One Pot Turkey Meatballs
These one pot turkey meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and simmered right in a rich homemade tomato sauce — no separate pans required. The turkey stays tender and light, while the sauce soaks up all those garlicky, herby flavors from the meatballs. Serve them over pasta, polenta, or with a side of garlic bread for the ultimate cozy dinner. Bonus: everything cooks in one skillet, making cleanup a breeze!
Servings: 4
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 mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, basil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, fennel seed, garlic, onion, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan. Mix until everything’s just combined — don’t overmix or the meatballs can get tough.
- Fill a small bowl with water and lightly wet your hands to make rolling easier, then form the mixture into meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and brown them on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Once they’ve got some nice color, transfer them to a plate and set aside.
- To the same skillet, add your sauce ingredients and bring to a gentle boil. Lower the heat, return the meatballs to the pan, cover, and let everything simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thick and flavorful.
- Remove and discard the bay leaves, then serve the meatballs over spaghetti. Top with fresh basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan before serving.