
My Italian hubby loves these meatballs. He normally prefers ground beef to ground turkey but honestly says you can't tell the difference. I agree and since these meatballs are so healthy and low in points, I no longer make my meatballs with beef. It is best to make these meatballs small so they hold together. These little meatballs make a great appetizer with toothpicks inserted, or have them for lunch with good Italian bread, or dinner over pasta.
I've slightly changed this recipe after making this a few times, so if you have an old printout I suggest you re-print this out.
Skinny Italian Turkey Meatballs
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 4 meatballs w sauce • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 229.7 • Fat: 4.9 g • Carbs: 21.1 g • Fiber: 2.8 g • Sugar: 0.1 g • Protein: 20.9
Ingredients:
- 20 oz (1.3 lb) ground turkey breast 99% lean
- 1/4 cup whole wheat seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Reggiano Parmigiano cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 large clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp kosher salt + fresh pepper
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes (I like Tuttorosso)
- 1/2 small onion, keep whole
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
- salt and fresh pepper to taste
Directions:
In a medium size pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn. Add crushed tomatoes, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, basil and bay leaf. Stir and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer.
In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, garlic and cheese. Using your (clean) hands, mix all the ingredients well until everything is combined. Form small meatballs, about the size of a ping ping ball (1/8th cup each).
Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook about 20 minutes. Discard the onion and serve over pasta or on whole wheat Italian bread for a meatball hero.


















Great recipe, Gina!!! I'll see if I can fool my hubby with these! Good job on the sauce - no sugar- that's REAL Italian!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marisa,
ReplyDeleteI am really loyal to my tomatoes. Tuttorosso always give me perfect results!
Those sound fantastic! I love turkey meatballs!
ReplyDeleteWell, as a fairly recent Italian immigrant, I can tell you that I love meatballs. My late mother made some of the finest balls on the planet, let me tell you, but she never used turkey.
ReplyDeleteMy weight has nearly doubled since i left Brooklyn and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Not to mention that my boyfriend "Big Bear" now weighs over 400 pounds.
I am going to try your recipe because I obviously need some help.
Louise Wyers,
"therealchiffonade"
Hi Gina,
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe again! It's so amazing how you surprise us each time with another great recipe!
I like to ask you someting about tomatoes.
To take away some of the sharpness of a tomato, is it true that one can add a little sugar or cinnamon? In italy they say that cinnamon helps, but I'm not sure.
This is AWESOME. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so stoked that I stumbled upon your blog. I'll DEFINITELY be following!
@This makes my day, I have heard of adding sugar to take the sharpness away. Adding carrots also works. I have never heard of adding cinnamon, I will have to look into that. Thanks.
ReplyDelete@Nancy, welcome! Glad you like what you see.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like an awesome recipe. Will try it soon!
ReplyDeleteI am literally in the middle of eating these. I like the sauce but there is one thing I can't get past in the meatballs and it's the raw onion. I'm half italian and I I think the turkey works great but I would use onion in my sauce instead of the balls. MMM mMMM good!
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe! Loved them.
ReplyDeleteOne question - the meatballs call for salt but directions don't say when it goes in. I'm assuming with all the other ingredients? I have a fear of things tasting too salty and I know from experience that it matters whether you add salt in the sauce or directly to the meatballs. I added to the sauce but should it be added to the meatballs? I guess they could use a little kick. I think I just answered my own question. haha!
Thanks Gina for all your recipes!!
I always like to add salt to my meat before I cook it or I find it tastes bland. The sauce you can always adjust at the end if it needs more salt.
ReplyDeleteHow many points do you think the meatballs are alone? I like to use jarred sauce. Great recipe!
DeleteAbout how much sauce do you include in the points total? If I have 4 meatballs and 1/4 c. sauce is that 4 points or do I need to add more points for the sauce?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your recipes. I am new to weight watchers and have loved the recipes. Keep posting!
@Lauren, I incorporated the sauce in the points when I figured it out, but I just did it separate and it worked out to 4 plain meatballs, no sauce .85 pts each so for would be 3.5 pts. The sauce is 1 pt for 1 cup, so 1/2 cup would give you 4 pts total. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteOh my god these are amazing, even my husband likes them! I make a batch split them up into several meals and take them to work as i work shifts its great i feel so organized thanks Gina
ReplyDelete@Jackie, these are great in soups too. Plop them into chicken broth and add a little pasta and parmesan for a great hearty soup!
ReplyDeleteGina, I just found your site and love it. This is the second recipe I have tried and I love it! I just used Hunt's crushed tomatoes, but where do you get Tuttorosso brand? Thanks again for the great recipe and keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteThey sell it in the supermarket in New York but if it's not available in your area, use what you love. I heard Muir Glen was good, I also like Rienze Italian plum tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteI used this recipe and made meatballs subs with low-fat provolone cheese and low-fat hoagie buns. DELICIOUS!!! My husband and brother-in-law loved these! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteNew to ww and trying this receipe tonight. Looks delicious and easy to create. Love your website. It will be easy to stick with ww now that I have receipes to cook that taste great and low in points. Thanks so much!
Hi Kashford, these are great!! Welcome!!
ReplyDeleteA coworker introduced me to this site and I tried this recipe last night. It was fabulous!! I even forgot to add the parmesan cheese to the meatballs and it still tasted great :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment!
ReplyDeleteOMG I made these last night for dinner and I actually did it in the slow cooker...they were amazing! We had meatball sandwiches on low point buns with reduced fat provolone...YUMMMMM!!
ReplyDeleteLove meatball subs with provolone! I'm sure these were great in the slow cooker! I have to try that next time.
ReplyDeleteJust made these. I was worried there wouldn't be enough bread crumbs and they would fall apart, but it worked out great. I've been on weight watchers for 2 weeks and I've been looking for different recipes to keep me from wanted to "cheat". Thanks so much!!!
ReplyDeleteI put the meatballs in the oven instead of frying them.....400 deg.oven, spray the pan first...delicioius
ReplyDeleteI am Italian too! ( like your hubby). I will def try these. I just had to say, it makes such a big difference with the photos included with the recipe. great photos!! They look so professional.
ReplyDeletegreat idea Kit.... thanks for sharing !!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI am new to your site. My husband and I are both Italian and this morning I decided I need to try to make my amazing meatballs with turkey for the health benefits and found you.
One question, I am going to try using quinoa as you suggested for a GF alternative. Would you use this cooked or not?
Thank you!
Cooked quinoa would work as a gluten free substitute for bread crumbs. Thanks for asking!
ReplyDeleteWe made these last weekend - we loved them! http://redsie05.blogspot.com/2010/11/ww-skinny-italian-meatballs.html
ReplyDeleteHi. I am new to your site and I love it! I really want to make this sometime this week. Wondering, do you know what the new Points Plus points would be for these?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Shanna
How many points would this be on the points plus plan?
ReplyDeleteHi Gina, Love your website and have made tons of your recipes. This is my daughter's favorite and am trying to figure out how many points on the new plan. Please reply!!
ReplyDeleteGina - Do you know the calories for these?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Amy
Delicious! Very glad I splurged on the San Marzano tomatoes
ReplyDeleteThey are the best!
ReplyDeleteGina - I'm also curious if you have a calorie count for these? I don't do the points system but am counting calories. They look so good!
ReplyDeleteI just updated the calories.
ReplyDeleteHello - can you tell me the points plus difference if I were to use lean groung beef instead? Have you ever tried with GB instead of turkey? I'm not a big fan of ground turkey. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to use recipe builder to see how it's effected, I do have a beef meatball recipe with spinach which is outstanding! You can use the search at the top right to find it.
ReplyDeleteHas this recipe been revised in the last month or so? I've made these before but no longer see a step to saute the meatballs before placing in the sauce. My page does say there is an error so wondering if that's the reason or it has changed. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Carol, yes I actually noted above that I changed it after making this over and over, I felt it was just as good skipping the sauteing step and saves points.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina. I did see that but thought that was there last time as well. Anyway, they turned out just as good as the first time. I never thought I'd like turkey meatballs but you definitely changed that! Thanks so much!! :)
ReplyDeleteFunny, I made them least night too!! They really are good, my husband approves, and he's Italian!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina - I love your site! I'm trying to learn to cook and eat healthier and you've been able to help me in that.
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite brave enough to try the sauce yet (my poor Noni would roll over in her grave if I didn't at least attempt her sauce first), so can you list the calories without the sauce?
many thanks!
Kristine in Ohio
These were delicious! I followed the directions and had enough for two nights dinner and 1 lunch! We will be making these again! Thank you for the great recipes!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Gina for sharing this recipe! I made this for my mom last night who is on WW and she loved it. I used Classico bottled tomato sauce instead of making your recipe but it still was delicious. I will have to make your sauce next time since there will def. be a next time! I really appreciate all the recipes you have shared. Last week I made my mom the shrimp quesadilla with the tomato & avocado and that was also delicious! Thanks so much for making "dieting" a success for my mom. Healthy food should not only be good for you but should taste good! Take care!
ReplyDeleteMade the meatballs yesterday. Husband and my daughter loved it. definitely will make it again. I like the fact that I didn't have to fry them first just put them in the sauce and they are done.
ReplyDeleteUsed 93% turkey by mistake because I was going to make your friend Julias meatball recipe, then I came across yours, only problem the 93% was so sticky , had a hard time rolling them , but it was just as good and I made your sauce and it was delicious.
ReplyDeleteMade these the other day and they came out so tasty! froze half of the meatballs for next week and used the rest for lunch for three days...just want to say thank you for all these great recipes...i have made your pumpkin cupcakes, arroz con pollo, and the chocolate chip cookies thus far and everything has been really good. My boyfriend had seconds of the arroz con pollo and brought the leftovers to work : )
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked everything!
ReplyDeleteMade these meatballs tonight. LOVED!!! Really good and easy. Husband loved them did not evenrealize they were healthy :)
ReplyDeletesomeone above mentioned making these in a crockpot..i'm thinking about making them for a dinner party so that would be easier.
ReplyDeletecould i make the sauce, let it simmer a bit, then put the sauce and the raw meatballs in the crockpot on low for 20 mins? And then just leave it on "warm" until i serve them? think that would work?
thanks so much for so many wonderful recipes!
Hi Gina, do you brown the meatballs first? Or just plop them in the sauce raw and let them cook in the sauce?
ReplyDeleteI'm making these tonight, and I can't wait! They sound fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about how to do this in the crock pot. Perhaps baking them would do the trick in the crock pot. I'm going to give it a try and see how they come out. I usually just plop them into the sauce.
ReplyDeleteWARNING: These were so good, i could not stop eating them. My boyfriend said they were better than any ground beef meatballs he's had before. i baked them at 350 for 20 minutes, then added them to canned sauce.
ReplyDeleteThese were delicious. Used a jarred sauce as I had it on hand and the meatballs cooked perfectly in the sauce. Great over high protein pasta. Thanks for another keeper!
ReplyDeleteI love these meatballs and have made them several times with jarred spaghetti sauce & finally made them with your sauce. Discovered that I am not a fan of the sauce. I'm sure this is more "authentic" but I prefer jarred spaghetti sauce (and so does my family) - I am embarrassed to admit it! Just my 2 cents - I hate to criticize when I love 99% of what you do - but wanted to give an honest review.
ReplyDeleteGwyn, if that is what you are used to it's probably why you prefer it. Personally I never liked jar sauce, but that's just me. The right tomatoes are crucial for a good tasting sauce... Tuttorosso for me is a must.
ReplyDeleteMade this one tonite, delicious!The spices were just right, I made so many recipes before that were so fad despite the glorious pictures. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThese were amazing! Best meatballs I have ever had!!!!
ReplyDeletethe meatballs were great. We served them over baked spaghetti squash which kept the points down. My husband said that we should have them again...soon.
ReplyDeleteOne other comment about posts. I would love to see more reviews from people who actually made the recipes rather than comments on the beautiful pictures. It would help decide which ones to try.
This will be dinner tonight already have the meatballs assembled. Let you know how we like it thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am currently during weight watchers and my boyfriend has been doing the P90X program. Your website is such a lifesaver! We've been using it multiple times a week to decide dinner. This is tonight's!
ReplyDeleteMade this for dinner last night and they are excellent. I was so proud of myself with the sauce, I thought it would be bitter and disgusting because my husband makes his own sauce which normally I do not like, but this one was good, his only comment was that he wanted some sugar in the sauce.
ReplyDeleteI made these tonight for my strictly frozen meatball, jar sauce (Aldi brand!) eating boys and husband. They were delish
ReplyDeleteThis is my absolute go-to recipe lately. I make this in double batches to freeze for easy week night dinners. In fact, I have a batch on the stove right now! Thank you for this recipe-it's so great!
ReplyDeleteWhy would you discard the onion at the end? Did you mean the bay leaf?
ReplyDelete"Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook about 20 minutes. Discard the onion and serve over pasta or on whole wheat Italian bread for a meatball hero."
I'm not much of a cook... just getting into it... so my apologies this is a silly question. I just want to make sure I'm reading it correctly. You're saying that you just make the meatballs, and then put the raw meatballs in the sauce? I made it last night, and they came out great, but when I told some friends, they were surprised and through it wasn't safe to cook the raw meatballs that way. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIs it okay to use 93% ground turkey? That's all the grocery store had today.
ReplyDeleteI have made many turkey meatball recipes but this will be my one and only. I thought they would fall apart while cooking in the sauce and they didn't. I did a can of crushed tomatoes and a can of italian seasoned sauce (didn't have any basil on hand) so I thought this would help. Kids ate them too. I can see how it would be hard to eat just 4. Look out Giada!!
ReplyDeleteJust made this today, and WOW, the meatballs were amazing. I put them over spaghetti squash, and then baked it with low-fat mozza and it was awesome!
ReplyDeleteCooking meatballs in the sauce is a trick my uncle taught me years ago. They come out moist and tender. This is the only way I've cooked them ever since.
ReplyDeleteDo you brown the meatballs first before putting them in the sauce?
ReplyDeleteI was skeptical of "skinny" meatballs at first, but these are amazing! I mixed the turkey and seasonings the night before, wrapped it in plastic wrap, and refrigerated it overnight. The next day I formed the meatballs, baked for 20 minutes, and then simmered in sauce for 20 min. I used 2 jars of sauce since I couldn't find good crushed tomatoes anywhere. I can't believe how delicious these meatballs are! Thanks for the great recipe.
ReplyDeletemade these for the first time and they were yummy. Haven't really used turkey except at Xmas time and was pleasantly surprised to find turkey is very affordable at the supermarket.
ReplyDeleteI made these tonight and the family just loved them! They think I should have been a chef but I tell them I have to give the real credit to YOU. I just follow directions very well, lol.
ReplyDeleteThis is how my mom's always made her meatballs (no frying for us - that hard outside shell and mushy inside is so gross!). She does one extra step though - before putting the meatballs in the sauce, she drops them in boiling water for about 45 seconds. It releases even more fat so the final product is even leaner. Of course that wouldn't be a necessity for this recipe since it calls for 99% fat free turkey, but if anyone was using ground beef or even 93% lean turkey, I find that this step makes for a much less greasy meatball!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this recipe. This is the BEST sauce I've ever made and I've NEVER attempted meatballs before and I couldn't keep myself out of the pot before my fiance got home for dinner!
ReplyDeleteI used 6 medium vine ripened tomatoes before I lost them from the power outage. Because I added those, I used a 6 oz can of tomato sauce and the small size of tomato paste. I never measure spices and I used the large cloves of garlic I had.
By far the best recipe and I will using this from now on.
We absolutely loved this. I put 4 on half of a toasted sub roll and broiled with a slice of sharp provolone. My husband said he'd hoped they would be good, but he didn't know they would be THIS good!
ReplyDeleteI made this dish for my super picky pasta loving best friend and she loved it. My SO is not a huge fan of pasta dishes but said it was really good. I loved it and quickly become addicted! Thank you for healthy alternatives!!!
ReplyDeleteI was really bummed my meatballs were so DRY.... I w as expecting very tender ones as I cooked them in the sauce in my crockpot! I
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I changed was I used finely chopped onion instead of parsley( didn't have it) ... But usually onion tenderizes!? I suspect it's the 99% lean turkey?? I might have to do tad more fat in my meat?
Do your always come out very tender? Perhaps I over cooked:( will try again as your recipes usually give me great results.
One thing that helps is to not compact the meatball too much. a tightly packed meatball wont absorb as much moisture. Gently mold the meatball with just enough pressure to keep it together.
DeleteI made these for dinner the other day and they were delicious. I baked them for 15 minutes at 400 degrees, then let them simmer for about 20 minutes in the pasta sauce (I had to use jarred as that is all I had on hand). Definitely a keeper!
ReplyDeleteJust had these for dinner in my roasted tomato sauce, DELICIOUS! You couldn't tell that it was ground chicken and they are quite "hearty". We all love them and my hubby is Italian too! Thanks again Gina for another wonderful recipe.
ReplyDeleteThis was delicious, I'm not a big fan of onions so instead I used onion powder and it was great! Looking fwd to making more recipes from this website.
ReplyDeleteUsing Recipe building, I show this as 7PPV...
ReplyDeleteThis was the first recipe of yours that I have tried-DELISH!! I need to cut the sodium and started by using salt substitute for 1/2 of the kosher salt. Any ideas on other ways to drop the sodium? Thanks for bringing meatballs back into my life!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina, I made this recipe last night and it was super easy to whip up. I made whole wheat angel hair for the hubster and son and bought some whole wheat hamburger buns for me. I am going to have a meatball sandwich today for lunch w/ a spinach salad on the side. I can't wait!! Thank you for another great recipe!! :)
ReplyDeleteI made these last night and thought they were wonderful - great recipe, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI got Italian Seasoned turkey, so I cut down a little on the parsley (I'm not a huge fan, so I used 1/8th of a cup), and added one tbsp of Dino's Cajun Foreplay to give it a little spice, and was VERY happy.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome, thank you so much for the recipe.