Garlic Butter Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Zucchini Noodles – This easy and nourishing skillet meal is absolutely fabulous in every way imaginable! Cheesy turkey and pork meatballs just melt in your mouth and zesty zucchini help keep carbs low. Gluten-free, paleo, low-carb, keto-friendly and ready in 30 minutes or less – These easy and healthy turkey meatballs dinner is a clear winner with the whole family! Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the Garlic Butter Turkey Meatballs Recipe
- 1/2 lb (220g) ground turkey meat
- 1/2 lb (220g) ground pork meat (optional, see recipe notes)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (or cheddar, provolone…)
- 4 cloves garlic, grated + 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red crushed chili pepper flakes, optional
- 1 crumbled bouillon cube, optional
- Salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup fresh chopped cilantro (or parsley), divided
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 medium zucchini, spiralized
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce of your choice (we used Sriracha)
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To How to make this turkey meatballs recipe: In a large bowl, combine ground turkey and ground pork, cheese, grated garlic, Italian seasoning, bouillon cube, red chili pepper flakes, chopped cilantro and black pepper. Mix well with your hands or fork and form medium turkey meatballs. Arrange the turkey meatballs on a plate and set them aside.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the turkey meatballs for 8 – 10 minutes on all sides, until browned and cooked through. While cooking, baste the turkey meatballs with the mix of butter and juices. Remove to a clean plate and set aside.
3. In the same skillet melt the remaining tablespoon of butter; then add lemon juice, hot sauce, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes (if you want). Add the zucchini noodles and cook for 3 or 4 minutes, stirring regularly, until zucchini noodles is done but still crisp and juices have reduced a bit. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and garnish with more cilantro or parsley if you like.
4. Push zucchini noodles on one side of the skillet and add the turkey meatballs back to the pan and reheat for a minute or two. Serve the garlic butter turkey meatballs with lemon zucchini noodles immediately with a lemon slice on the side. Enjoy!
Note:
- Ground pork in this recipe allows the meatballs to be more juicy and tender. If you don’t eat pork, just double the amount of ground turkey, it’s delicious too!
- Zucchini noodles tend to render some water when cooking, so you can sprinkle with salt after spiralizing and allow to sit for a couple of minutes to take off excess water. Rinse well to get rid of salt and drain thoroughly Zucchini noodles in a colander before cooking.
- Make sure to cook the turkey meatballs on medium fire to avoid burning them while still raw in the inside.
- This turkey meatballs recipe is also perfect for a meal prep lunch on the next day. Check this meatball meal prep recipe for a variant with chicken.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Leave a Reply
Mary Anne
2021-08-08 08:42:26
Would cooking the meatballs in the oven work instead of frying to avoid having to use butter or oil?
Michele
2021-07-26 18:55:49
Really good and very flavorful! I used frozen zoodles cause I already had them and they were great! Definitely a keeper!
Kami
2021-07-14 19:21:19
Loved this! I used all turkey. As you said it would be more juicy with pork but still tender. I also used 2 zucchinis. Would make again. Great recipe.
Cheyene
2021-07-07 20:50:54
I was hesitant before making this but this was delicious! Possibly the best recipe I have tried. Thank you.
Gayla
2021-05-03 17:42:54
I made this and used spaghetti squash but I really enjoyed the savory taste and the bite of lemon. So I’m making it again tonight.
Kelsey
2021-04-28 15:27:53
These Meatballs were just alright for me. I used only turkey which I'm sure was not as rich and flavorful. I was just hoping for more flavor and moistness. We just sautéed the zucchini on the side because we don't have a spiralizer. I'm glad it worked out for so many others.
Meghan
2021-03-23 20:24:13
This was delicious. Recipe made about ten 1.5 inch meatballs! I love spice and flavour and this meal hit the nail on the head with both.
Cassi
2021-03-09 12:44:54
We LOVED it. Made meatballs w Turkey and Swiss cheese, added 1 egg, onion powder, white pepper to the meat and olive oil w basil to the sauce. Served over shredded zucchini and spaghetti squash that i added to the pan w out removing the meatballs/sauce cooked for about 5 topped w parsley and Parmesan.
Nicole
2021-01-19 18:28:09
This recipe is amazing! One of the best things I have made and ate in such a long time. The spice of the Sriracha and red pepper flakes with the lemon and butter and garlic - soooooo yummy!
Megan
2021-01-15 15:09:42
This are so yummy! Even my picky kid will eat them? I was wondering if someone could give me a tip though. My meatballs don't really stay firmly togetherSo when I'm turning them in the pan a lot of times they fall apart. Does anybody have any tips for getting them to stay more stuck together?
Terry
2020-12-24 13:05:11
Karen, the recipe is for 4 people, so make whatever size meatballs you want & divide the number you make by 4. That will let you know how many for each serving. Hope this helps.
Dan
2020-12-14 20:15:46
Made this tonight and it is AWESOME!! So easy to make and tastes so good!!
Nysha
2020-11-22 19:45:32
Recipe looked straightforward enough but when cooking realized the quantity of meatballs was not indicated. How large or small was intended? My experience cooking Zucchini noodles loose their crispness before the two minute mark so when these directions say three minutes till crisp is bewildering. Not a fan.
karen
2020-11-19 08:43:46
I am going try these, wish it was noted how many meatballs in a serving
