I love biting into a juicy, flavorful meatball! You do as well?
Turkey is a naturally lean meat, which means turkey meatballs can easily turn out dry, dense, and tough. But there’s a simple solution: ricotta cheese. It adds rich creaminess and helps create a tender, juicy texture that makes all the difference. And while marinara sauce is a classic pairing, meatballs—whether made from turkey, chicken, beef, or pork—don’t have to be limited to it. Once you master the basics of a good meatball, the possibilities open wide. Try serving them over riced cauliflower, toss them with a vibrant vegetable pasta, or pair them with couscous or whatever grains you have on hand. With a little creativity, you can turn one technique into countless delicious meals.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- Ground turkey
- Ricotta cheese – adds tenderness, creaminess and flavor.
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese – keeps it gluten-free and add flavor.
- Scallions
- Eggs
- Spices: garlic powder, oregano, salt & pepper
How to Make Turkey Ricotta Meatballs
Step 1 – In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Be careful not to over-mix. You’ll end up with a stick mixture.
Step 2 – Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a 2 1/4″ cookie scoop and roll into meatball. Place on sheet pan and continue to create all meatballs, leaving some space between them. I could get 12 meatballs out of this.
Place baking sheet in an oven of 375 degrees F. for about 8 minutes. Keep an eye on the color of the meatballs and lower the heat if they are getting too dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no reason to brown meatballs in a skillet as they will brown in the oven as well. Additionally, meatballs as tender as turkey ricotta meatballs can easily break down and crumble in the skillet. Another reason to brown and bake them in the oven is that you only have 1 thing to clean up.
Breadcrumbs help bind the meatballs, but so does Parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Furthermore, there is also egg in the turkey meatball, another ingredient that hold them together.
I would say, you don’t need any sauce, but if you want to, the are a number of great options.
1. Marinara sauce – this is the classic one.
2. Vodka sauce
3. Alfredo sauce
Other Meatball Recipes to Try
- Spaghetti and Mini Meatballs
- Spicy Mediterranean Meatballs
- Spaghetti Squash with Mini Turkey Meatballs
Turkey Ricotta Meatballs
Pin Recipe FacebookIngredients
- 8 ounces ground turkey
- 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
- 1 scallion, finely chopped
- 1/2 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine ground turkey, ricotta cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, spices, egg and scallions. Mix, but don't mix more than necessary.
- Using a 2 1/4 ice cream scoop and roll into meatballs. (NOTE 1) You can
- Place meatballs on parchment paper and transfer into the oven.
- Bake for about 6-8 minutes per side or until inside temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Notes
- This is an extremely sticky meatball mixture, so oil your hands before you roll the meatballs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.