Tender and juicy with a simple and quick homemade sauce, these dairy-free turkey meatballs are big on flavor, but low on fuss. This recipe is ready in under 45 minutes and is 100% family-friendly. Gluten-free variations available! This recipe was originally published January 26, 2021. It was updated with new photos and recipe information on September 13, 2023.
1 ½teaspoonsgranulated white sugaror 1 teaspoon honey
½teaspoonred pepper flakes
1 ½tablespoonstomato paste
½teaspoonsalt
1tablespoonolive oil
Optional: 2.5 cups fresh baby spinach or 1 ¼ cup frozen chopped spinach
Instructions
Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Using your hands or a wooden spoon, lightly the meatball meat together until all the ingredients are combined.
Scoop out ¼ cup portions of the meat and roll into meatballs. Place on a large dinner plate.
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes through salt and stir with a rubber scraper or spatula until combined.
Heat a 12" non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the oil and heat it up until it sputters when flicked with water.
Add the meatballs to the pan and saute for 8-10 minutes, or until browned on the outside, turning every 2 minutes or so.
Add in the tomato sauce mixture. Bring the sauce to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 20-22 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced a bit and turned a deeper color red, stirring gently every few minutes or so (being careful not to smash the meatballs).
Optional: add in the spinach and simmer for 1-3 more minutes over medium, stirring somewhat frequently until the spinach has wilted (if fresh) or heated through (if frozen).
Serve the meatballs hot over pasta, on a toasted sandwich, or on their own and enjoy!
Notes
Storage Directions:
Storage: Use an airtight container to store for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
Freezing: Use a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Freeze the meatballs as individual servings pre-sized for easiest defrosting. Move the frozen meatballs to the refrigerator to defrost for 18-24 hours before serving or defrost them on low in the microwave.
Reheating: Use medium-low heat on the skillet to keep the meatballs from getting chewy. Stick them in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave for a minute before rotating.
Recipe Tips:.
Spicy Meatballs: For spicier meatballs or sauce, simply increase the red pepper to your taste preferences.
Tomatoes: You can also use regular, salted canned tomatoes. If so, just reduce the salt in the sauce to ¼ teaspoon
Gluten-Free: To make these meatballs gluten-free, use gluten-free panko bread crumbs or rice panko bread crumbs.
Pre-Made Marinara: You can also simmer the meatballs in 3 cups of your favorite premade marinara sauce for 10-12 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened up.
Nutrition
Serving: 1½ meatball + ⅛ of the sauceCalories: 326kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 29gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 756mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6g