Description
Juicy turkey meatballs simmered in a bright and buttery lemon garlic sauce. Light, flavorful, and perfect for weeknight dinners or elegant entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian style)
- 1 large egg
- 5 cloves garlic (3 minced for meatballs, 2 for sauce)
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (optional, to stretch sauce)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
- In a bowl, mix ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, 3 garlic cloves (minced), parsley, Parmesan, salt, and pepper until just combined.
- Scoop into 1½-inch balls and chill for 10 minutes if possible.
- Brown meatballs in skillet for 6–8 minutes until golden. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add remaining garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice, zest, and chicken broth (if using).
- Return meatballs to the skillet. Simmer 8–10 minutes until cooked through and sauce is slightly thickened.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Don’t overmix meat mixture to keep meatballs tender.
- Chilling helps meatballs hold their shape when cooking.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the best flavor.
- Serve with pasta, rice, or veggies for a full meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg