Turkey Swedish Meatballs

Name: Turkey Swedish Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Swedish
Ingredients: 2 lb ground turkey; 1 egg; 3/4 cup breadcrumbs; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup milk; 2 teaspoons pepper; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 2 tablespoons chopped parsley; 1 tablespoon onion flakes; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 cups chicken broth; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 3 cups milk; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 pinch nutmeg

Jump to Recipe·Leave a Review

Turkey Swedish Meatballs are a lighter twist on a classic comfort food, smothered in a creamy, savory sauce. This fast and easy 30 minute recipe is perfect for a cozy dinner, they’re easy to make and packed with flavor!

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

This time of year I’m craving comfort food, but my waistline, not so much. What’s a girl to do but create some lighter versions of favorite recipes, like these Turkey Swedish Meatballs?

Why I love this recipe

This easy recipe is a favorite because it whips up in 30 minutes making it perfect for busy weeknights. It is also a family-friendly and you can serve it over noodles, potatoes, rice, etc to make it your own.

Ingredients

ground turkey makes this recipe a healthier version of the original
egg and breadcrumbs hold the meatballs together
spices add a ton of flavor: salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg, onion flakes
chicken broth simmers the meatballs and flavors the sauce
butter and flour thicken the sauce
milk flavors the meatballs and is the base of the sauce

Step by step

Start by combining all of the meatball ingredients and mix by hand.
Roll the meat mixture into 1 1/2 inch meatballs.

Expert tip: Wet your hands before mixing the meatball mixture so it sticks less to your hands

In a large skillet, melt butter then brown your meatballs on all sides.
Add broth to the skillet and simmer meatballs for 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk to make a paste.
Cook flour and butter mixture for 3 minutes, whisking constantly.
Slowly add the milk and stir to mix.
Bring to a simmer, then add spices, reduce heat and simmer until thickened. The sauce has fully thickened when it coats a spoon.
Add the sauce mixture to the meatballs and broth and stir to combine. Serve over egg noodles or your favorite side (I like mine over easy slow cooker rice.)

Tips for best results

Make your meatballs the same size so they cook evenly (a cookie scoop is helpful).
Do not overhandle the meatballs as it will make the meatballs too dense.
Use a meat thermometer to make sure meatballs reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

fork cutting Swedish meatball over egg noodles

FAQs

Can these be made ahead of time?

The best way to make these ahead of time is to form the meatballs and refrigerate them until ready to cook.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with your choice of starch if desired:

mashed potatoes
egg noodles
rice
cauliflower rice
on their own as an appetizer!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

The meatballs can be frozen, but I do not recommend freezing the sauce. To freeze the meatballs allow to cool fully then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Place in the freezer for two hours or until frozen through, then transfer to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container (affiliate link). Bake from frozen at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until heated through.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!