The juiciest gluten-free turkey meatballs are coated in sticky, healthy teriyaki sauce and served with crispy roasted broccoli and brown rice. The perfect quick and easy 30-minute weeknight dinner or meal prep recipe!
The best easy Asian turkey meatballs
I absolutely love meatballs since you can enjoy them in so many ways. They are easy to make, ready in under 30 minutes, and make for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep lunch. We love meatballs so much that we rotate these teriyaki turkey meatballs, these zucchini turkey meatballs, and these Asian chicken meatballs weekly.
These teriyaki turkey meatballs are so delicious it is hard to believe they are both healthy and gluten-free. Not only are they tender and juicy, but they are coated in a homemade sticky teriyaki sauce made without refined sugars; the same one I use in my air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe and juicy teriyaki chicken burgers!
My favorite part about this recipe is that it tastes like takeout but is healthy. You get that traditional meatball taste you love while only using wholesome and healthy ingredients. Turkey meatballs are healthier than other meatballs because turkey is a lean protein compared to beef.
Serve your sticky teriyaki turkey meatballs on a bed of brown or white rice, with a side of my simple crispy roasted broccoli. They are the perfect meal for everyone, including your kids!
Why you'll love this gluten-free recipe:
- Healthy: These teriyaki turkey meatballs are made with wholesome ingredients like lean ground turkey, ginger, low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari), and served with a side of crispy broccoli.
- Gluten-Free: These meatballs are made with gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari. Don't worry, you can't tell they are gluten-free.
- High Protein: They have over 42 grams of protein per serving.
- Flavorful: The gluten-free turkey meatballs are coated in a homemade sticky and sweet teriyaki sauce made from honey and orange juice.
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and is very easy to make.
- Perfect Meal Prep: They're an excellent addition to your meal prep routine and keep well for up to 5 days.
- Similar Recipes: If you loved this easy recipe, try these Asian chicken meatballs or these pineapple teriyaki turkey burgers next!
Ingredients & substitutions
These healthy teriyaki turkey meatballs call for simple and healthy ingredients. Here is a list of everything you need for the turkey meatballs, the healthy teriyaki sauce, and the crispy roasted broccoli. Remember to read the recipe card below to get exact measurements:
Gluten-free Asian turkey meatballs:
- Ground Turkey: For best results, use 94% lean turkey to ensure the meatballs are extra moist and juicy. Ground turkey is the high protein base for these gluten-free meatballs. If needed, you can use ground chicken.
- Egg: This helps bind the meatball and prevents them from falling apart when baked.
- Panko: Remember to use gluten-free panko if you are gluten-free. It provides texture and structure to the meatballs. You can also use regular breadcrumbs or crushed crackers if needed.
- Scallions: They are also called green onions. Scallions add flavor and a hint of sharpness to the meatballs. You substitute them with red or white onion.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: If you are gluten-free, use Tamari (gluten-0free sou sauce). This adds the best umami flavor to these Asian teriyaki meatballs.
- Ginger: Use freshly grated ginger for the best flavor. It adds a zing and so much flavor to the turkey meatballs. If necessary, you can use one teaspoon of ginger powder.
- Garlic & Onion Powder: For flavor!
- Salt & Black Pepper: To season the meatballs.
- Sesame Seeds: An optional garnish. They add a subtle nutty crunch on top.
Healthy teriyaki sauce:
- Teriyaki Sauce: Use homemade teriyaki sauce for the best flavor and to make this meal healthy. If needed, you can use store-bought teriyaki.
Simple roasted broccoli:
- Broccoli: Cut two heads of fresh broccoli into small florets. You can substitute the broccoli with cauliflower if desired.
- Olive Oil: To help crispen up the broccoli.
- Salt & Pepper: For seasoning. Please adjust to your taste preference.
Kitchen tools needed
Here is a simple list of kitchen tools you need to make gluten-free healthy teriyaki turkey meatballs.
- Two Rimmed Baking Sheets
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Tools: ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1 Tablespoon, and ¼ cup.
How to make healthy baked teriyaki turkey meatballs
These sticky teriyaki turkey meatballs are so easy to make in under 30 minutes. They're super flavorful, coated in homemade healthy teriyaki sauce, and packed with protein! Here are step-by-step instructions with pictures for any level cook:
Step 1: prep everything
First, preheat the oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Make sure there are two racks open before heating the oven.
Step 2: make the crispy broccoli
First, toss the broccoli florets, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a mixing bowl.
Then, spread the coated broccoli across one of the lined baking sheets.
Finally, roast for 22 - 28 minutes, depending on how charred you want the broccoli. Check at the 18-minute mark.
Step 3: make the meatballs
Combine ground turkey, egg, scallions, soy sauce, breadcrumbs, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
Then, gently mix with your hands until thoroughly combined and form 18-22 meatballs using a scooper or your hands (for even sizing, measure two tablespoons of mixture per meatball).
After that, place the meatballs evenly on the second lined baking sheet. Bake for 13-16 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 4: make the teriyaki sauce
Meanwhile, prepare the healthy teriyaki sauce on the stovetop.
Follow these instructions. It takes 8 minutes.
Step 5: plating & serving
Carefully transfer cooked meatballs to the saucepan with teriyaki sauce and gently coat them. Alternatively, use a mixing bowl if your saucepan is not large enough.
Serve the teriyaki turkey meatballs with brown rice and roasted broccoli. Then, garnish with sliced green parts of scallions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Expert recipe tips
- Don't overwork the turkey meatball mixture. This is my #1 tip for gluten-free meatballs. If you overwork the mixture, the meatballs will be tough and dry.
- Use 94% lean ground turkey. Using 99% lean turkey can result in dry meatballs. I recommend using 94% lean turkey to ensure that these Asian turkey meatballs are super juicy.
- Don't skip out on the egg and panko bread crumbs. These ingredients help bind the turkey meatballs together and ensure they don't fall apart and crumble.
- Don't burn the broccoli. I recommend checking the broccoli at the 18-minute mark to ensure it is crispy but not burned. I usually roast mine for 22 minutes.
- Consistent meatball sizing. I recommend using a scooper, scale, or meaning tool to portion out the meatball mixture to ensure an even cook time. The meatballs should be a little smaller than a golf ball.
- Serve with rice. You can serve these teriyaki turkey meatballs with white, jasmine, coconut, or brown rice.
- Teriyaki sauce recommendation. I highly recommend making your own teriyaki sauce. Try this viral healthy teriyaki sauce recipe. If not, use your favorite store-bought brand.
Are turkey meatballs healthy?
The short answer is YES, turkey meatballs are healthy. Turkey is a fantastic source of lean protein since it is low fat, high protein, and a great source of B-complex vitamins, B6 and B12. Compared. to ground beef, turkey is a much leaner source of protein. I promise these gluten-free turkey meatballs are so juicy and tender that you will like them more than beef meatballs.
What to serve with teriyaki turkey meatballs
- Rice: Serve the meatballs over a bed of steamed jasmine, coconut, white, or brown rice to soak up the delicious teriyaki sauce.
- Quinoa or Cauliflower Rice: You can pair these meatballs with quinoa or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
- Stir-Fried Vegetables: Serve teriyaki meatballs with a side of stir-fried vegetables. I love a mix of bell peppers, snap peas, carrots, and broccoli.
- Asian Slaw: Try serving them with a refreshing and crunchy Asian-inspired slaw made with cabbage, carrots, and a sesame ginger dressing.
- Sautéed Greens: Sauté spinach, bok choy, or kale with garlic and soy sauce.
- Noodles: Serve these teriyaki turkey meatballs with cooked soba noodles, sweet potato noodles, glass noodles, or rice noodles tossed in a light sesame oil and soy sauce dressing.
- Edamame: Instead of broccoli, serve teriyaki meatballs with a side of steamed or sautéed edamame beans.
- Roasted Vegetables: I love serving teriyaki meatballs with crispy broccoli, but you can also serve them with green beans, shishito peppers, baby carrots, or cauliflower and broccoli.
- Miso Soup: Everyone loves a cozy bowl of miso soup - so flavorful!
- Asain Cucumber Salad: Try this viral spicy cucumber salad!
- Fried Rice: Make a flavorful vegetable fried rice with scrambled eggs, peas, carrots, and green onions to complement the meatballs. Try this healthy fried rice recipe!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use bottled teriyaki sauce instead of making my own?
Yes, you can use store-bought teriyaki sauce if you want a quicker option. Just coat the cooked meatballs with ⅓ to ⅔ cups of bottled sauce before serving. Make sure the sauce is warmed!
Is teriyaki sauce healthy?
Teriyaki sauce has a bad reputation for being high in sugar; however, the homemade teriyaki sauce we use in this recipe is absolutely healthy. Rather than relying on artificial sweeteners, this sauce uses the natural sweetness of fresh orange juice plus a dash of honey. It also only requires minimal ingredients like soy sauce (or tamari if you are gluten-free), sesame oil, and vinegar.
Can I use ground chicken instead of ground turkey for the meatballs?
Yes, you can substitute ground chicken for ground turkey in this recipe. I recommend 94% lean ground chicken. If you want another Asian-inspired chicken meatball dish, try these sticky sesame chicken meatballs.
Can I use ground beef instead of ground turkey for the meatballs?
You can use ground beef instead of ground turkey for a different flavor.
Are there any gluten-free alternatives for the panko breadcrumbs?
You can substitute gluten-free breadcrumbs, gluten-free panko, or crushed gluten-free crackers for regular panko breadcrumbs.
Can I air fry the meatballs instead of baking them?
Yes, you can air fryer the turkey meatballs instead of baking them. Air fry them at 360°F for 8 - 10 minutes or until fully cooked (165°F internal temperature).
Are turkey meatballs gluten-free?
Not all turkey meatballs are gluten-free since many call for breadcrumbs; however, this recipe is since we use tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.
What's the internal temperature for cooked turkey meatballs?
Turkey meatballs are cooked and safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (73.9°C).
Can I make the meatballs ahead of time and freeze them?
Absolutely! You can prepare the turkey meatballs, shape them, and then freeze them on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a resealable bag or airtight container. When you're ready to cook them, bake them directly from frozen and add 3 - 4 extra minutes to the cooking time.
How to store and reheat leftovers:
Storing: Place leftovers into one large or individual airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 4 - 5 days. I recommend letting the turkey meatballs cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
Reheating: To reheat, transfer any leftovers to a microwave-safe dish and heat in 30-second intervals until warm. Alternatively, you can reheat everything in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed.
If you loved this recipe, try these next!
- Asian Chicken Meatballs
- Healthy Pineapple Teriyaki Turkey Burgers
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Gluten-Free Chicken Pad Thai
- Healthy Fried Rice
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Healthy Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
Turkey Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground turkey, 94% lean not 99%
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup scallions, (green onion) finely sliced
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce, or tamari (gluten-free)
- ⅓ cup of panko bread crumbs, gluten-free panko (if needed)
- ¾ teaspoon freshly grated ginger, very fine
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ - 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Healthy Teriyaki Sauce:
- ⅓ - ⅔ cup homemade teriyaki sauce, (can use store-bought if needed)
Roasted Broccoli:
- 2 heads broccoli, cut into small florets
- 1 - 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
To Serve:
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- Garnish: green parts of the scallions, and/or sesame seeds
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Make sure there are two racks open before heating the oven.
Roasted the Broccoli:
- Toss the broccoli florets, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a mixing bowl.
- Spread the coated broccoli across one of the lined baking sheets.
- Roast for 22 - 28 minutes, depending on how charred you want the broccoli. Check at the 18-minute mark.
Make the Meatballs:
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, egg, scallions, soy sauce, breadcrumbs, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Gently mix with hands until fully combined and form 18-22 meatballs using a scooper or your hands (for even sizing, measure 2 tablespoons of mixture per meatball).
- Place meatballs evenly on the second lined baking sheet. Bake for 13-16 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Make the Teriyaki Sauce:
- Meanwhile, prepare the healthy teriyaki sauce on the stovetop. Follow these instructions. It takes 8 minutes.
Serving:
- Carefully transfer cooked meatballs to the saucepan with teriyaki sauce, and gently coat them. Alternatively, use a mixing bowl for this step if your saucepan is not large enough.
- Serve the teriyaki turkey meatballs with brown rice and roasted broccoli. Then, garnish with sliced green parts of scallions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Harper says
Easy and delicious healthy recipe. Thank you
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi Harper - Thank you so much for this amazing review. So happy you loved these meatballs as much as me 🙂
Robin Boersner says
Made these for dinner and we loved them! Will definitely be part of the regular rotation. Made just as the recipe dictated, didn’t change a thing.
Tati Chermayeff says
SO happy to hear that!! let me know if you try anything else on my blog. I love feedback 🙂