Paleo Turkey Meatballs are loaded with protein are gluten free, dairy free and darn delicious. They are simple to make and can be made ahead of time.
It doesn’t matter if you are on the paleo or gluten free diet, these meatballs will please everyone who eats them. They are moist and packed with flavor. Because you are using ground turkey you have a leaner calorie count, because you are using almond flour instead of bread crumbs you have healthy oils and extra protein. This is a great recipe to make ahead, and freeze to pull out when you are short on time but want a healthy and delicious meal for yourself and your family. Choose a marinara sauce that does not include sugar to keep your recipe as clean as possible.
I like to do a quick fry of the meatballs in a saucepan first and then finish them off in the oven. If you are short on time you can skip the frying in the pan and just bake meatballs in the oven, adding 5-8 minutes on your bake time. However, I really like the extra flavor the quick fry gives the meatballs. Also, grating your onion {though you will shed more tears} guarantees an even onion flavor throughout your meatballs and also helps to keep them moist because the onion releases more of its fluid. Because you want all that fluid to be incorporated in your meatballs, grate your onion in a bowl you plan on mixing your ingredients.
Have you ever made your own meatballs? If not, you gotta try this recipe it is easy and you will be thrilled with the results. I mean who doesn’t love a big ol’ bowl of meatballs for dinner, and don’t tell them they are made with turkey, they will never know unless you tell them.
Paleo Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil for pan
- 1 pound ground turkey breast
- 1 egg
- 1 yellow onion peeled and trimmed and grated
- 1/4 cup almond flour + 1/2 cup almond flour divided
- 2-3 tablespoons frank hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons dried Italian parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Sugar-Free Marinara Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°
- Wrap baking sheet with foil {for easy clean up}
- In a large bowl combine turkey, 1/4 cup almond flour and remaining ingredients to ground black pepper. Combine thoroughly with a fork, or use your hands, it is easier using hands.
- Place remaining 1/2 cup of almond flour in a small bowl.
- Start forming meatballs into 2" balls, I used a medium scoop.
- Roll balls in almond flour, gently shake meatballs to loosen excess almond flour.
- Heat pan over medium heat and melt coconut oil.
- Drop meatballs into pan spacing 2" apart. Let brown 3-4 minutes and flip to brown additional side 3-4 minutes. I use a large spoon to flip
- Place browned meatballs on baking sheet, and continue until all meatballs are browned.
- Place cookie sheet in oven and bake meatballs for 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile heat up Marinara sauce according to directions.
- Remove meatballs and place into a large serving bowl, top with marinara sauce, serve and enjoy.
Notes
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Hi! I’m looking forward to trying this recipe out. Would it matter if I used banana flour instead of almond flour? Bought this nifty little bag of banana flour, and I’d like to incorporate into this recipe. Thank you in advance.
Hi Liz, I have never worked with banana flour so I don’t know if it would work.
This is my favorite recipe that is allowed on my diet and even when I am not dieting, I LOVE this recipe… I now make these in bulk in order to be able to freeze some for easy meals during the week. Your grating of the onion definitely makes a difference with the flavor and has inspired me to use my food processor to also chop up garlic, zucchini and mushrooms to add into the meatball mix. Excellent! Thank you!!
Great recipe! What is the approximate total serving size for 1 pound of ground turkey?
Are you asking the serving size on my recipe? If so 1 meatball is the serving size.
Hi I would like to try this recipe the meatballs look great, what is the serving size?
I meatball is a serving.
If I was to do these in the crockpot, Do i still cook them the full time you listed in the oven?
Hi Michelle, no you can skip the oven.
how many meatballs are for the serving size?
Taya, each meatball is its own serving.
These were really good, my kids even liked them. I cant have the almond flour so we used coconut flour instead. Thank you for the recipe!
That is wonderful to hear Sam. Thank you for letting me know about the substitution!
I can’t have any nuts nor Bob’s Red Mill gluten free breadcrumbs. I love that you were able to use coconut flour. Did you use coconut flour measure for measure as a replacement for the almond flour?
Jana, I am not sure what your question is? There are no bread crumbs in this recipe and I did not use coconut flour?
how much coconut flour did you use?
I don’t know how anyone got these to turn out. The mix was a gooey mess. I had to add significantly more almond flour to get them to hold a round shape. The first ones i pan fried are more blob than ball.
Sorry to hear that Matt. Not sure why yours didn’t turn out. I have made this recipe several times and I have always had good results.
These are amazing!! I have made them three times in the last three weeks. I use green onion in place of the yellow onion since I have a sensitivity to yellow onions, other than that I follow it to a T. Everyone is so impressed when I make these and once you get the hang of it they’re actually quite easy to make. Love the time they’re in the oven for clean up or additional food prep. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
I am so glad you liked them and modified to your taste. I tell everyone how easy these little guys are to make. I love to make extra and freeze them to pull out for lunch or when I am short on time for dinner! Thank you stopping back and letting me know what you thought!
Fabulous – thank you!
Thanks Michelle! xo