BBQ Meatballs (Made with Ground Turkey!)

Deliciously flavorfully spiced, tender and moist turkey BBQ Meatballs are glazed with the ultimate homemade barbecue sauce with hints of spice, pineapple and molasses!  These are the ultimate appetizer for entertaining!  

Recipe by Veronica of Collard Greens and Caviar. 

I have a confession to make – I love meatballs.

I have an obsession for the rustic mounds of seasoned meat lightly rolled into tasty rounds.
From albóndigas meatballs nestled in a light broth with vegetables to the richness of Filipino Bola-bola meatballs with their pork-liciousness, their diversity in texture and flavor is like a trip around the epicurean world.

The Original Way to Make Meatballs

Her meatballs, which she cooked on the stovetop, were basic: ground beef, salt, pepper, chopped onions, bell pepper, an egg, and crumbled white bread as the binder. She folded the cooked meatballs into hot spaghetti combined with a simple sauce made from a large can of Springfield tomato sauce seasoned with salt and pepper. And when she served this dish, topped with a little grated parmesan cheese sprinkled from a shiny, green cylinder carton, it was like love on a plate. Those meatballs were so moist, flavorful and had little chunks of white bread which never seemed to get incorporated.

A meatball remake

Today, mom doesn’t cook very much. She’s up in age. But I have taken up the mantle or the wooden spoon. And as a nod to my love of meatballs, I have created a barbeque meatball recipe that channels my southern sensibilities and my Southern California lifestyle.

I’ve zhuzhed up mom’s recipe by replacing the ground beef with ground turkey, which is leaner, lighter and healthier. I’ve swapped out the crumble white bread for Panko bread crumbs, which incorporates very nicely. I’ve added chopped spinach and grated sweet potatoes to add moisture in the absence of fat in the ground beef. These two ingredients make them moist, juicy, and take these tasty little meatballs into the umami zone.

The homemade barbecue sauce is luscious, saucy and delicately sweet. And the addition of crushed pineapple added in this recipe melts into the sauce like butter. This sassy sauce is a perfect complement to the meatballs.

Perks and Highlights of the Best BBQ Meatball Recipe 

Ingredients

How to Make BBQ Meatballs

Tips for making delicious meatballs

It’s true that the more fat there is in ground meat, the more tender the meatballs tend to be. But since this recipe uses ground turkey, which is much leaner than beef or pork, these simple tips will help you make moist meatballs.

Tip #1 – Chilled is better

Fat tends to melt in warm environments. If fat equals moisture, it’s important to keep your ground turkey chilling in the fridge until you are ready to use it. It also helps to chill your mixing bowl in the freezer for about an hour before you get started.

Tip #2 – Add some moisture

Ground turkey is really lean and has less fat than ground beef or ground pork. Less fat can make your meatballs less tender. Always use the 85% lean ground turkey. It has more fat than the 99% lean ground variety. Adding an egg to your meatballs will certainly help replace some of the lost moisture from the fat. However, keep in mind eggs are used primarily to help bind the mixture together. This recipe bumps up the moisture by adding a modest amount of grated sweet potatoes and chopped spinach, which also adds subtle flavor as well.

Tip #3 – Please don’t over mix

This is never more important than when using ground turkey. Over mixing will certainly make your meatballs less tender. To save you from this faith, here’s my method:

Place your chilled ground turkey meat in a chilled mixing bowl and spread the meat over the surface of the bottom of the bowl.
Evenly distribute each ingredient over the entire surface of the meat. Add the cracked egg in the center.
Wet your hands. Gently toss the mixture with your fingertips until all the ingredients are evenly mixed. This takes about a good minute.

Tip #4 – Pack them lightly

Here is your last chance to make moist meatballs. Don’t blow it. If your meatballs are formed into compacted rounds, they are more likely to be tough and rubbery once they are done. Pack them lightly by rolling them gently in your hands until they hold their shape. Remember; resist the urge to compact them. Lastly, wetting your hands can be helpful in preventing the meat from sticking to your hands.

Tip #5 – Make them all the same size

Aesthetically they will look better. But in reality it helps them to cook more evenly. If your meatballs are different sizes, some will be undercooked and some will be overcooked. Overcooking means a tougher meatball. You can always use a small ice cream scoop if you don’t want to risk it.

Tip #6 – Use parchment paper

Aluminum has its place in the baking world. But for this recipe, parchment paper is the winner. Why? Well it helps to stop the meatballs from sticking to the sheet pan, and it helps to regulate the temperature of the pan so the meatballs bake more evenly.

Storage and Reheating

Storage:

After the meatballs have had their moment and cooled down, it’s time to pack them up for their next show. Pop these tasty morsels into an airtight container – you know, the ones that seal in all the goodness – and they’re ready for their chill session in the fridge. They’re cool for up to 4 days, but we doubt they’ll last that long! Now, if you’re planning for an encore further down the road, slide your container into the freezer instead. They’re good to go for a solid 3-4 months, but let’s be real, who can wait that long?

Reheating:

If they’re coming out of the fridge, place them in a saucepan over medium heat. Go for a gentle reheat, stirring occasionally – it’s a reunion, not a race. They’ll be hot and ready in about 10 minutes. For the frozen squad, let them thaw overnight in the fridge, then follow the same steps. Pro tip: Add a splash of water or broth to keep ’em nice and moist. Now, if you’re short on time, microwave those beauties in a microwave-safe dish covered with a damp paper towel for moisture. Start with a 2-minute round, then additional 30-second blitzes until they’re heated through.

Other Meatball Recipes

If you love these, you will also love my Spaghetti and Meatballs, My Lentil Meatballs and also my Salisbury Steak Meatballs!