Easy No Fail Oven Baked Turkey Meatballs Recipe

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Dinner doesn’t get any easier than these homemade turkey meatballs! No faffing or frying – just mixing, rolling and baking. That’s it! A healthy one pot dinner that’s perfect with a herby couscous. Keep reading to learn how it’s made…

Tomato turkey meatballs in an oven proof dish with a fork.

Why you’ll love this recipe

I love how easy these are to make. There’s no finely grating onions or standing there frying meatballs for ages – just mix everything together, roll it into balls, and bake. It really is that simple! Time is precious and, like you, I’d rather not be slaving away in the kitchen if I don’t have to.

Ingredients

Confused about what ingredients to buy? Not sure about a substitution? Here’s everything you might need to know…

For the turkey meatballs

Turkey Mince – Not as commonly used as other meats, turkey is leaner, healthier, and typically cheaper. You can switch for beef or pork if you wish.
Herbs and Spices – I used a combination from what I had in the cupboards. You can absolutely switch out any of them for what you have in yours! Or any that you prefer the taste of.
Tomatoes – I like Mutti tinned tomatoes, as they have no nasty hidden ingredients. It’s JUST tomatoes and a little salt.
Sugar – This brings out the natural sweetness in the tomatoes. You can use any granular sugar you have, or leave it out if you prefer.
Parmesan – I love parmesan, as it carries big flavour in small amounts. You can substitute for grated cheddar cheese instead if you like.

For the couscous (optional)

Stock – I like to use stock pots as they keep well and make great stock! You could also use cubed or fresh if you like.
Couscous – Any brand will do here. Just don’t switch for giant couscous, as this will affect the ratios in the recipe.
Coriander – Coriander leaves give a really punchy and vibrant flavour. If you don’t like coriander, switch it out for fresh parsley instead.

Oven baked tomato turkey meatballs in a glass dish with a metal spoon.

Emma’s top tips

Here are tips you’ll find helpful when making this recipe.

Make sure your oven proof dish is big enough for the meatballs AND the sauce ingredients. There’s nothing more annoying than making more pots than necessary!
If you’d rather not make your own sauce to go with the meatballs, you can use your favourite pasta sauce instead.
The meatballs will shrink a little in the oven. Bear this in mind when shaping your turkey mince into balls.
Not a big fan of couscous? Serve it alongside rice, fries, or crushed new potatoes instead.

A glass dish filled with turkey meatballs in a tomato sauce.

Timings

Have limited time? Struggle with recipe timings? Or juggling around other things? Here’s some time managing info to make your life easier!

Mixing and shaping the meatballs will only take 10 minutes.
There’s an optional overnight flavour developing time.
Mixing the sauce will take 1 minute.
Baking the meatballs takes a total of 40 minutes (in two 20 minute parts).
If you are making the couscous, this will only take 10-15 minutes. But can be done while the meatballs are in the oven.

Oven baked turkey meatballs and homemade tomato sauce in a glass dish.

Turkey Meatballs and Couscous – Step by Step Picture Recipe

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

NOTE: The optional overnight flavour enhancement time in this recipe.

Ingredients

Here is what you will need to serve 4 (makes 28-30 meatballs).

Please note, this recipe includes both UK metric and US Cup measurements.

For the Turkey Meatballs

500g (1 lb) Turkey Mince
2 tsp Ground Coriander
2 tsp Ground Cumin
2 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Onion Salt *

* Alternatively you can use 2 tsp Onion Powder and 1/4 tsp of salt.

For the Sauce

2 x 400g (14 oz) Tins of Chopped Tomatoes with Herbs
Salt and Pepper
Pinch of Sugar
3-4 tbsp Parmesan Cheese, grated

For the Couscous #

300ml (1 + 1/8 Cup) Chicken Stock
250g (1 + 1/3 Cups) Couscous
2-3 tbsp Fresh Coriander, chopped

#Never made couscous before? Here’s how to cook couscous.

Essential equipment

Large Mixing Bowl
Fork
Spoon
Baking Tray or Plate
Tin Foil or Cling Film
Oven Proof Dish
Saucepan

Meatball instructions

First, mix together the turkey mince (500g | 1 lb), herbs (2 tsp ground coriander) and spices (2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion salt) in a large mixing bowl with a fork.

Turkey mince and seasonings in a glass mixing bowl with a fork.

Next, scoop out heaped teaspoon sized balls of the mixture, and roll into balls. It should make about 28-30.

Now you have a choice. You can either cover and chill overnight to allow the flavours to develop, or you can bake them straight away. It’s up to you.

(At this point, you can also freeze the meatballs to use at a later date.)

Turkey meatballs on a foil lined baking tray.

When you’re ready to cook, preheat your oven to 210°C/Fan 190°C/410ºF. Then place the meatballs into an oven proof dish. Bake for 20 minutes.

Homemade turkey meatballs in a glass dish.

Oven baked turkey meatballs in a glass dish.

Then mix the tinned tomatoes (2 x 400g | 14 oz) with the sugar (pinch), and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour the tomatoes over the meatballs, and give it a good stir. Sprinkle the top with the parmesan cheese (3-4 tbsp) and place it back into the oven for another 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the couscous…

Meatballs in a tomato based sauce topped with grated parmesan cheese.

Couscous instructions

Bring the chicken stock (300ml | 1 + 1/8 Cup) to the boil in a saucepan (or make with boiling water from a kettle).

Next, add the couscous (250g | 1 + 1/3 Cups) to a large bowl, and pour over hot chicken stock. Stir quickly with a fork, cover with cling film, and leave to one side.

Just before serving, fluff up the couscous with a fork and stir through the chopped coriander (2-3 tbsp).

Cooked couscous with added seasonings and herbs in a glass mixing bowl.

Divide the couscous and meatballs between 4 bowls, and serve immediately.

Turkey meatballs and tomato sauce in a glass serving dish.

How to freeze turkey meatballs

Place your freshly rolled (uncooked) meatballs onto a lined baking tray, cover with clingfilm and place into the freezer. Once they’re fully frozen, pop them into a freezer bag or tub, and keep frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before using.

FAQs

Are turkey meatballs healthy?

Dependent on how you cook them, yes, turkey meatballs are quite healthy. Turkey is a very lean mince, with a low fat content. Providing you don’t deep fry them, turkey meatballs can be part of a healthy meal. Oven baking is the healthiest way to cook them.

Can you make turkey meatballs in advance?

Yes, you can. They actually taste better if you allow them to chill overnight before cooking. You could also freeze turkey meatballs to enjoy on another day.

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Homemade turkey meatballs in a tomato based sauce served in a glass dish. A text overlay says "Easy oven baked turkey meatballs".