Description
These Baked Turkey Meatballs are juicy and flavorful, featuring a gooey mozzarella center surrounded by a perfectly seasoned turkey mixture. Enhanced with sautéed onions, garlic, Italian herbs, and Parmesan cheese, these meatballs are baked to golden perfection and make a delicious appetizer or main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1½ cups breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned or panko)
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp Herbs de Provence
- ¼ cup half-and-half (or whole milk)
- 2 lbs ground turkey (or chicken/beef)
Filling
- 8 oz Mozzarella Ciliegine (small mozzarella balls)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Sauté aromatics: Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Sauté the diced onion until tender and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the minced garlic, and let the mixture cool slightly.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, sautéed onion and garlic, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, black pepper, Herbs de Provence, and half-and-half. Stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Add the ground turkey: Add the ground turkey to the breadcrumb mixture and gently mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form meatballs with mozzarella center: If available, use a 2-inch cookie scoop sprayed with nonstick spray to form meatballs. Otherwise, use your hands sprayed with nonstick spray. Scoop a 2-inch portion of meat mixture, push one mozzarella ball into the center carefully without pushing it too deep, then cover the cheese completely with additional meat mixture. Gently shape into a round ball.
- Place meatballs on baking sheet: Arrange the formed meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1½ inches apart for even cooking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes, or until they are browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Remove the meatballs from the oven and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce or marinara sauce.
Notes
- To prevent tough meatballs, do not overmix the meat mixture.
- Using a cookie scoop helps create uniform-sized meatballs that cook evenly.
- Make sure the mozzarella ball is fully enclosed by the meat to avoid it leaking during baking.
- These meatballs can be served as appetizers, in pasta dishes, or as a main course.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
