Best Turkey And Pancetta Meatballs Recipes

CLASSIC ITALIAN TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, parsley, milk, ketchup if using, tomato paste, salt, pepper, eggs, garlic and onions. Using a wooden spoon, stir to blend. Add the ground turkey and sausage meat. Using fingers, gently mix all the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
• Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop or a small ice cream scoop, form the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls (22 to 24 meatballs). Place the meatballs on a heavy nonstick baking sheet, spacing apart. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until cooked through, 15 minutes.
• For the tomato sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet with 2-inch-high sides over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onions, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the basil, the fennel, oregano and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup basil. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired.
• Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce and simmer until the meatballs are heated through, about 10 minutes. Thin the sauce with chicken stock, 1/4 cup at a time, if needed.
• Serve with grated Parmesan alongside.

THE BEST TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle the olive oil and canola oil in an even layer over the paper.
• Pour the breadcrumbs into a large mixing bowl, pour the milk over top and stir to fully moisten the breadcrumbs. Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix with your hands just until combined.
• Scoop 1/4-cupfuls of meatball mixture and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet; you should have 12 meatballs. Gently roll them into balls. Bake until bottoms are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and continue to bake for 15 to 20 minutes more until the meatballs are cooked through.

TURKEY MEATBALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cheese, bread crumbs, onion, chives, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano and red pepper flakes, if using, and mix well. Add turkey and egg and blend with your hands until well mixed. If you've got time, cover mixture and chill for an hour or up to 24 hours. These are easiest to form into balls while very cold. Form into 28 meatballs, each about 1 1/4-inches in diameter.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large sauté pan. When hot, add enough of the meatballs to fit in one layer without crowding, and brown on all sides, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate, add another tablespoon of oil to pan and brown another layer of meatballs, transferring them to the plate as they brown. Repeat until all meatballs are browned, adding more oil to the pan as needed.
• When meatballs are all browned, add marinara sauce to pan and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits on the pan bottom. Return meatballs and their juices to pan, shake pan to cover the meatballs with sauce, and lower heat. Partly cover pan and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Serve hot, drizzled with more olive oil and sprinkled with more cheese, if you like.

TURKEY MEATBALLS WITH SPINACH AND FETA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Toast the bread until just brown then transfer it to a bowl and add water to cover. Allow it to soak for about 5 minutes or until very tender. Discard the water and squeeze the bread very dry and crumble it a bit with your hands.
• In a skillet heat 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Add the spinach and cook briefly over medium heat until just wilted. Remove from the heat and let cool briefly.
• Make the meatball mixture. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, onions, garlic, crumbled feta, egg, parsley, and mint. Add the bread and wilted spinach. Season with a big pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Mix well to combine.
• Form the mixture into balls (golf ball size) and arrange them on a large lightly oiled sheet pan.
• Bake in the heated oven for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked through.
• Transfer to the top rack and turn the broiler on for just a couple of minutes or until the tops are browned.
• Serve immediately with salad of your choice.

TURKEY MEATBALLS AND RICOTTA BAKE WITH PENNE

Steps:

• For the meatballs, mix all meatball ingredients together adding in enough bread crumbs to bind the mixture together.
• Form into about 1-inch size balls.
• In a large skillet heat oil and cook the meatballs, shaking the skillet until browned and cooked through (about 6-7 minutes) transfer the meatballs to paper towels to drain.
• Cook the penne in a large pot of boiling salted water until JUST firm-tender; drain.
• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Grease a 4-quart baking dish.
• In a small bowl mix together shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
• Spoon about 1-1/2 cups sauce in the bottom of the baking dish, then spread half of the meatballs on top of sauce.
• Then spoon HALF of the pasta on top.
• Spread HALF of the remaining sauce and HALF of the cheese mixture over pasta.
• Top with remaining meatballs and then drop dollups of ricotta cheese over meatballs.
• Spread remaining pasta over the ricotta.
• Top with remaining sauce, and then sprinkle with remaining mozza/Parmesan mixture.
• Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until golden.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

PASTA WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS AND BOCCONCINI

Steps:

• Set a large pot of salted water to boil. In a large bowl, combine turkey, breadcrumbs, garlic, egg, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, 1/4 cup parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix to combine. Using a level 1-tablespoon measure for each, form mixture into meatballs (you should have about 24).
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high. Add meatballs, and cook, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water; simmer, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are cooked through and liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup, 10 to 12 minutes. Add tomatoes; cook until they begin to soften, about 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, return to pot, and place on the still-warm burner. Add bocconcini, meatballs and sauce, remaining 1/4 cup parsley, remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and remaining tablespoon butter. Season with salt and pepper, and toss until combined.