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Cranberry Turkey Meatballs

Natalie
Stein
December 30, 2024
Lean turkey, zesty seasoning, and sweet tangy cranberry sauce make a great party food or weeknight dinner.
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Here’s a delicious recipe to celebrate the holiday season in style and in health. Lean turkey meatballs pair with a tangy cranberry sauce. Along with using lean ground turkey instead of fattier ground beef, apples and applesauce serve as natural sweeteners instead of sugar, and whole-grain breadcrumbs are a less processed alternative to white breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs.

If you’re looking for healthy Italian meatballs instead, try this healthy recipe!

Try these turkey meatballs for dinner over whole-grain pasta or low-carb spiralized zucchini noodles and with steamed vegetables or a side salad. They’re also good sliced on whole-grain pizza, or baked with tomatoes as a casserole. 

They also make a great party dish. Stick a toothpick in each one to serve as an appetizer next to options like stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, spiced nuts, fresh fruit, or a charcuterie board.

Variations

  • For a gluten-free option, add crushed oats or almond flour instead of whole-wheat breadcrumbs. 
  • For a vegetarian version, use vegetable protein instead of ground turkey.
  • If fresh or frozen cranberries are not available, use dried cranberries. Look for unsweetened cranberries. If you can only find sweetened cranberries, reduce the amount of apple to reduce the sweetness in the recipe.
  • Use sweeter apples, like Fuji or gala, for a sweeter taste. For a less sweet taste, use Granny Smith or another tart apple.

Recipe for Cranberry Turkey Meatballs

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

Meatballs

  • 1 lb of lean ground turkey
  • ½ cup of grated apple
  • ⅓ cup of whole-grain Panko or breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • ½ teaspoon of ground sage or 1 teaspoon of fresh sage
  • (Optional) ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Sauce

  • 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ¼ cup of water
  • ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce (no added sugar)
  • 1-2 tablespoons of sugar or honey
  • 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
  • (Optional) 1 tablespoon of orange zest

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, apple, breadcrumbs, egg, sage, nutmeg (if using) salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined, but do not overmix.
  3. Form into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the baking sheet, spacing them evenly. You should get 20-25 meatballs. Bake the meatballs for 18-20 minutes or until brown throughout.
  4. While the meatballs are baking, place the cranberries and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the cranberries burst and the sauce starts to thicken, about 8-10 minutes. 
  5. Stir in the applesauce, sugar or honey, mustard, and orange zest (if using) and continue to cook, stirring, 2-3 minutes.
  6. Serve the meatballs with the sauce on the side or over the top.

Nutrition information per serving: 130 calories; 5 grams of fat; saturated fat; 20 mg of cholesterol; 190 mg of sodium; 12 grams of carbohydrates; 8 grams of sugar; 2 grams of fiber; 7 grams of protein

Calorie and nutrient information in meal plans and recipes are approximations. Please verify for accuracy. Please also verify information on ingredients, special diets, and allergens.

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