Easy Baked BBQ Turkey Meatballs
These easy baked bbq turkey meatballs are so insanely easy to make they will make them into your weekly rotation. A savory meat mixture topped with a sweet barbecue sauce makes these meatballs the perfect dinner, meal prep option or party appetizer. If you want more meatball recipes you should also try these Asian turkey meatballs, firecracker meatballs, Turkey meatballs with spinach, or Baked chicken parmesan meatballs.
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Making meatballs is one of my favorite meal prep staples, but when I made these baked BBQ meatballs, I was blown away by how much my family loved them. Even more surprising? My 2.5-year-old toddler couldn’t get enough and kept asking for more! These meatballs strike the perfect balance of sweet and savory, with just a hint of spice to keep them completely kid-friendly.
WHY LOVE BBQ TURKEY MEATBALLS
BBQ turkey meatballs are a classic comfort food that’s easy to love for several reasons:
- Sweet and Tangy Flavor: The BBQ sauce adds a perfect balance of sweetness, tanginess, and smokiness, which complements the savory meatballs.
- Versatility: BBQ meatballs can be served as an appetizer, main course, or even as part of a sandwich. They’re crowd-pleasers at parties or great for weeknight meals.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: BBQ meatballs reheat beautifully, making them an excellent choice for meal prepping.
- Customizable: You can make them with ground beef, pork, turkey, or chicken to suit dietary preferences. Add a spicy BBQ sauce for heat or keep it mild for everyone to enjoy.
- Kid-Friendly: Kids love the bite-sized pieces and the finger-licking BBQ sauce, making it a hit with families.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR BAKED BBQ MEATBALLS
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make this delicious meal:
- Ground turkey: lean ground turkey is used, I prefer 93/7 however you can use 99% or 85% lean ground turkey
- BBQ sauce: I used the no sugar added Sweet Baby Rays tangy bbq sauce however feel free to use your favorite bbq sauce
- Spice blend: a simple spice blend of spices like paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper and salt
HOW TO MAKE BBQ TURKEY MEATBALLS
Full recipe details and instructions are listed in the recipe card below.
Pre heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the ground meat, spice blend and bbq sauce.
Mix together thoroughly until the spices and bbq sauce is completely incorporated into the meat mixture.
Once incorporated, take about 1.5 tbsp of meat mixture and form them into small balls and place onto a prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process until all the meat mixture is done. Will make approximately 14-15 meatballs.
Place in the oven and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and the internal temperature is 160 degrees.
While the meatballs are baking, pour the bbq sauce and water in a medium skillet on medium heat. Once done, remove the meatballs and transfer to the skillet and spoon the bbq sauce over to top.
VARIOUS WAYS TO SERVE MEATBALLS
There are several ways you can choose to serve these meatballs, here are a few options you can try:
Garnish: add some extra garnish like parmesan cheese, green onions, parsley or sesame seeds
Sides: these bbq meatballs pare well with mashed potatoes, rice or for a low carb option riced cauliflower
Sandwich: grab a few whole wheat slider buns and make some bbq meatball sliders for a fun option
Bowl Meal: add some roasted veggies, quinoa and greens for a soul inspired bowl
Kid friendly: make even more kid friendly by adding some mac n cheese and their favorite veggie
FAQ’S
Yes! BBQ meatballs are great for meal prep or entertaining. Prepare and cook them, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or stovetop with extra sauce to keep them moist.
Absolutely! Let the meatballs cool completely, then freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag. You can freeze them with or without the sauce. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
I prefer ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner option but you can also use ground beef or pork as well. You can also use a mix, like beef and pork, for extra flavor.
These baked bbq turkey meatballs are so delicious and simple they will sure to be a fan favorite in your home. If you make this bbq meatballs recipe and enjoy it, feel free to leave a comment and star rating down below. Follow me on my social media as I share more healthy recipes, fitness workouts and motherhood. Give a follow at: Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest!
Easy Baked BBQ Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 Large bowl
- 1 Sheet Pan
- 1 Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground turkey
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp Bbq sauce
BBQ Sauce Mixture
- 1.5 cups BBQ Sauce
- 1/4 cup Water
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ground meat, spice blend and bbq sauce. Mix together thoroughly until the spices and bbq sauce is completely incorporated into the meat mixture.
- Once incorporated, take about 1.5 tbsp of meat mixture and form them into small balls and place onto a prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process until all the meat mixture is done. Will make approximately 14-15 meatballs.
- Place in the oven and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and the internal temperature is 160 degrees.
- While the meatballs are baking, pour the bbq sauce and water in a medium skillet on medium heat. Once done, remove the meatballs and transfer to the skillet and spoon the bbq sauce over to top.
