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BBQ Turkey Meatballs

March 9, 2020 by Caitlin Monson 4 Comments

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This recipe is by far the easiest (and most delicious) baked meatball recipe you’ll ever find! They’re healthy, loaded with flavor and are always a crowd favorite!
Delicious bbq turkey meatballs that are crispy on the outside and tender in the middle! Plus they're dairy free and easily made gluten free too!

If there’s one thing I’m well known for in my group of friends, it’s got to be my bbq turkey meatballs! I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve been asked to bring these little balls to a potluck, or party or any other social event really. And they always seem to want these exact bbq meatballs too! If I try to bring something else? No, they want meatballs… If I try to bring a different kind of meatball? Nope, only bbq will do! Ayyyy! So I think I’ve finally given up and have come to accept my apparently very important role in the group as the Meatball Mistress. 😉 But I’m taking that as a win and have decided to impart some meatball wisdom on you all today in the form of sharing this incredibly easy no-fail meatball recipe!

Easy and healthy barbecue meatballs that are baked in the oven and covered in your favorite barbecue sauce! They're absolutely perfect for meal prepping!

Ingredients

Best part about this recipe? The ingredients are so simple! All you need are the few items listed below:

  • Ground turkey
  • Eggs
  • Panko breadcrumbs (These are key! You can also use gluten free panko as well.)
  • Red onion (or white onion)
  • Water
  • Paprika
  • Salt & pepper
  • Barbecue sauce (use your personal favorite)

What type of breadcrumbs do I use to make these meatballs?

Most meatball recipes will call for regular or “Italian style” breadcrumbs. Personally, I don’t prefer using these in my recipe because I think it can make the balls rather dense and chewy. Instead I use panko breadcrumbs. If you’re not familiar with what panko is, they’re the type of breadcrumbs that are used to make tempura in many Japanese/Asian restaurants. The reason I love using panko instead of regular breadcrumbs is because panko is so much lighter and gives the meatballs that “melt in your mouth” feel to them. You can usually find these breadcrumbs in the Asian aisle at most grocery stores or possibly mixed in with the other breadcrumbs too. (You can also find gluten free panko online too if you’re gluten free.)

Quick and easy bbq meatballs that are oven roasted and can be served in the crock pot! You'll definitely want to serve these at your next potluck/party!

How do I cook bbq turkey meatballs?

Unlike some other recipes, these meatballs MUST be cooked in the oven! Because the mixture is more on the softer side, the meatballs can easily “deflat” when cooked in a saute pan and can also “fuse together” if cooked in a crock pot. That being said, I’ve always found the oven to be the best way to cook meatballs anyways; especially if you have the right equipment! Here’s what you’ll need below:

  • Broiler pan: I’ve found that this type of pan works the best for cooking meatballs because it allows the excess moisture from the balls to drain off into the bottom part of the pan and leaves the balls super crispy on the outside. You can also use a large cookie tray in place of the broiler pan too. However, the meatballs will be crispy on top but not on the bottom because they’ll be sitting in their own moisture while they cook.

Can I add anything else to these meatballs?

Absolutely! I usually use this recipe as a base/starting point and just start adding from there! And the great thing about these meatballs is that you can as much or as little of an ingredient as you want! Just make it to fit your taste buds and you’re good to go! Here are some add-in ideas below:

  • Chopped bell pepper
  • Chopped green onion
  • Grated zucchini
  • Riced cauliflower
  • Minced garlic
  • Chopped spinach
You can't go wrong with this easy meatball recipe! They're made with ground turkey, onions, panko breadcrumbs and your favorite bbq sauce!

How can I serve these meatballs for a party?

Simply bake your meatballs beforehand (even a few days before if you prefer), then place them in a crock pot with some sauce and turn the pot on to low. I usually check them after 30 minutes to see if they’re hot enough and then keep the slow cooker on “warm” until the end of the party. It works every time! (And it’s so easy to clean up too!)

Even More Reason to love these BBQ turkey meatballs:

  • They’re incredibly moist and tender.
  • They’re great for meal prepping during the week.
  • They perfect for a light lunch or easy dinner.
  • You can sneak a bunch of veggies in them and no one will ever notice!

Moral of the story- if you love meatballs, then I know you’re going to absolutely LOVE these bbq meatballs too!

Hope you’re having a great Monday babes! 🙂

More recipes like this:
  • Baked Cajun Chicken Wings with Avocado Cilantro Lime Sauce
  • Green Chile Turkey Burgers
  • BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
  • Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Gnocchi with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip

[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]

Delicious bbq turkey meatballs that are crispy on the outside and tender in the middle! Plus they're dairy free and easily made gluten free too!
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5 from 1 vote

BBQ Turkey Meatballs

My go-to recipe for baked bbq meatballs! These meatballs are so easy to make, are packed with flavor and can easily be made gluten free too!
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, BBQ, Dairy free, Healthy, Meal prep
Keyword: bbq, dairy free, easy, healthy, meal prep, turkey meatballs
Servings: 15 meatballs
Author: Caitlin Monson

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tbsp panko bread crumbs (can be replaced with gluten free panko/breadcrumbs)
  • ⅓ cup red onion, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ¼ cup barbecue sauce (plus extra to coat the meatballs)*

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a baking rack with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Form the mixture into decent sized balls and place them on your baking rack. Place the rack in the oven and bake the meatballs for 25-30 minutes.
  • Once done, either coat them in additional bbq sauce or serve them plain with extra bbq sauce on the side.

Notes

*I used Stubbs Smokey Mesquite sauce for the recipe.
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Filed Under: Appetizer, Chicken/Turkey, Main Dish Tagged With: barbecue, bbq, crock pot, crockpot, dairy free, dinner, easy, gluten free, healthy, lunch, meal prep, potluck, slow cooker, turkey meatballs

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leah

    September 6, 2020 at 10:53 am

    These look terrific!! I am going to check out your other recipes. I saw some really good ones on Pinterest. Your cooking style is just up my alley!!

    Reply
    • Caitlin Monson

      September 7, 2020 at 6:42 pm

      Aww thank you so much Leah! This is definitely my favorite meatball recipe. Let me know if you try anything or if you ever have any questions! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Marc

    November 17, 2020 at 7:59 am

    Hi Caitlin! Love your recipes, made these bbq meatballs tonight and they were delicious! I used sweet baby ray’s sauce, had a side of yukon gold mashed potatoes and made a copy of your zucchini and corn. Looking forward to trying more!

    Reply
    • Caitlin Monson

      November 17, 2020 at 7:52 pm

      Hi Marc! Thank you so much, I’m so glad you loved them! They’re definitely a family favorite over here that’s for sure! And that meal sounds amazing too! Let me know if you try anything else! 🙂

      Reply

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Meet Caitlin

Hey there!

I’m Caitlin and I’m here to simplify California cuisine! I’m just your every day Cali girl with a huge passion for cooking and sharing simple healthy eats with a few sweet treats.

Welcome to my kitchen!

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AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a he AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a hell yeah?!🙌🏻
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One thing you’ll learn about me - I put avocado on EVERYTHING!🤗 (Which is a little ironic considering I hated avocados as a kid...😳 Weird...I know.) But dangg was it delicious in this salad! It’s super simple to make, loaded with fresh & bright flavors & a fun spin on your classic caprese!😍
P.S. Try it on some sourdough for a fun toast topping too!
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Hope you’re all having a great Thursday loves!😊💕
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Avocado, Tomato & Mozzarella Salad🥑
Cherry tomatoes, halved
Mozzarella balls
Avocado, diced
Fresh basil, sliced thin
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (you can add 1 Tbsp of coconut sugar to this too if you like it sweeter)
Salt & pepper, to taste
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1. Bring your balsamic vinegar (& sweetener if using) to a boil in pot on the stove over medium high heat. Let it simmer for 8-10 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened. Let it cool completely.
2. Then add your tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado & fresh basil to bowl & toss with your balsamic “dressing”.
3. Sprinkle it with salt & pepper to taste & serve immediately. 
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#kaleforniakravings #dinner #caprese #capresesalad #salad #healthydinner #easyrecipes #easymeals #dinnerideas #healthyeats #healthylunch #wholefoods #lunchideas #healthfood #healthyfood #quickmeals #foodblogger #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreefood #feedfeed #healthyrecipes #huffposttaste #realfood #thekitchn #healthyfoodshare #mealprep #foodblogfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Another day, another salad... And I’m about to d Another day, another salad... And I’m about to dive head first into this CHOPPED APPLE & MANDARIN SALAD with CREAMY POPPY SEED DRESSING!😍 [Ad]
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Does anyone else love making their own salad dressings? Because SAME. HERE!🙋🏼‍♀️ (It actually feels a little weird whenever I use store bought dressing now...😳) But I just love that I can tailor them to fit my taste buds & use better for you ingredients too. Just like this easy poppy seed dressing!🤗 It’s protein packed with Greek yogurt & helps support a healthy immune system with a good dose of apple cider vinegar. Not to mention it’s absolutely delicious on this fresh & fruity salad too!😉 (Side note: @sprouts is the only place I get my ACV because they have the best pricing for all organic vinegars.) So pop on over to your local @sprouts & pick up all these ingredients ASAP!
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Hope you’re having a great Tuesday loves!😊💕
(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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Chopped Apple & Mandarin Salad🍎
Kale, leaves cut off the stem & chopped
Honeycrisp apples, diced
Mandarin oranges
Dried cranberries
Toasted pecans (toasted at 375 degrees for 5-6 mins)
Poppyseed Dressing: 2 Tbsp olive oil + 2 Tbsp ACV + 2 Tbsp maple syrup + 2 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt + 1 tsp poppy seeds
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1. Massage the kale in 1 Tbsp of your dressing. Then add your apples, mandarins & dried cranberries.
2. Toss the salad in your dressing & top with pecans right before serving!
Currently craving a big ol’ bowl of this ONE POT Currently craving a big ol’ bowl of this ONE POT BROCCOLI MAC & CHEESE!🤗
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Creamy, cheesy & made with minimal ingredients too?? It doesn’t get much better than that in my book by loves! (And the fact that it only takes 10ish minutes to make too is just icing on the cake.😉) Bring on all that cheesy goodness please!😍
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One Pot Broccoli Mac & Cheese🧀
2 cups dry rotini pasta (use gluten free if needed)
2 cups almond milk (or your favorite milk)
1 cup water
1 cup broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp ground mustard
3/4 tsp salt
Black pepper, to taste
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1. Pour the milk, water, pasta & salt into a large pot & bring it to a boil. Boil the pasta for 8-10 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
2. Then add your broccoli & boil for an additional 2 minutes. (The broccoli will give off a lot of water so make sure there is very little water in the pot before adding your broccoli.)
3. Once the broccoli is cooked, add your cheese, ground mustard & pepper & stir until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately!
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#kaleforniakravings #macandcheese #macaroni #healthydinner #dinnerideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #comfortfood #easyrecipes #healthyeats #simplerecipes #wholefoods #easymeals #quickmeals #feedfeed #meatlessmonday #foodblogger #huffposttaste #glutenfree #glutenfreefood #healthyrecipes #healthyfood #realfood #foodblogfeed #healthyfoodshare #healthfood #easydinner #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FR Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE with BLUEBERRIES & all the maple syrup!🤗
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French toast has always been my jam. (Even as a little one!) But I’ve never tried making a casserole with it until now. All I can say is...holy moly have been missing out!😱 It’s super soft & “custardy” in the center, perfectly toasted on top & then you get that juicy burst from a warm blueberry... Ohhhh baby, that’s breakfast heaven right there!🤤 Swipe ➡️ to see that close up!
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Hope you’re having a great Friday loves!😊💕
(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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Sourdough French Toast Casserole🍞🫐
5 cups sourdough bread, cut into cubes
2 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup blueberries
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1. Whisk the eggs, milk, syrup, vanilla & cinnamon together & set it aside.
2. Spray a 7x11” pan with nonstick cooking spray & spread half of your bread cubes on the bottom. Then sprinkle half of your blueberries over the top & repeat the layers.
3. Pour your egg mixture over the top and cover the pan with foil. Let the pan sit in the fridge for 2 hours - overnight.
4. Then bake it uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serve with extra blue fries & syrup!
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#kaleforniakravings #frenchtoast #frenchtoastcasserole #breakfastideas #healthybreakfast #brunchideas #breakfastrecipes #breakfastlover #dairyfree #comfortfood #quickmeals #wholefoods #easyrecipes #easymeals #simplemeals #healthyish #foodblogger #huffposttaste #thekitchn #thefeedfeed #healthyrecipes #healthyfrenchtoast #realfood #healthyfood #healthyfoodshare #thenewhealthy #feedfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @huffposttaste
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