Turkey Meatballs in marinara sauce ~ ground turkey meatballs loaded with flavor, cooked in marinara. Serve over pasta for a delicious, healthy meal.

If you think beef is the only way to go with meatballs, think again. These Turkey Meatballs are pan-seared then braised in rich homemade marinara for an easy weeknight dinner that’s gourmet enough to entertain with.

My husband calls them “fowl balls“. I can’t make this stuff up. Call them what you like – they’ll win over your pickiest eater.

This recipe starts with a healthy protein, ramped up with some finely chopped fresh spinach. It doesn’t alter the taste, but does add nutritional value.

Tips for the BEST meatballs:

There’s no magic involved: 1) sear the meat for another layer of flavor.

2) Turkey can be dry but by braising them in marinara, they’ll not only retain moisture, but have the added taste of the marinara. Win-win.

3) Don’t overmix the meat. This stands whether you’re using ground turkey or beef.

What’s in Turkey Meatballs:

fresh spinach
parsley
onion
ground turkey
garlic cloves
egg
breadcrumbs
Parmesan cheese
Worcestershire sauce
tomato paste
salt and pepper
olive oil

Making the Turkey Meatballs:

Finely chop the spinach, parsley and onion.

Combine the turkey, grated garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, parmesan, finely chopped spinach and parsley, onion, Worcestershire, tomato paste, salt and pepper in a medium size bowl.

Gently blend using your hands without overmixing then roll into about golf ball size meatballs.

Drizzle about one tablespoon of olive oil to a deep skillet or pot. When the oil is warm, add the meatballs searing on two sides.

NOTE: the meatballs will NOT be cooked through at this point. As they brown, remove them from the skillet and set them aside. Don’t wash the pot ~ you’ll be using it for the marinara.

What’s in the easy homemade Marinara Sauce?

olive oil
garlic cloves
onion
crushed red pepper (optional)
tomato paste
dry red wine (chianti, cabernet, merlot)
crushed tomatoes
fresh parsley
salt and pepper
fresh basil

How to make easy homemade Marinara:

In the same pot you cooked the meatballs, add another tablespoon of olive oil then grate in the garlic, a small pinch of crushed red pepper and chopped onion. Season with salt and pepper and cook over medium heat 3-4 minutes stirring frequently so the garlic doesn’t burn. When the onions are soft, fold in the tomato paste and cook 1 minute.

Pour in the wine, reduce the heat and simmer 3-4 minutes letting the wine reduce then stir in crushed tomatoes, parsley and season with salt and pepper.

Once the sauce is combined, transfer the meatballs to the pot then cover and simmer 20-25 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through. Stir in the basil and serve with your favorite pasta.

Can I use jar marinara instead?

By all means if you have a favorite go-to marinara in the jar you can definitely use it with these turkey meatballs instead of the homemade marinara. The meatballs are the star of this show!

Enjoy!

Looking for other Italian favorites? Check out:

Chicken Parmesan – step by step instructions for this Italian classic.

Lasagna Soup – slow cooker and 30 minute stove to table options.

Pasta Alla Vodka – pasta in a delicious tomato-cream sauce.

If you made this recipe then I’d love to hear from you with a comment or star rating in the recipe box!

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