Best 5 Lightened Up Turkey Meatballs And Sauce Recipes

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Are you seeking a delectable and healthier version of the classic turkey meatballs and sauce? Look no further! This article will guide you through the journey of creating a lightened-up version of this comforting dish. By incorporating lean ground turkey, a flavorful blend of herbs, and a homemade sauce made with fresh ingredients, you can indulge in a delightful meal without compromising on taste or nutrition. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary adventure, this step-by-step guide will empower you to prepare a healthier version of this family favorite with ease and confidence.

Let's cook with our recipes!

LIGHTENED-UP TURKEY MEATBALLS



Lightened-Up Turkey Meatballs image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Turkey Recipes

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
1 cup finely diced button mushrooms
1/2 cup dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs
1 pound spaghetti
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves, plus more torn for serving
3 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano, divided
Coarse salt
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
7 cups marinara sauce

Steps:

  • In a medium pan, heat olive oil over medium. Saute onion and mushrooms until onion is translucent and mushrooms are soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in breadcrumbs. Let cool to room temperature; slowly stir in milk.
  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain and return to pot. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, gently combine breadcrumb mixture with turkey, basil, 2 tablespoons Pecorino, 3 teaspoons salt, and egg white. Form into 30 meatballs.
  • In a medium pot, bring the marinara to a simmer. Submerge the meatballs in the sauce and simmer until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve over spaghetti, topped with remaining tablespoon Pecorino and basil leaves.

SAUCY TURKEY MEATBALLS



Saucy Turkey Meatballs image

It's easy to turn lean ground turkey into these moist, tender meatballs. Ideal for informal gatherings of family and friends, the appetizers feature a tangy sauce that my guests find delicious.-Janell Fugitt, Cimarron, Kansas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 50m

Yield 15 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
SAUCE:
2 cups ketchup
1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons Liquid Smoke, optional
1/2 teaspoons garlic salt

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place on a rack coated with cooking spray in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 10-15 minutes. , Meanwhile, combine the sauce ingredients; pour over meatballs. Bake 30-35 minutes longer or until meat is no longer pink.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 217 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 36mg cholesterol, Sodium 695mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 10g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

TURKEY MEATBALLS AND SAUCE



Turkey Meatballs and Sauce image

My sweetie and I have fought the battle of the bulge forever. This is my less-fattening take on meatballs. They're slow-cooker easy, and so flavorful! - Jane McMillan, Dania Beach, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 6h40m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 21

1/4 cup egg substitute
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt-free seasoning blend
1-1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
SAUCE:
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 bay leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 package (16 ounces) whole wheat spaghetti

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the egg substitute, bread crumbs, onion, pepper and seasoning blend. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls; place on a rack coated with cooking spray in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until no longer pink., Meanwhile, in a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the tomato sauce, tomatoes, zucchini, green pepper, onion, tomato paste, bay leaves, garlic and seasonings. Stir in meatballs. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Cook spaghetti according to package directions; serve with meatballs and sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 413 calories, Fat 9g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 59mg cholesterol, Sodium 514mg sodium, Carbohydrate 59g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 9g fiber), Protein 30g protein.

TURKEY MEATBALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE



Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce image

Tender meatballs filled with onions and Parmesan, bathed in plenty of tomato sauce, are classics in every way except for one: They call for turkey instead of the usual beef (or beef-veal-pork combination). Serve them over spaghetti or polenta, or stuff them into a hero roll for a sandwich. Try to use ground dark meat turkey here if you can, it has a deeper, richer flavor than ground white meat.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, lunch, meatballs, main course

Time 50m

Yield 28 meatballs, 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, more for serving, if desired
1/2 cup panko or other plain dried bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 cup chopped chives or basil
2 garlic cloves, grated on a microplane or minced
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey, very cold
1 large egg, beaten
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed
3 cups marinara sauce, more to taste

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine cheese, bread crumbs, onion, chives, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano and red pepper flakes, if using, and mix well. Add turkey and egg and blend with your hands until well mixed. If you've got time, cover mixture and chill for an hour or up to 24 hours. These are easiest to form into balls while very cold. Form into 28 meatballs, each about 1 1/4-inches in diameter.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large sauté pan. When hot, add enough of the meatballs to fit in one layer without crowding, and brown on all sides, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate, add another tablespoon of oil to pan and brown another layer of meatballs, transferring them to the plate as they brown. Repeat until all meatballs are browned, adding more oil to the pan as needed.
  • When meatballs are all browned, add marinara sauce to pan and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits on the pan bottom. Return meatballs and their juices to pan, shake pan to cover the meatballs with sauce, and lower heat. Partly cover pan and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Serve hot, drizzled with more olive oil and sprinkled with more cheese, if you like.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 382, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 21 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 30 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 827 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 0 grams

LIGHTENED UP TURKEY MEATBALLS AND SAUCE



Lightened Up Turkey Meatballs and Sauce image

This won grand prize in that's Amore contest for Taste of Home's Healthy Cooking magazine. This will appear in the Aug/Sept issue, and there will be a mini write up on me also. This week I received a surprise from the folks at Taste of Home's healthy cooking a complimentary copy of the annual recipes in hardcover. This recipe is on the cover. Basically it is a recipe for meatballs that are lightend up by using ground turkey and baking the meatballs instead of frying. They changed it bc of sodium perimiters to 1 can of tomato sauce, I would never do it that way.

Provided by Jane Whittaker @janenov46

Categories     Other Main Dishes

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 1/2 pound(s) ground turkey
1/2 cup(s) italian bread crumbs
1 - equivelent to one egg subsitute
1/3 medium onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon(s) sea salt, or salt subsitute to taste
1/2 teaspoon(s) black pepper
- sauce:
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 small zuchinni, diced
2 clove(s) garlic, minced
14 1/2 ounce(s) can diced tomatoes
90 ounce(s) six 15 ounce cans tomato sauce, i like hunts
6 ounce(s) can tomato puree
2 medium bay leaves
1 teaspoon(s) each dried oregano and sweet sweet basil
1/4 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper, or more to taste
1 teaspoon(s) dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon(s) each salt or salt subsitute and pepper, or to taste

Steps:

  • Pre heat oven to 350°
  • Combine all meat ball ingredients.
  • Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil (no cleanup).
  • Make meatballs as large as you like them I like mine on the small side, about 1 inches around.
  • Bakefor 25 to 30 minutes, until browned, turning a few times. They will finish up cooking in the sauce.
  • While meatballs are browning, chop all your veggies, and line the slow cooker with a disposable liner.
  • Put veggies in the slowcooker and all the rest of the sauce ingredients, stir to combine.
  • Add the meatballs and turn cooker on low. Cover and cook for 6 hours.
  • Nice served over spaghetti, and with a salad an garlic bread.

Tips:

  • Use a combination of ground turkey and ground chicken: This will help to keep the meatballs moist and flavorful.
  • Add plenty of herbs and spices: This will give the meatballs a delicious flavor. Try using a combination of oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper.
  • Don't overmix the meatball mixture: Overmixing will make the meatballs tough. Mix the ingredients just until they are combined.
  • Cook the meatballs thoroughly: Cook the meatballs until they are browned on all sides and cooked through. This will help to prevent foodborne illness.
  • Serve the meatballs with your favorite sauce: Try serving the meatballs with a simple tomato sauce, a creamy Alfredo sauce, or a tangy barbecue sauce.

Conclusion:

Lightened-up turkey meatballs are a healthier and tastier alternative to traditional meatballs. They are made with ground turkey and chicken, and they are packed with flavor. These meatballs can be cooked in a variety of ways, and they can be served with your favorite sauce. So next time you are looking for a healthier and tastier meatball recipe, give these lightened-up turkey meatballs a try.

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