You're been patiently waiting - prepare yourselves for the Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs of your dreams (and don't forget the Mascarpone mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce as well)!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Quick backstory before we get into 101 of Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs!! Every year we host Friendsgiving a few weeks before the actual holiday. It started with 12 people around my dinner table and coffee table in our apartment and has since grown into 55+ people in our backyard. It's become quite the production and it's honestly my favorite part of the year!!
This year was the first year I decided NOT to brine and roast whole birds. I just didn't have the oven room so while talking to one of my dear friends Beth of Whoa Nelly (best catering company of all times) we decided to do meatballs! We used the Joshua McFadden (king of Portland who I've been obsessed with for years) recipe from a few years ago as a starting point and then gave it a spin for our needs. The result is actual perfection and a little reminiscent of Swedish Meatballs with a Thanksgiving spin!
The base of the recipe is a mixture of ground turkey (you must use dark meat), some ground pork to give it some fat and extra flavor (yes you COULD omit if you wanted to or don't eat pork but it really adds some oomph) and tons of aromatics. Its the same flavorings you would use for a roasted turkey! You'll need a mirepoix of shallots, carrots and celery and tons of fresh herbs. You'll be adding some heavy cream, panko bread crumbs and lemon to the meat mixture to give it some crunch and moisture. Then the mixture gets scooped into balls and chilled for a few minutes to keep them in their perfect ball shape.
Next comes the frying. The recipe below if basically a quick deep fry that is then followed by a braise. If you want to skip the fry, you're welcome to do this more of a pan fry in just a small amount of oil. If that's your move, you'll just want to sear the meatballs on each side until golden brown. If you're opting for the true fry method, it'll speed up the braising time as it will cook through more than a pan fry. All that's left is to cover the meatballs in stock, braise for 30 minutes until the meatballs are full cooked and then make a quick gravy. The result is true perfection.
Ok friends - go forth and make these Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs!! Send me all the photos on instagram - you'll be HOOKED! And here's the rest of my Thanksgiving menu if you need any extra inspiration!
Ingredients & Substitutions
For the meatballs:
- Unsalted Butter
- Stalks Celery finely diced
- Whole Carrots finely diced
- Shallots finely diced
- Fresh Sage finely chopped
- Fresh Thyme finely chopped
- Fresh Oregano finely chopped
- Ground Dark Meat Turkey
- Ground Pork
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Lemons zested and 1 tablespoon of juice reserved for the gravy
- Kosher Salt
- Black pepper freshly cracked
- Heavy Cream
- Eggs
- Vegetable Oil
- Turkey / Chicken Stock
For the Gravy
- Unsalted Butter
- All-purpose Flour
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper freshly cracked
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below.
How to Make Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
Step 1: Heat the butter over medium heat in a medium sized skillet. Add the celery, carrot and shallot and saute for 6-8 minutes until softened.
Step 2: Add the freshly chopped sage, thyme and oregano and stir to combine. Cook for another 1 minute and then remove from heat and transfer to the fridge to cool.
Step 3: In a large prep bowl combine the ground turkey, ground pork, panko bread crumbs, lemon zest, salt, pepper, heavy cream and eggs.
Step 4: Add the veggies and herbs once cooled. Carefully combine the mixture until evenly mixed.
Step 5: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out ⅓ cup sized scoops and roll into a ball. Transfer the balls to the lined baking sheet, the mixture should make about 20 large balls. Transfer the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze for 15 minutes.
Step 6: Pour 2 inches of oil in a large heavy bottom dutch oven. 6-7 at a time, fry the meatballs just until browned and they hold their shape, about 3 minutes over medium high heat. Transfer the meatballs to a clean braiser or baking dish as you remove them from the oil.
Step 7: Add enough stock to just barely cover the meatballs and secure the top on the braiser. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes until cooked through. Use a slotted spoon and transfer the meatballs to a clean serving dish and set them aside. Leaving braising liquid in the braiser for the time being.
Step 8: In a medium sized pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently for about 3-4 minutes. Slowly stream in 3-4 cups of braising liquid and whisk, until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Step 9: Season with salt, freshly cracked pepper and 1 tablespoon of reserved lemon juice to taste. Drizzle the gravy on top of the meatballs and serve.
How to Store Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
You can store these meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. To reheat on the stovetop, microwave or oven until warmed through.
How to Freeze Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
You can sure freeze these meatballs! You can decide at what point you want to freeze them. You can freeze uncooked meatballs, fried ones or once they are braised as well. I recommend frying them before freezing since frying will be easier than with freshly shaped ones that are room temperature. Line the meatballs in a single layer in a baking sheet in the freezer, and once they are firm, transfer them to a freezer bag. Store up to three months.
Tips & Tricks
This recipe is basically a quick deep fry that is then followed by a braise. If you want to skip the fry, you’re welcome to do this more of a pan fry in just a small amount of oil. If that’s your move, you’ll just want to sear the meatballs on each side until golden brown. If you’re opting for the true fry method, it’ll speed up the braising time as it will cook through more than a pan fry.
FAQs
Can I prep this recipe ahead?
If you're trying to prep these Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs ahead of time - you could make the turkey mixture and scoop it into balls 2 days before serving. Just make sure to cover with plastic wrap to keep all the moisture. Then you'll fry day of to keep them fresh and get that golden crust.
Why are my turkey meatballs too mushy or too dry?
It's all about the ratios of the ingredients. You need both wet and dry additions and then to really roll them into cute little balls so they stick together!
Adding the egg helps bind the meatballs well and keep them from falling apart. Meatballs can get dry if you overcook them, so be mindful of that when you are frying and braising them.
Similar Recipes
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 stalks celery, finely diced
- 2 whole carrots, finely diced
- ½ cup finely diced shallots (roughly 3-4 shallots)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano
- 2 ½ pounds ground dark meat turkey
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 lemons, zested and 1 tablespoon of juice reserved for the gravy
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 eggs
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1-2 quarts turkey or chicken stock
For the Gravy
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
For the meatballs
- Heat the butter over medium heat in a medium sized skillet. Add the celery, carrot and shallot and saute for 6-8 minutes until softened. Add the freshly chopped sage, thyme and oregano and stir to combine. Cook for another 1 minute and then remove from heat and transfer to the fridge to cool.
- In a large prep bowl combine the ground turkey, ground pork, panko bread crumbs, lemon zest, salt, pepper, heavy cream and eggs. Add the veggies and herbs once cooled. Carefully combine the mixture until evenly mixed.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop out ⅓ cup sized scoops and roll into a ball. Transfer the balls to the lined baking sheet, the mixture should make about 20 large balls. Transfer the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze for 15 minutes.
- Preheat an oven to 300°F.
- Pour 2 inches of oil in a large heavy bottom dutch oven. 6-7 at a time, fry the meatballs just until browned and they hold their shape, about 3 minutes per batch over medium high heat. No need to flip as the oil should cover the meatballs. Transfer the meatballs to a clean braiser or baking dish as you remove them from the oil. They should be a little golden brown. Repeat until all meatballs have been fried. Add enough stock to just barely cover the meatballs and place secure the top on the braiser. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes until cooked through.
- Once the meatballs are done, use a slotted spoon and transfer the meatballs to a clean serving dish and set them aside. Leaving braising liquid in the braiser for the time being.
For the Gravy
- In a medium sized pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently for about 3-4 minutes. Slowly stream in 3-4 cups of braising liquid and whisk, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, freshly cracked pepper and 1 tablespoon of reserved lemon juice to taste. Drizzle the gravy on top of the meatballs and serve.
I can not wait to make these for my friendsgiving this year! I'm going to make them ahead like you suggest which will make my day hosting 30 people so much easier. I'm having trouble finding ground dark turkey - would these be OK with an 85/15 regular ground turkey?
THANK YOU FOR BEING AMAZING, GABY!
yes totally works!
I want to make these soon but am hoping to free up oven space, would cooking them in the slow cooker after browning work instead of an oven braise?
I havent tested them in the slow cooker but I would imagine on HIGH it would be fine!
Hi! Did you end up using a slow cooker? If so, how long?
Does anyone have a packaged turkey stock that they like?
Going out on a limb and serving these instead of the bird at Christmas. To make the day ahead would you go as far as the fry and then just braise day of or will the crispness get soggy overnight? I'm really struggling to find dark meat as even the local butchers are bringing in ground poultry pre-packaged. Is the dark meat a deal breaker? I can't replace the bird with anything less than deliciousness. Can't wait to try these. Thanks Gaby! ❤️
These are all my questions too as I plan Christmas
I read somewhere (Instagram?) that the regular ground turkey is what you want, not the lean/leanest ground breast. That's what I'm planning on using.
correct!
Hi Gaby! Made these last night with an orange cranberry sauce and it was so delish. I have quite a bit of the meat mixture leftover (uncooked) and wondering if I could freeze that to use closer to Christmas and form them into meatballs after they thaw?
SURE!
Literally thanksgiving in a meatball. These juicy meatballs and gravy are better than dry bland thanksgiving turkey. Such a fun twist.
SHUTTTTT UPPPPPP!! Incredibly tasty. Soft and light. And there's gravy!!!!!! The lemon and the pork both bring a lot to the party. I just finished my first serving and am already excited for leftovers. Thanks, Gabby, for busting your butt to get this recipe out before Thanksgiving!! I am in love.
Hi! So excited to try this recipe. Do you know if I can braise on the stovetop? Or crockpot? If crockpot, how long would you recommend? Thanks!!
I havent tested it in a crockpot so I can't say about timing! But you want a slight simmer so I'd do stovetop
Sounds amazing! What kind of oil do you use for frying? And what type of flour would you sub to make these GF?
vegetable oil for frying and you could use an all-purpose GF flour
THE BEST EVER!!!! Some genius combination of Turkey and stuffing, so flavorful and delicious that I I flatted some of the meatballs out to be breakfast sausage patties for another day. Will keep these on heavy rotation!
How hot should the oil be when you fry the meatballs on the stove?
Medium high
I cannot stop drooling!! So much better than a bird, which no one here even likes!!!
Can u air fry them instead of the deep fry?
Yes
So happy I have all these ingredients at home! Just need to thaw the meat. Thanks Gaby!
Hi! When they go into oven, does the stock fully cover the meatballs or just partially up the sides?
it'll be pretty much covered!
Hello! Have you tried to freeze these after you made them?
I haven't but they would freeze perfectly!