These are the best cranberry turkey meatballs! They are so easy to make and are perfect to serve as a snack, dinner or an appetizer. Made with cranberry sauce and spices these healthy turkey meatballs take only 15 minutes to cook so they are ready in no time!
If you ask me cranberries don't get enough attention. I love cranberry recipes like gluten-free cranberry lemon bars, roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries, and cranberry maple chicken, which is why I am so excited to share this meatball recipe with you today!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- These healthy turkey meatballs have the best flavour! The cranberry sauce adds moisture and a slightly sweet flavour, while the spices add a beautiful savoury taste that reminds me of turkey stuffing. They are also nice and moist.
- They are quick and easy to make and only take 15 minutes to cook!
- They are a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce.
- This meatball recipe is made without breadcrumbs and is gluten free, dairy free, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.
- These meatballs can be frozen and eaten at a later date so they are perfect for meal prep.
- These cranberry turkey meatballs are perfect to serve at Thanksgiving or Christmas and can be eaten as an appetizer, meal, or snack.
If you love ground meat recipes you also need to try my ground chicken meatloaf, easy gluten free meatloaf, gluten-free stuffed peppers and the best gluten free burgers.
Ingredients and substitutions:
- Ground turkey - I prefer to use dark meat, but white meat will also work (just note that white meat does tend to have less flavour and be a little drier).
- Almond flour - almond flour is used instead of breadcrumbs to help bind these stuffing meatballs. Instead of almond flour you can also use breadcrumbs, gluten free breadcrumbs or crushed crackers instead.
- Cranberry sauce - I use my healthy cranberry sauce to make these holiday meatballs, but you can use any cranberry sauce that you like. This adds both flavour and moisture so that your meatballs don't end up dry or crumbly.
- Seasonings and spices - sea salt, dried basil and herbs de Provence spice blend combine perfectly to give these meatballs such a delicious flavour.
- Green onion - to add a pop of color and even more aromatic flavour to these meatballs. You could swap this for white onion.
- Eggs - these help bind the meatballs together and add even more moisture. I do not recommend omitting the eggs or trying to replace the eggs with something else.
Recipe variations and add ins:
- I used dark turkey meat to make these meatballs. If you use white turkey meat they won't be as moist so you may want to add 1-2 tablespoon of avocado oil or olive oil to the recipe.
- Instead of ground turkey you can use ground chicken to make these homemade meatballs.
- Feel free to change up the herbs and spices in these meatballs. Rosemary, ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and thyme would also be great options.
- If you are serving a crowd or want leftovers you can double or triple this recipe.
How to make cranberry turkey meatballs:
Step 1
First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. While the oven is heating, add all the meatball ingredients to a large bowl.
Step 2
Mix all the ingredients together well.
Step 3
Form the meat mixture into meatballs about 1.5-2 inches in diameter and transfer them to the baking sheet.
Step 4
Then bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes and enjoy!
Top Tips:
- Try to make the meatballs the same size so that they all cook at the same rate. I like to use a cookie scoop to scoop the meat mixture and help form the meatballs so that they all turn out the same size.
- If you let the uncooked meatballs set in the fridge for 30 minutes before baking it will help they stay together better.
- Ground turkey is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. You can use a meat thermometer to double check that the meatballs are fully cooked before eating.
How to serve:
These meatballs are delicious served as is, or you can serve them with a dipping sauce such as barbecue sauce, ketchup, homemade cranberry sauce, walnut dressing or cilantro lime dressing. They can be eaten as a snack, meal, or as an appetizer.
How to store:
Store any leftover cranberry turkey meatballs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. These meatballs also freeze really well for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or airtight container.
Cranberry turkey meatballs FAQs:
Turkey meatballs are cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also cut a meatball in half to see if it is cooked through. The meatballs should also be browned on the outside.
No! Instead of breadcrumbs you can use almond flour, almond meal, crushed crackers or oats.
The eggs help to bind the meatballs together and prevent them from falling apart. Eggs also add a little moisture so the meatballs aren't as dry.
You can but you don't have to. I usually don't turn my meatballs when I make them.
No, these meatballs are not low carb or keto.
Other recipes you will love:
Recipe
Cranberry Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground dark turkey meat
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon herbs de provence spice blend
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F.
- In a large bowl add all the ingredients and stir them well until combined.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Form the meat mixture into 1.5-2 inch diameter meatballs.
- Place the tray in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through. Let them cool for a bit, then enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe yields 24 meatballs.
- If you use white turkey meat you might want to add 1-2 tablespoon of avocado oil to add extra moisture.
- Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used and the serving size.
Nutrition
Cheryle
Why can’t I print your recipes any more?
Dr. Erin Carter
Hi! I am not sure. I just checked and the print feature is working. You do have to be signed up to my newsletter to print them so that might be the issue?