Baked Turkey Meatballs in Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe
These Baked Turkey Meatballs in Lemon Butter Sauce are a delicious and versatile dish, perfect for a weeknight dinner, appetizer, or side. They feature lean ground turkey mixed with fresh herbs, spices, and a zesty lemon butter sauce that enhances the flavor while keeping the meatballs moist and tender. Baked to perfection, they make a healthy and satisfying meal that’s guaranteed to become a family favorite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For Meatballs
- 1 pound Lean Ground Turkey, chilled
- 1 small Onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup Green Onions, chopped
- 3 tablespoons Panko Crumbs
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon Salt or as needed
- Freshly Cracked Pepper, as needed
- ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- ½ cup Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
For Lemon Butter Sauce
- ¼ cup Unsalted Butter, melted
- ¼ cup Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- Few Sprigs of Fresh Thyme
- ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, finely chopped onion, green onions, panko crumbs, minced garlic, egg, Dijon mustard, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, freshly cracked pepper, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Mix gently with a spatula, fork, or hands just until combined, being careful not to overmix to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop out portions of the mixture and roll them into 1½ to 2-inch meatballs. You should end up with approximately 18 to 20 meatballs depending on size.
- Arrange and Brush: Place the meatballs on a greased baking dish in a single layer. Brush the tops evenly with melted butter to add moisture and flavor during baking.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until cooked through, ensuring the internal temperature reaches safe levels for poultry.
- Prepare Lemon Butter Sauce: While the meatballs bake, whisk together melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, fresh thyme sprigs, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a bowl until well combined.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Remove the baked meatballs from the oven, pour the lemon butter sauce over them, and sprinkle with roughly torn fresh thyme leaves.
- Final Bake: Return the meatballs to the oven and bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes. This step ensures the sauce infuses into the meatballs without overcooking them or drying them out.
- Serve: Serve the turkey meatballs topped with the lemon butter sauce alongside your choice of rice, quinoa, pasta, mashed potatoes, or salad for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- Variation: Swap ground turkey with ground chicken, beef, or lamb for different flavors while maintaining juiciness.
- Chilled Meat: Keep all ingredients chilled except the melted butter to maintain texture and moisture in meatballs.
- Juiciness: Enhance moisture by including a blend of dark and white turkey meat, a bit of butter, healthy oil, or milk to the mix.
- Consistency: Make meatballs uniform in size to ensure even cooking throughout.
- Avoid Overmixing: Handle the mixture gently to prevent tough, dry meatballs.