they are ready in 10 minutes and are completely cooked in the air fryer, which requires much less oil but they still get that great crispy golden brown outer layer that is everything.
Why you will love this recipe
- Packed with flavor and nutrition
- Only 10 minutes to make it!
- Requires only a few simple ingredients
- Super moist centre with a crazy crispy outer layer
- The best easy sweet and spicy sauce to cover these meatballs in
- Great for meal prep or a simple healthy dinner
Ingredients needed to make this recipe
You can find a full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Kitchen tools needed to make these healthy turkey meatballs
Here are some key items 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
- Cooking spray
Now let’s get these babies cooking because once you make them, they will not last long since everyone will want some.
How to make healthy turkey meatballs
This is a quick and easy 10 minute meatball recipe that your whole family will love!
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Add all meatball ingredients to a medium size mixing bowl.
STEP THREE: Use your hands or a rubber spatula to mix all ingredients together into a meatball mixture.
STEP FOUR: 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.
STEP FIVE: Once the air fryer is ready, spray the basket with olive oil spray. Working in batches, add the meatballs in a single layer about 1 inch apart. Close the basket and cook the meatballs for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time. Continue until you have cooked all of the meatballs.
STEP 6: While the the meatballs are cooking, you can 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. When the meatballs are done cooking, transfer them to a large mixing bowl, pour the sauce over them and toss them all in the sauce to coat them all over. They are so good.
Serve warm over cooked rice and veggies.
Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl Mix well to combine Roll meatballs & add them to the 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.
Your whole family will go crazy for this recipe. These healthy turkey meatballs are also great for entertaining since they make a wonderful appetizer as well.
Meatballs are always the first thing to go at any party for sure. Especially these easy meat-free Eggplant Meatballs that everyone in my family loves. Even the meat-eaters.
What to serve with this recipe
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.
How to store and reheat meatballs in the air fryer
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.
Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes, then make the sauce and roll them in the sauce.
More healthy meatball recipes to try!
- Baked Eggplant Meatballs
- Butternut Squash Vegan Meatballs
- 20 Minute Healthy Greek Meatballs
- Air Fryer Ground Chicken Meatballs
- Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
- Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Variations to this recipe
- Make it even lower in carbs. To make this recipe lower in carbs, use pulsed cashews or walnuts in place of the breadcrumbs. Almond flour will also work.
- Make this recipe gluten free. To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Use ground beef or even ground chicken instead of ground turkey.
- Toss the meatballs in your favorite tomato sauce instead.
Recipe Tips
- 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 the 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 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.
I hope you try this recipe. If you do, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out.
Print
10 Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs – Air Fryer Recipe
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 15–17 meatballs 1x
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
These crazy good 10 Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs are so easy to make and are packed with hearty protein. A super simple recipe you can make in minutes for a healthy dinner and eat all week long. Made with lean ground turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan and flavour packed herbs. Cooked completely in the air fryer until crispy outer layer perfection then tossed in a 2 ingredient sweet and spicy sauce. This is a meatballs recipe you must try!
Ingredients
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 shredded 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
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Notes
- Use good quality ground turkey meat. I used organic 93/7 lean ground turkey for this recipe, which is perfect.
- Make it even lower in carbs. To make this recipe lower in carbs, use pulsed cashews or walnuts in place of the breadcrumbs. Almond flour will also work.
- Make this recipe gluten free. To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free seasoned breadcrumbs.
- 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 the 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 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.
- Serve these meatballs warm or at room temperature over some cooked brown rice and veggies or add some toothpicks to them and serve as a healthy, protein-packed appetizer.
- 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. 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
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Healthy Dinner Ideas
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground turkey, breadcrumbs, easy, make, meatballs
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!
I accidentally broke my air fryer last week, can I make these in the oven? What would be the best settings for that?
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.
These are delicious! My kids just love them. Great recipe, thanks so much!
If I don’t have apricot jam could I use grape jelly or another jam with the chili sauce to coat the meatballs?
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!
Is it hot chili sauce or sweet chili sauce?
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.
Does anyone know how many WE points?
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.
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.
★★★★★
Hi Valerie! I am so glad you enjoyed them.