These delicious & tender Gluten Free Turkey Meatballs are packed with lean protein and bursting with flavor. They are a game changer if you are on a gluten-free diet or cooking for a friend or family member who is gluten-free. So roll up your sleeves and let's get cooking -- your new favorite meatballs are just a few steps away!
As a dietitian, I will take pretty much any excuse to add oats to a recipe. Even meatballs. 😊 You honestly won't believe how moist, tender, and flavorful these meatballs are when we use oatmeal to replace breadcrumbs for a simple gluten-free option.
This recipe was inspired by my Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce and also pairs well as an added protein in my Creamy Mushroom Orzo with Spinach or a Nourish Bowl made with Tahini Yogurt Sauce and Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots.
If you're looking for similar recipes, try my Lemon Sage Chicken Meatballs!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Video of How to Make Gluten Free Turkey Meatballs
- Key Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Gluten-Free Turkey Meatballs
- Substitutions
- Variations
- How to Serve Turkey Meatballs
- Meal Prep and Storage
- Expert Advice for Making Turkey Meatballs
- Dietitian Tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Perfect for Pairing
- Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy - this is a classic Italian meatball the whole family will love and it only takes 5 minutes of prep and 25-30 minutes in the oven.
- Freeze Great - make these ahead and freeze so you'll have them ready to thaw for an easy dinner next time you’re having a busy week. Making meatballs at home puts you in charge of the flavor so you can add as much spice or seasoning as you want. Plus, homemade meatballs taste better than store-bought!
- Nutrition - these meatballs are made with ground turkey, a high-quality lean protein that provides iron, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. Turkey is also high in B Vitamins which have been shown to play a role in brain health.
- Versatile - once you have a batch cooked, you can serve turkey meatballs in so many different ways. With marinara sauce and pasta, sweet and sour sauce for an Asian flare, or tzatziki with a squeeze of lemon for a Greek influence.
Video of How to Make Gluten Free Turkey Meatballs
Here's a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for the full recipe.
Key Ingredient Notes
These gluten-free turkey meatballs are made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and complete recipe.
- Ground Turkey - I use 93% lean ground turkey for these turkey meatballs. I don’t recommend going leaner than 93/7 for this recipe. Even though 99% has slightly less fat, it makes the meatballs too dry.
- Quick Oats - we are using gluten-free oats in place of breadcrumbs to make these meatballs. I prefer to use quick oats for this recipe, but you can use rolled (old-fashioned) oats if you prefer. Oatmeal adds dietary fiber for gut health, magnesium, and phosphorus.
- Parmesan Cheese - grated parmesan cheese adds lots of Italian flavor and helps bind the meatballs together. If possible, buy the parmesan at the deli area of your local grocery store for maximum freshness.
- Basil- fresh basil adds color to these turkey meatballs. You can swap it for other fresh herbs like parsley, oregano, thyme, or sage. Find fresh herbs in the produce section at the grocery store or at your local farmer’s market.
- Garlic - a couple of cloves of minced garlic adds flavor and antioxidants. You can use garlic powder if you prefer.
- Onion - this recipe calls for yellow onion and the key is to finely dice or grate the onion. Doing so releases a lot of juice, giving you good moisture for your meatballs. You can use white or red onion if you prefer.
- Egg - egg binds the breadcrumbs in a traditional meatball. In these gluten-free meatballs, it acts similarly to bind the oats so you don’t end up with a crumbly meatball.
- Olive Oil - just a bit of extra virgin olive oil adds moisture (no one wants tough meatballs)! Olive oil also adds heart-healthy fats that support brain health and hormone health.
- Italian Seasoning - for an extra boost of flavor.
- Salt & Black Pepper - just a small bit of kosher salt and black pepper is all you need to tie it all together.
How to Make Gluten-Free Turkey Meatballs
Below are the instructions for how to make this recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200°C). Prep a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with a cooking spray to prevent the meatballs from sticking. Then finely dice or grate your onion, mince the garlic, and chop the fresh basil.
Step 2 - Combine all the ingredients including turkey, oatmeal, parmesan, basil, garlic, onion, egg, olive oil, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
Step 3 - Mix to combine using either your hands, a wooden spoon, or a spatula. I use my hands for this part. Make sure all the ingredients are well distributed.
Step 4 - Scoop about 2 tablespoon of the meat mixture at a time and form into balls on the prepared baking sheet. Continue until you have 20 meatballs.
Step 5 - Use your hands to shape the meatballs, wetting your hands with water to make them less sticky. Brush or spray the tops with olive oil (optional).
Step 6 - Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. The meatballs are done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165℉ (75°C) with a meat thermometer. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the meatballs and the oven.
Hint: To keep all the meatballs the same size and make it easier, use a cookie scoop to measure them.
Substitutions
Below are some ideas for ingredient substitutions for these gluten-free turkey meatballs.
- Ground Meat - if you aren't a fan of ground turkey, you can use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork instead. Or do a mixture of 2 of these ground meats.
- Oat Flour - you can substitute oats for oat flour. I tried them with oat flour and it works! You could also sub with almond flour or use gluten-free breadcrumbs from the store.
- Onion and Garlic Powder - using fresh and finely diced or grated onion and minced garlic helps add moisture to the meatball mixture. But if you prefer a smooth texture or don’t have time to chop the onion and garlic, you can use onion powder and garlic powder instead. If using powders, I recommend ½ teaspoon onion powder and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Dried Herb - don’t have fresh herbs in a pinch? No worries! Use a dried herb instead! As a general rule, you’ll use ⅓ the amount of a dried herb as fresh so use 1 tablespoon dried basil or parsley in place of fresh in this recipe.
Variations
One of the best things about these Gluten Free Turkey Meatballs is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative.
- Spicy - if you want to give these meatballs a kick, add crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture.
- Fancy- for even more umami flavor, add a tablespoon of coconut aminos. It's a gluten-free alternative to Worcestershire Sauce, which is found in some meatball recipes.
- Dairy Free - make this recipe dairy-free by skipping the parmesan cheese.
How to Serve Turkey Meatballs
Now that you have a batch of these delicious healthy meatballs, you can serve them in many different ways! Below are some ideas for serving.
- Classic Italian Meal - serve gluten-free turkey meatballs with your favorite marinara or a simple homemade tomato sauce and pasta. I love serving them with chickpea pasta like Banza spaghetti for extra protein and fiber. Add in zucchini or summer squash noodles if you want to get in more veggies!
- In a Grain Bowl - add these in a grain bowl with brown rice, cauliflower rice or quinoa and your favorite vegetables and sauce. I love adding these on top of my Nourish Bowl recipe.
- Meatball Sandwich - turn it into a meatball sandwich by cutting these meatballs in half and serving with marinara between two slices of crusty sourdough bread.
- On Top of Salad - if you need a protein to add to a salad, these meatballs go great with many salad dressings.
- In a Soup - add these turkey meatballs to an Italian Wedding Soup, Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup, or Red Cabbage Soup.
- On Homemade Pizza or Flatbread - cut the meatballs into pieces and add on top of homemade pizza or a flatbread with mozzarella and fresh basil!
Meal Prep and Storage
Meal Prep
Make these meatballs even easier when it's mealtime by prepping the onions, garlic, and basil in advance. Store in the fridge in separate containers until you’re ready to make the meatballs.
Storage for Turkey Meatballs
Let the meatballs cool to room temperature before storing.
- Refrigerator - store leftover meatballs in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. You can store them in the fridge with or without sauce. Reheat on the stovetop in a large skillet, in your air fryer, in the oven at 350℉ (177°C) or in the microwave.
- Freezer - store the cooked meatballs in a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. If stored in the freezer, I suggest freezing them before adding sauce. To defrost, put the meatballs in the fridge overnight until thawed and then reheat on the stovetop, in the oven at 350℉ (177°C) or in the microwave.
Expert Advice for Making Turkey Meatballs
- If you prefer a finer texture, blend the oatmeal in a blender for about 15-30 seconds before adding it to the meatball mixture.
- For best results, don't overmix the meatballs because it will cause them to get tough. Once the ingredients are well combined, you're good to go!
- Use a cookie scoop to make evenly-sized meatballs to ensure they cook equally. You can also use an ice cream scoop or a large spoon.
Dietitian Tip
Turkey contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that plays a role in the production of 2 hormones important for supporting brain health: serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin plays a role in your overall happiness and mood. Melatonin plays a role in sleep. Make easy recipes like these turkey meatballs to add more of this lean protein in your diet!
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, these gluten-free turkey meatballs are a nutrient-rich option. They contain high-quality lean protein, heart-healthy fats that also support brain health and hormone health, and many other vitamins and nutrients including B vitamins, iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus. The added oatmeal provides dietary fiber to support gut health. This is a high-protein recipe and contains no added sugars.
The key to getting a moist turkey meatball is the *grated or finely diced* onion and the olive oil! Grating or very finely dicing the onion gets the moisture out, and olive oil helps make sure everything is coated with moisture. The combination of these ingredients really makes a difference.
Absolutely! I prefer to use oats because they are high in fiber and I always have some in my house. And I have found that gluten-free breadcrumbs tend to have added ingredients that I would prefer to avoid. But you prefer GF breadcrumbs, you can use those instead!
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
Here are some of my favorite recipes to pair with Gluten-Free Turkey Meatballs:
Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
Here are some nutrition education articles from a dietitian:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Gluten-Free Turkey Meatballs (with no Breadcrumbs)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
- ⅓ cup quick oats or rolled oats
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped or parsley
- ⅓ cup yellow onion, finely chopped or grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200°C). Prep a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with a cooking spray to prevent the meatballs from sticking. Then finely dice or grate your onion, mince the garlic, and chop the fresh basil.
- Combine all the ingredients including turkey, oatmeal, parmesan, basil, garlic, onion, egg, olive oil, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Mix to combine using either your hands, a wooden spoon, or a spatula. I use my hands for this part. Make sure all the ingredients are well distributed.
- Scoop about 2 tablespoon of the meat mixture at a time and form into balls on the prepared baking sheet. Continue until you have 20 meatballs.
- Use your hands to shape the meatballs, wetting your hands with water to make them less sticky. Brush or spray the tops with olive oil (optional).
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. The meatballs are done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165℉ (75°C) with a meat thermometer. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the meatballs and the oven.
Video
Notes
- If you prefer a finer texture, blend the oatmeal in a blender for about 15-30 seconds before adding it to the meatball mixture.
- Don't overmix the meatball mixture because it will cause them to get tough.
- Use a cookie scoop to make evenly-sized meatballs to ensure they cook equally.
- Refrigerator - store leftover meatballs in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop in a large skillet, in your air fryer, in the oven at 350℉ (177°C) or in the microwave.
- Freezer - store the cooked meatballs in a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. If stored in the freezer, I suggest freezing them before adding sauce. To defrost, put the meatballs in the fridge overnight until thawed and then reheat on the stovetop, in the oven at 350℉(177°C) or in the microwave.
Shawnna
Amaze-balls! These came out delish and were super easy to make! Definitely something I will have on rotation as one of my go -to's. I had the meatballs with spaghetti squash which was great but next time will try using them to do meatball sandwiches since they are gluten free. Can't wait 😉
Mallory
Thank you so much for taking time to leave a review, friend! 🙂 I'm SO happy you love the meatballs!! Can't wait to hear how the sandwich is!