Description
Tender, protein-packed turkey meatballs designed for toddlers, perfect for tiny hands and picky eaters.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1–1.25 lb ground turkey (lean variety)
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs or oats
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup finely grated carrot
- 2 tbsp finely chopped mild onion or shallot
- 1 small clove minced garlic or 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp plain yogurt or unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp salt
- A pinch of pepper
- 1/4 cup grated mild cheese (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil (for frying/baking spray)
Instructions
- Prep your mix-ins and tools: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the wet ingredients: In a bowl, whisk the egg with yogurt or applesauce, then add grated carrot, onion, garlic, and parsley.
- Add the ground turkey to the bowl, sprinkle in breadcrumbs or oats, and grated cheese if using. Season lightly.
- Fold everything together gently to avoid overmixing.
- Portion and shape 1–1.5 inch meatballs, rolling gently.
- Choose your cooking method: Bake at 375°F for 14–18 minutes or pan-fry in a skillet for 3–4 minutes per side.
- Cool and serve: Let sit for a few minutes to cool before serving to toddlers.
Notes
These meatballs freeze well. To reheat, thaw and warm gently with sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1–2 meatballs
- Calories: 40
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: turkey meatballs, toddler-friendly, easy recipe, healthy kids meals