These Low Calorie Turkey Meatballs and be made in the Crockpot or on the Stovetop. Directions for both methods have been supplied below. These low calorie meatballs are just 130 calories each, and have 14.4g of protein! They are flavorful and delicious, and as an Italian cookbook author, you can trust me to put out the best low calorie Italian food!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
- 1 clove of garlic
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs (regular or Gluten-free)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups Low Calorie Marinara Sauce (or store-bought)
Low Calorie Turkey Meatballs
Healthy Turkey Meatball Meal Prep and Storage
Meal Prep
- Prep – Mix the meatballs and add to a baking dish.
- Cover – Cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate or Freeze – Will hold for 4 days in the fridge. And in the freezer for 1 month.
- Cook – Defrost overnight in the fridge if frozen. Uncover and cook as directed below (you can print out the recipe card and tape it to the top).
Leftover Storage
- Cook – Cook as directed below.
- Individual or Family Servings – Add 1-2 meatballs to a container for single serve. Or as many servings as you need for the full family for family servings. Cover and store for later.
- Refrigerate or Freeze – Will hold for 4 days in the fridge. And in the freezer for 1 month.
- Reheat – Defrost in the fridge if frozen. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, or the microwave for 3 minutes.
Low Calorie Turkey Meatballs Recipe
More Low Calorie Italian Recipes:
Low Calorie Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs regular or Gluten-free
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups Low Calorie Marinara Sauce or store-bought
Instructions
Slow Cooker Directions:
- Add the turkey, egg, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to a large bowl.
- Add in 1/4 cup marinara sauce (it's ok if it's cold).
- Mix with your hands until just combined, over-mixing will make tough meatballs.
- With wet hands (to avoid sticking) divide the meatballs into 8 portions, then roll each in your hands until you have a perfect ball. Place in the slow cooker and keep working until you have 8 meatballs.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the meatballs and cook on high for 5 hours, or low for 8-10 hours.
- Serve hot with sauce poured over the meatballs.
Stovetop Directions:
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and spray with olive oil.
- Add the turkey, egg, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to a large bowl.
- Add in 1/4 cup marinara sauce (it's ok if it's cold).
- Mix with your hands until just combined, over-mixing will make tough meatballs.
- With wet hands (to avoid sticking) divide the meatballs into 8 portions, then roll each in your hands until you have a perfect ball.
- Place each meatball into the hot pan and keep working until you have 8 meatballs.
- Cook for 5 minutes, flip the meatballs and pour over the remaining marinara sauce.
- Lower the heat to low and cook for 1 hour, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is bubbling and thickened.
- Serve hot with sauce poured over the meatballs.
Video
Notes
How to Serve Low Calorie Turkey Meatballs
The most traditional way to serve this Turkey Meatball Crockpot Recipe is over pasta. Here are a few more ideas:- Over Pasta – The old standby Spaghetti and Meatballs, it’s hard to beat!
- In Lasagna – I like to quarter or chop leftover meatballs and add to homemade lasagna recipes.
- In a Sandwich – As a young Italian girl, cold meatball sandwiches were a staple in my lunchbox!
- On Pizza – Oh boy… if you haven’t done this yet you are missing out! Quarter the meatballs and use in place of Italian Sausage on pizza.
- Make a Meatball Dip – Chop the turkey meatballs into bite sized pieces, add to marinara sauce and cover with mozzarella cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
Nutrition
About the Author
Hi, my name is Audrey Johns and I am a 4 time best selling cookbook author! All 4 of my low calorie cookbooks are published by HarperCollins (the oldest publishing house in the US!) and have been featured on prominent TV shows like The Today Show, Rachael Ray and The Doctors. I am a low calorie and healthy recipe authority and my delicious recipes are tried and loved by thousands of readers.
After a one year 150 pound weight loss (and I’ve kept it off for 13 years!) I started sharing all of my low calorie recipes with the world. They are always all-natural and geared around weight loss and weight management. I have even made some of these recipes with my Biggest Loser pal Bob Harper! Check out my weight loss story, my best selling cookbooks, and my numerous TV appearances by clicking here.
Nutrition and Calories in Turkey Meatballs
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Article History:
- Originally written and published July 23, 2020 by Audrey Johns
- Updated on September 15, 2023 by Audrey Johns