Eggless Turkey Meatballs Recipe Highlights
My kids love, love, love meatballs. Any kind of meatballs! But making meatballs without eggs is quite challenging. They end up too dry and hard or too fragile and break when cooking. So let me tell you that I have been testing and re-testing this recipe for quite some time, and I finally nailed it! These Eggless Turkey and Spinach Meatballs are easy to make, quick, and bursting with yummy flavor. In other words … they’re so good! The thing I love about meatballs is that they’re so versatile. You can make them with pork, turkey, chicken, or beef. These meatballs are perfect over rice, some mashed potatoes, and of course, some noodles. Our family loves meatballs, and they make such a dinner. Try these Easy Instant Pot Stroganoff Meatballs or Instant Pot Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs if you want to change things up!
How to Bind Meatballs without Eggs
There are several options to substitute eggs in meatballs recipe:
2 tablespoons buttermilk per egg. 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt per egg. 1/4 cup ricotta cheese per egg. 2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce per egg.
Of course, you will also need a starchy component, such as bread crumbs or saltine crackers crumbs.
My Go-To Eggless Binder For Meatballs
Here is the equation I follow to make my eggless meatballs. 1 pound meat = 1 slice of sandwich bread (crushed into fine crumbs) + 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, or 6 saltines crackers (crushed into fine crumbs) + 2 tablespoons plain yogurt.
Buttermilk or plain yogurt Breadcrumbs: I like to use a slice of sandwich bread or saltine crackers. I put them into my food processor and crush them into fine crumbs. Veggies: You’ll need onion and garlic. Seasoning and herbs: You’ll need dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Spinach: This is totally optional. As usual, I didn’t waste the opportunity to hide/camouflage some veggies to add an extra bit of wonderfulness to these meatballs. This time was spinach, but I’ve added red pepper or baby kale other times. Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated parmesan cheese will give you the best flavor. Ground turkey: I typically use 85% lean ground beef. It’s not overly greasy, while still containing enough fat to make the meatballs moist and juicy. You could also use half turkey and half ground pork or Italian sausage. Oil: Any oil you have handy will work for this recipe. I use extra-virgin olive oil. Marinara sauce: You can use homemade or store-bought. When I am short of time, my favorite store-bought marinara sauce is Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce. Fresh basil or parsley to garnish.
This recipe can be doubled for larger crowds. To crush the bread/crackers, I use a mini food processor. You can substitute ground turkey for ground pork, beef, or a mix of meats. A cookie scoop can help portion out the meatballs easily.
Leftovers
If you have leftover meatballs, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. Then, reheat the meatballs in a pan or microwave until heated through.
Freezer
Uncooked meatballs: prepare the meat mixture, form meatballs, place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, and then put them in the freezer. Leave them in for 30 – 60 minutes. Then transfer them into a Ziploc freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Cooked meatballs: prepare the meat mixture, form meatballs, and cook them as directed in the recipe. Then, let them cool completely, put them in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. When you are ready to eat, let them thaw in the refrigerator and heat them as needed. Then, you can reheat them on the stovetop, microwave, or oven.
Make Ahead Meatballs
Eggless Meatballs can be shaped and kept covered in the refrigerator for up to a day ahead.
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Instant Pot Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs Easy Caribbean Vegetable Curry Easy Greek Chicken Meatballs (Baked – No Eggs) Easy Instant Pot Stroganoff Meatballs BEST Eggless Italian Meatballs Browse more recipes…
Recipe Card 📖
This recipe was originally published in January 2015. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in February 2023 to make it as helpful as possible!
