Healthy Turkey Meatballs

Name: Healthy Turkey Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 120 g carrot (grated (approx 1 large)); 200 g zucchini (grated (approx 1 large)); 1 medium brown onion (finely diced); 500 g turkey mince; 70 g breadcrumbs ((¾ cup)); 1 egg; salt and pepper (to season); olive oil cooking spray; sesame seeds (to sprinkle)

Jump to Recipe

Healthy Turkey Meatballs are flavourful, veggie-packed bites, oven-baked to perfection. Freezer-friendly, low carb and healthy too!

Serve them on their own as an appetiser or party food snack, or as part of a meal with vegetables or salad. Don't forget to add your favourite dipping sauce on the side...

A close up of sesame seeds sprinkled over baked meatballs in a white bowl

There's just something about finger-food that makes it an easy favourite with kids. And when it's also something that you can dip into a sauce, you definitely have a winner!

These simple turkey meatballs are ideal for lunchboxes. These, along with loads of other freezer-friendly lunch box recipes, like Chicken Sausage Rolls and Healthy Zucchini Fritters, can go straight from the freezer into lunchboxes and they'll thaw and be ready to eat at lunch time. And who doesn't want to make lunchbox prep on school mornings that little bit easier!

While these might be great lunchbox snacks, they also make delicious party appetisers or a light family dinner.

Healthy turkey and vegetable meatballs in a white serving bowl.

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

This 10 minute healthy turkey meatballs recipe is sure to become a family favourite in no time!

Simple - this turkey meatballs recipe needs a handful of budget friendly ingredients, and they are super simple to make.
Healthy - baking the turkey meatballs in the oven reduces the amount of oil you may otherwise need to use, and keeps them moist, tender and better for you!
Freezer-friendly - you don't have to worry about leftovers going to waste, as these meatballs freeze and defrost well. You can pack them into lunchboxes straight from the freezer and they're just as tasty served cold or hot!
Versatile - perfect as finger-food, these healthy turkey meatballs with zucchini and carrot are easy to make into a main meal. Serve them with a fresh salad, or with quinoa and vegetable fritters, or substitute them into your favourite meatball and spaghetti recipe!
Conventional and Thermomix recipes - you can choose either the Conventional or Thermomix method for making the healthy turkey meatballs, I have included both for your convenience.

A meatball on the end of a golden fork, being lifted out of a white serving dish

What You Need

Baked Turkey Meatballs are great for toddlers and kids as a healthy snack or as part of a meal. Adding these low calorie turkey meatballs to a grazing board gives adult guests a delicious homemade option to choose from.

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Ingredients for oven baked turkey meatballs

Carrot - are a vegetable that is always available, and are therefore a budget friendly ingredient that adds flavour, texture and a veggie boost to the meatball.
Zucchini - Countries such as the UK and NZ know these as courgettes. They are a popular squash and are in season in summer and autumn here in Australia.
Onion - a medium sized brown or yellow onion, finely diced.
Turkey mince - is lower in saturated fat than other minced meats, but these healthy meatballs have much the same protein and iron content as beef mince does.
Breadcrumbs - use regular or homemade breadcrumbs made from slightly stale bread. This acts as a binder for the meatballs.
Egg - when using eggs in a recipe, it is best to have them at room temperature before you start.
Salt and Pepper - to season.
Olive oil cooking spray - using a cooking spray allows you to add a very fine layer of oil on the meatballs, to give them a browned, slightly crusty finish without burning.
Sesame seeds - these small white seeds have a mild, nutty flavour and add a slight crunch to the meatballs.

A close-up of the texture and colour of a browned meatball on the end of a fork.

Step By Step Instructions

No more than around 10 minutes to prepare these simple turkey meatballs and then they're ready for the oven!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Step 1 - Prepare The Ingredients

Grate the vegetables and strain any excess liquid from them.

Finely grated carrot and zucchini in a wire strainer over a glass bowl

Add the grated vegetables, diced onion, turkey mince, breadcrumbs, egg and seasoning into a large mixing bowl.

Turkey mince meat, breadcrumbs, onion and grated vegetables in a glass mixing bowl.

Step 2 - Combine The Mixture

Mix all the meatball ingredients together well.

A clear glass bowl on a marble counter with a minced mixture in it.

Step 3 - Roll And Bake The Meatballs

Roll the mixture into tablespoon-sized balls, and place onto a baking paper lined oven tray.

Fifteen meatballs spaced on baking paper on a tray

Spray meatballs with olive oil cooking spray and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Raw meatballs sprinkled with sesame seeds and arranged on a baking paper covered tray

Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven or until cooked through.

Healthy turkey and vegetable meatballs in a white serving dish

Expert Tips and FAQs

What temperature do I use for a conventional oven?

I specify fan-forced oven temperatures in my recipes, so if you have a conventional oven, increase the temperature by between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.

If I use a non-stick baking tray, do I still have to line it with baking paper?

I strongly recommend lining all trays with baking paper, as this makes cleaning up easier, and reduces the risk of food sticking.

Do the vegetables need to be peeled?

Apart from the onion, the current advice about needing to peel vegetables before cooking them is that as long as you wash them thoroughly, you don't need to. The skin often contains essential nutrients and fibre and can also contribute extra flavour!

Can the vegetables be hidden more?

Finely grating the vegetables will make them less visible in the meatballs, as will peeling the zucchini!

Can I substitute turkey mince?

Yes, this recipe will work with chicken, pork or beef mince as well, however the nutritional information below the recipe will differ.

How long will cooked meatballs last in the fridge?

Store meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How long can these healthy Turkey Meatballs be frozen for?

Leftover meatballs can be frozen, in an airtight container in the freezer, for up to 3 months.

Who can resist a batch of bite-sized, flavour-packed meatballs!?

These simple appetisers are so versatile and make the perfect party food, light dinner or lunch box snack...

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