Description
These Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs combine lean ground turkey with savory vegetables, dried cranberries, and flavorful seasonings for a moist, tender, and delicious appetizer or main dish. Perfectly baked to juicy perfection, they offer a delightful balance of textures and flavors and are great for serving with cranberry sauce or on their own.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- ½ lb. mushrooms, finely chopped (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped (about ½ large onion)
- ½ cup celery, finely chopped
- 1 lb. ground turkey breast
- ½ cup coarsely ground cornmeal or dry cornbread stuffing
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp poultry seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Prepare a sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper or by brushing or spraying it lightly with oil to prevent sticking.
- Mix the ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine finely chopped mushrooms, onion, celery, ground turkey breast, cornmeal or dry cornbread stuffing, dried cranberries, beaten egg, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Form the meatballs: Use a meatball scoop or a melon baller to scoop the mixture evenly, forming about 24 meatballs that are approximately 1½ inches in diameter. The mixture should be moist but hold together when placed on the sheet pan. Space the meatballs about 1 inch apart on the prepared pan.
- Bake the meatballs: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs uncovered for 18-22 minutes. Check to ensure the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165ºF (74ºC) using a meat thermometer to guarantee they are fully cooked.
- Serve: Remove the meatballs from the oven and serve warm. They work wonderfully on their own with mini skewers or paired with cranberry sauce for dipping. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for extra color, if desired.
Notes
- Make sure not to overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender.
- Using a meat thermometer ensures the meatballs are safely cooked without drying out.
- Substitute dried cranberries with raisins or dried cherries if preferred.
- These meatballs can be prepared in advance and reheated gently in the oven before serving.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the cornmeal or stuffing is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: turkey meatballs, stuffing meatballs, baked meatballs, holiday appetizers, cranberry meatballs, ground turkey recipe
