Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs Recipe
These turkey meatballs are a breeze to make in the slow cooker! They're bursting with flavor from fresh herbs and are both gluten-free and dairy-free. Perfect for any meatball lover, they'll win you over with the first bite.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Slow Cooker
- Sharp Knife
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 tbsp extra virgin Olive oil
- ½ White or yellow onion diced
- 1 tbsp minced Garlic
- 1 pound Lean ground turkey or lean ground beef if preferred
- ½ cup fresh Parsley chopped
- ¼ cup fresh Basil chopped
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
For the Marinara Sauce:
- 28 ounces Canned crushed tomatoes
- 14½ ounces Canned diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp minced Garlic
- 1 tbsp dried Parsley
- 1 tbsp dried Basil
- 1 tbsp dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- ½ tsp Salt
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced onions; cook until nearly translucent.
- Stir in minced garlic; cook briefly without burning.
- Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, combine sautéed onions, garlic, ground turkey, parsley, basil, egg, salt, and pepper.
- Gently mix and form into 1½-inch meatballs (about 18-20 meatballs).
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.
- Serve over noodles, spaghetti squash, zoodles, or vegetables.
- Enjoy as an appetizer or main dish!
Notes
- Fresh parsley and basil add vibrant flavor; chop them just before using for maximum freshness.
- Ground turkey is softer than beef; handle gently when forming meatballs to keep them intact.
- Mix meatball ingredients just until combined to prevent tough meatballs.
- Add garlic towards the end of sautéing onions to avoid burning and ensure a mild, sweet flavor.