One Pot Healthy Turkey Meatballs
These one pot healthy turkey meatballs are tender, flavorful, and simmered in a rich homemade tomato sauce all in one pan. Made with lean ground turkey, herbs, garlic, and Parmesan, they’re a lighter comfort food dinner that still feels hearty and satisfying.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon fennel seed
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 small yellow onion finely minced
- ⅔ cup panko bread crumbs
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoons olive oil for cooking
For the Sauce
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, basil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, fennel seed, garlic, onion, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan. Mix just until everything comes together. Overmixing can make the meatballs a little dense instead of tender, so don't overdo it!
- Lightly wet your hands with water, then roll the mixture into meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides. They don’t need to be fully cooked through yet. You’re just building flavor and getting that golden crust on the outside. Transfer them to a plate once browned.
- In the same skillet, add the sauce ingredients and bring everything to a gentle simmer. Return the meatballs to the pan, cover, and let them cook for 15–20 minutes until the sauce thickens and the meatballs are cooked through and tender.
- Remove the bay leaves, then serve the meatballs over spaghetti with fresh basil and plenty of Parmesan on top.