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A serving of perfectly cooked ground turkey meatballs.

One-Pot Ground Turkey Meatballs

These one-pot ground turkey meatballs are an easy and comforting meal, simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce. This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner and yields tender, juicy meatballs with minimal cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Bowl
  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven

Ingredients
  

Meatballs

  • 1.5 lbs ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion (or 1 tbsp onion powder)
  • 2 garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for freshness)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Sauce

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 crushed tomatoes (28 ounce) can
  • 1 diced tomatoes, undrained (14.5 ounce) can
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • red pepper flakes Pinch (optional, for a little kick)
  • 1 tbsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity in tomatoes)

Instructions
 

Prepare the Meatballs

  • In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, onion (or powder), garlic (or powder), parsley (if using), salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs, then form about 18-20 golf-ball-sized meatballs.

Sear the Meatballs

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear meatballs in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until browned, then remove to a plate.

Build the Sauce

  • Reduce heat to medium, and if needed, drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tbsp. Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pot; stir well, scraping up any browned bits, and bring to a gentle simmer.

Simmer and Finish

  • Return meatballs to the simmering sauce, ensuring they are mostly submerged. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes until cooked through and tender, stirring occasionally. Optionally, stir in sugar to balance acidity.

Serve

  • Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, then serve hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can add a bay leaf to the sauce while it simmers. Serve these meatballs over pasta, with crusty bread, or alongside a simple green salad.