Description

These Leftover Turkey Meatballs are a delicious and efficient way to transform cooked turkey into a flavorful, wholesome meal. Combining shredded carrots and potatoes with ground turkey, garlic, parsley, and breadcrumbs, these meatballs are baked to crispy perfection on the outside while remaining tender inside. Ideal for a quick dinner or meal prep, they can be served with various sides or in sandwiches for a satisfying dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatball Mixture

2 ½ cups (250g) cooked turkey, ground
2 medium carrots, peeled and shredded
2 potatoes (about 300g), peeled and shredded
3 eggs
2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 or 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
½ cup breadcrumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For Baking

1 tbsp olive oil, to drizzle on top

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it lightly with oil to prevent sticking.
Prepare the Meat Mixture: Place the leftover cooked turkey into a food processor and pulse a few seconds until finely ground. Transfer this to a large mixing bowl. Shred the peeled carrots and potatoes using the large holes of a grater or pulse briefly in the food processor, then add them to the turkey.
Add Flavorings and Bindings: Incorporate minced garlic, chopped parsley, eggs, olive oil, and breadcrumbs into the bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined, forming a consistent mixture.
Form Meatballs: Using your hands, shape the mixture into balls of your preferred size. Optionally, flatten them slightly. Arrange evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
Drizzle and Bake: Lightly drizzle the meatballs with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to promote browning. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes on one side, then carefully flip and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes on the other side until cooked through and nicely browned.
Serve: Serve the meatballs warm with your favorite sauce and side dishes such as rice, pasta, potatoes, or in sandwiches for a comforting meal.

Notes

You can customize the herbs by adding fresh thyme or oregano for different flavor profiles.
If you prefer a crispier texture, broil the meatballs for the last 2-3 minutes of baking.
Make sure the potatoes and carrots are shredded finely so the meatballs hold together properly.
Leftover meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
For a gluten-free option, substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: leftover turkey recipe, turkey meatballs, baked meatballs, easy dinner, ground turkey recipe, healthy meatballs