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Garlic Butter Meatballs

These tender ground turkey meatballs are tossed in a rich, garlicky butter sauce for a quick and flavor-packed dinner! Perfect served over pasta, mashed potatoes, or with roasted veggies for a comforting weeknight meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings (about 12 meatballs)
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 534

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp salted butter, melted
  • 1.5 lb ground turkey
  • 0.33 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 0.5 cup finely diced onion
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 0.25 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 tbsp salted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Equipment

  • large oven-safe skillet
  • Large mixing bowl
  • wooden spoon or spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Instant-Read Thermometer

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large bowl. Add ground turkey, breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, Parmesan, eggs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined.
  2. Form the mixture into 2-inch meatballs (about 12 total).
  3. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides, turning 3–4 times, about 1–2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  4. Add lemon juice to the skillet and deglaze by scraping up any browned bits. Add 6 tablespoons butter and garlic; cook 3–4 minutes until fragrant and melted. Stir in parsley.
  5. Return the meatballs to the skillet and coat with the garlic butter sauce. Transfer skillet to oven and bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the meatballs reach 165°F internally.
  6. If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the meatballs and sauce to a casserole dish and bake for 15–20 minutes instead.
  7. Serve warm over pasta, mashed potatoes, or with roasted vegetables. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.

Notes

Makes about 12 two-inch meatballs. You can substitute ground chicken, pork, or beef. Store leftovers in an airtight container: up to 4 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer. Reheat in the microwave, oven, or stovetop over low heat. Freeze before or after cooking for make-ahead convenience.

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