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Turkey Pesto Meatballs
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5 from 2 votes

TURKEY PESTO MEATBALLS

These turkey pesto meatballs are bursting with the vibrant taste of fresh basil, savory sun-dried tomatoes, and the rich essence of homemade pesto.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: pesto meatballs, pesto turkey meatballs, turkey meatballs with pesto, turkey pesto meatballs
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

For The Meatballs

  • 20 ounces ground turkey breast
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil) finely chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

For The Homemade Pesto

  • 1 large bunch of basil (about 4 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 large garlic clove crushed
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano, or a blend of both
  • 3 tablespoons cold water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • To make our homemade pesto blend basil, toasted pine nuts, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Parmesan cheese, water, and salt until smooth. For detailed instructions, check out our full pesto recipe.
  • Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl and pour hot water over them. Let them sit for about 5-10 minutes until they soften. Then, drain and finely chop the softened sun-dried tomatoes.
  • In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, 1/2 cup of pesto, breadcrumbs, egg, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian herbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Gently mix with your hands or a spoon until just combined.
  • Scoop out portions of the meatball mixture (about 1-1.5 inches in diameter) and roll into meatballs. Using an ice cream scoop makes forming the meatballs quick and ensures they are all the same size. Once formed, evenly space the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake the meatballs at 400°F for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned. Ensure the meatballs have reached an internal temperature of 165°F. Then, let the meatballs slightly cool, serve them, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Storage: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, you can freeze these meatballs in a freezer-safe container for 1-2 months.
  • Ground Chicken: If you prefer, you can swap the ground turkey for ground chicken.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Substitute panko breadcrumbs with 1/2 cup of gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, your favorite gluten-free breadcrumbs, almond flour, or certified gluten-free oat flour.
This recipe makes about 12 meatballs and serves 6. Each serving is two pesto meatballs.
WW Points: 3 points per serving using our homemade pesto
To see your WW Points™ in the WW app for this recipe click here! Or, please manually add the ingredients to the recipe builder.

Nutrition

Serving: 2meatballs | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.3g | Protein: 25.4g | Fat: 7.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.9g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 361mg | Fiber: 0.7g | Sugar: 1.2g