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Home » Recipes » Dairy Free

Paleo Turkey Meatballs

By Erin · December 6, 2020 · Updated March 1, 2022 · 5 Comments

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Gluten FreeDairy FreeWhole30Paleo
meatballs covered in marinara sauce
meatballs in a skillet with text over top

Paleo Turkey Meatballs are the ultimate weeknight dinner! They're made with dark ground turkey, almond flour and spices, and covered in your favorite marinara sauce. Seared to perfection, then baked in the oven, this is my favorite gluten free meatball recipe!

meatballs in a skillet with pasta sauce

Meatballs are a go-to dinner option in our household, and these paleo turkey meatballs are my current favorite.

They're simple, and a relatively quick weeknight dinner, and of course one that you can prep ahead of time and refrigerate/freeze to make dinner even faster.

If you're in need of another meatball recipe, be sure to check out my chicken meatballs, teriyaki pork meatballs or even my lentil meatballs for a vegetarian option.

Oh! And if you're looking for a paleo-friendly dessert to enjoy after dinner (always!) you must try these paleo brownies, almond butter chocolate chip cookies and the very popular flourless sweet potato brownies.

skillet with meatballs and red sauce

Ingredient notes

Turkey - I tested this recipe with both white ground turkey meat, and dark ground turkey, and definitely preferred the flavor of the dark turkey meat. With that said, feel free to use white turkey if that's your preference.

Egg - I haven't tested this recipe without the egg, but I imagine you could get away with omitting it if you need to.

Almond flour - Be sure to use finely ground almond flour, not almond meal. The almond flour replaces the breadcrumbs that are traditionally in meatball recipes.

Method

Combine ingredients. Place all of the meatball ingredients (everything except the oil) into a large bowl.

ground meat and almond flour in a bowl

Form meatballs. Use your hands or a large spoon to mix everything together, then form the mixture into 16-18 meatballs.

Sear, then bake. Place the meatballs, along with the oil, into a large, oven-safe skillet and sear the meatballs on all sides for 3-4 minutes. Then, pour the marinara sauce over top and immediately place the entire skillet into the oven and bake the meatballs for 15-18 minutes.

  • raw meatballs in a skillet
  • seared meatballs in a skillet

FAQs + tips

Try to purchase tomato paste that comes in a tube rather than a can; it lasts a lot longer because it's easier to store.

I like to mix the meatball mixture together with my hands (just think it's easier); if you don't want the meat to stick to your hands, simply wet your hands beforehand.

Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your liking -- for spicier meatballs, use at least 1 teaspoon.

Do I have to use dark turkey meat?

Nope! Though I preferred the taste of the dark turkey vs. light in this paleo turkey meatballs recipe, you can absolutely use white turkey meat if you want.

What should I serve alongside these meatballs?

A few side dish options include: fresh or frozen vegetables, air fryer carrots, fried brussels sprouts and/or roasted carrots with pesto.

What pasta sauce should I use?

Feel free to use your favorite kind! I like Rao's and Lucini brands, and I tend to opt for an arrabiata sauce because it's spicier, which adds a nice kick.

skillet with meatballs and broccoli beside it

More Paleo recipes

  • Paleo Chicken Wings
  • Paleo Waffles
  • Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

meatballs in a skillet with pasta sauce

Paleo Turkey Meatballs

Paleo Turkey Meatballs are the ultimate weeknight dinner! They're made with dark ground turkey, almond flour and spices, and covered in your favorite marinara sauce. Seared to perfection, then baked in the oven, this is my favorite gluten free meatball recipe!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 18 meatballs
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. dark ground turkey
  • 1 egg
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ cup almond flour
  • ½ teaspoon basil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 cups marinara sauce sugar free

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Add all of the meatball ingredients (everything except the olive oil and marinara) to a large bowl, then use a spoon or your hands to mix everything together.
  • Form mixture into 16-18 meatballs, then place them into a large, oven-safe skillet, along with 1 teaspoon olive or avocado oil. Pan-sear the meatballs until they're browned on the outside, 3-4 minutes. Then, pour the marinara sauce over top.
  • Place the skillet in the oven and bake the meatballs for 15-18 minutes. Remove skillet, then top the meatballs with additional parsley and/or red pepper flakes and enjoy!

Video

Notes

*Calories are per meatball and are an estimation 
*You can use white ground turkey meat if you prefer 
*Feel free to use your favorite kind of marinara sauce (just double check that it's sugar-free/paleo-friendly) My two favorite brands are Rao's and Lucini Italia. 

Nutrition

Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 123IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
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Teriyaki Shrimp Sushi Bowl »

About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beck and Bulow says

    February 22, 2022 at 11:40 pm

    5 stars
    I am not a great cook and was worried to try and make meatballs but these were super easy and amazingly juicy! I have made them several times now and my boyfriend loves them! Thanks so much and please visit us: https://www.beckandbulow.com

    Reply
  2. Cheryl Ford says

    September 22, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is easy to make but tastes like it took a long time to put together! The meatballs are delicious and full of flavor. I served with a side dish of pasta and a salad and it was a great hit with my family. I will definitely put this recipe on my favorites list!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 23, 2021 at 10:27 am

      Thank you -- I'm so happy you like the recipe!

      Reply
  3. Kristen D says

    September 08, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    I just want to say thank you for this recipe! I am making these meatballs for probably the 15th time over the past year - my whole family loves them and they are hard to please. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 08, 2021 at 7:58 pm

      This makes me so happy -- I'm glad everyone loves them! Thanks for the kind review 🙂

      Reply

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