This delectable Turkey Meatball Recipe in Easy Cream Sauce combines perfectly seasoned meatballs with an easy chicken based cream sauce made right in your skillet. This fabulous recipe comes together in a little over thirty minutes.
Weekends are the absolute best!! They allow me the time to create new recipes!! I can kick back and experiment and make something luxuriously good for my family. Anything creamy with gravy is right up my alley. Now put it over noodles or mashed potatoes and now we are talking the ultimate in comfort food. These delicious Turkey Meatballs in Easy Cream Sauce turned out fantastic. I think hubby would have had three plates if I had not given him the stink eye!!
How do you make Turkey Meatballs in Easy Cream Sauce?
Start by mixing ground turkey, bread crumbs, dried oregano, garlic powder, minced onion, egg and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Using your hands roll the mixture and shape into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Heat olive oil over medium heat in large skillet. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Do not crowd the skillet. If necessary work in batches and remove the meatballs to a plate.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for a few minutes while you whisk constantly. Whisk in the chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, cream and oregano. Simmer for about fifteen minutes. Add the meatballs to the skillet and spoon sauce over meatballs. Salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve the meatballs and sauce over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, spaghetti, zucchini noodles, or rice. Or serve them as an appetizer with fancy toothpicks.
Four ways to keep your meatballs round!
- Refrigerate – after rolling the meatballs store covered in the refrigerator for at least one hour or up to 24 hours.
- Freeze – Place the meatballs on a cookie covered with parchment paper. They can be close together but not touching. Place them in the freezer until frozen. You can cook from frozen or transfer to freezer bags. They are good for up to three months.
- Bake – Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes or until cooked through. This method works fairly well because the meatballs are not turned like on the stove top.
- Simmer in liquid – drop into simmering broth until they are partially cooked. When they float remove them to paper towels and then brown in a skillet or in the oven.
Several of these methods can be combined to ensure nice round meatballs.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Use ground turkey that includes both white and dark meat. Ground turkey breast is very lean and does not make the best meatballs.
- Turkey meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. An instant read meat thermometer is a great investment.
- You can also make this recipe with ground beef but substitute beef broth in place of the chicken broth.
- Follow one or more of my helpful hints for ensuring round meatballs.
- Don’t clean the pan from the meatballs to the sauce. If there is excess grease than remove it but keep the brown bits from the meatballs. They add lots of flavor to the sauce.
- Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper. We enjoy lots of fresh ground pepper with ours. Or try fresh basil, thyme, or rosemary.
- Do you like a lot of flavor and kick? Add a couple of pinches of cayenne or red pepper flakes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
- Freeze in a sturdy airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
This delicious dinner idea is easy, quick and oh so tasty. I sure hope you all like this dish as much as we do!!
Sides to go with Turkey Meatballs
Turkey Meatballs in Easy Cream Sauce
A family friendly easy turkey meatballs recipe with perfectly seasoned meatballs in a super easy chicken based cream gravy made right in the same skillet.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: main meal turkey
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 1/4 lbs ground turkey
- 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Cream Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In large bowl mix ground turkey, breadcrumbs, dried oregano, garlic powder, minced onion, egg and Worcestershire sauce. Shape into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Heat olive oil over medium heat in large skillet. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Do not crowd the skillet. If necessary work in batches. Remove meatballs to oven proof plate or cookie sheet. Place in the oven while you make the sauce.
- Melt butter in same skillet over medium low heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2-3 minutes; whisking constantly. Whisk in chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, cream and oregano in large skillet. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add meatballs to skillet and spoon sauce over meatballs. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.
- Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice.
Notes
- Use ground turkey that includes both white and dark meat. Ground turkey breast is very lean and does not make the best meatballs.
- Follow one or more of my helpful hints for ensuring round meatballs.
- Don’t clean the pan from the meatballs to the sauce. If there is excess grease than remove it but keep the brown bits from the meatballs. They add lots of flavor to the sauce.
- Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper. We enjoy lots of fresh ground pepper with ours.
- Do you like a lot of flavor and kick? Add a couple of pinches of cayenne or crushed red pepper.
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This post was originally published October 24, 2016 and was republished March 9, 2019 with new content.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Tori
Loved it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tori! So glad that you did.
Avie
Made this today and it turned great! Though, I used half ground chicken and half ground turkey because the ground turkey was 99% lean. This is now my family’s favorite meatballs recipe. Love!! Thank you Beth for sharing this perfect recipe!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine! So glad that you and your family loved the meatballs!
Sonia
Forget it! 🤦🏽♀️😂 found nutrition information 😁
Beth Pierce
Cool! So glad that you found it!
Sonia
These are so good! They are a family favorite now! I pinned this years ago and never got around to making them… wish I would have sooner! Thank you for the recipe 🥰… one question, I don’t see nutritional information… is that somewhere in the post?
Katie
Why don’t you allow somebody to pin the recipes when it’s something they really enjoy, I will now no longer be following this website I’m sorry but I think it’s really ridiculous that you won’t let anybody save these pins
Beth Pierce
I am not even sure what you are talking about. All of my recipes are pinnable. Please be very specific in your complaint.
Jennifer Prince
What a delicious take on turkey! Everyone loved the meatballs!
Pooja
Wow! this is such an amazing recipe. Thanks for jotting step by step instructions to make it sound clear and simple. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Kelly Bolen
These look amazing! Pinning for later! Thanks!
Melanie E
I’ve not made meatballs in ages although we love them. I must give this a try, the sauce sounds great x
Neely Moldovan
We love meatballs and I bet my kids would even like these
Marysa
Sounds like a great dish. It would be perfect to make a big batch of this and then serve it with the cream sauce. I think sometimes when we freeze meatballs they get a little dry, and it is nice to have something a little different for a sauce.
briannemanzb
The Turkey meatballs just melt in your mouth, it’s so good! This recipe can be a lifesaver when life gets busy.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Brianne! So glad that you like it!
Alita
This is perfect for a crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner. I’m so excited to make it for my family.
Stephanie
This is perfect for my family! My younger son loves meatballs, but I don’t like having red sauce all the time. I didn’t know what to do with them other than spaghetti and meatballs but this is such a great alternative.
Rose
In another recipe you used a small cookie scoop to form the meatballs. Would this method not work here or is the small scoop too small or is the ground turkey too sticky? Also what percentage of fat are you referring to when using light and dark meat? If you can’t tell, this is my first attempt at using ground turkey and I need all the help I can get.
Heather
How many meatballs will this recipe (4 servings) yield?
Beth Pierce
About 24
Julianne Fitzgerald
My husband and I LOVED this recipe. The meatballs were the perfect consistency! DELICIOUS!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Julianne! So glad that you and your husband liked it!
Amanda Shurtleff
Can i use something else besides heavy cream.?
Beth Pierce
Unfortunately no. Not with the same results.
Nicole
If I do not have Canola oil can I sub it for vegetable oil or olive oil?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can.
Tara
This was legitimately one of the best Internet recipes I’ve ever tried. Thank you so much!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Tara! So happy that you liked it!
Kim
Can I freeze the sauce and meatballs? I made extra and don’t want them to go to waste.
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. When ready to eat thaw in the fridge overnight and heat up on the stovetop or in the microwave at a reduced power.
Angie
Would Chicken Stock work instead of Chicken Broth? I’m feeling too lazy to go to the tore right now and I have everything else to make this!
Beth Pierce
Yes! So sorry about the late reply!
Brenda
This recipe is BOMB! The sauce is so delicious. Comfort food at its finest. Thank you for posting it!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Brenda! So glad that you like it!!
Jack Meh
Why preheat the oven if it’s not used in the instructions?
Beth Pierce
Because you are placing the meatballs in the oven while you make the sauce. It is in the directions.
JoAnn
In the instructions it says to preheat oven to 350 degrees. Yet, nowhere does it show to use oven to cook meatballs. I’m confused.
Beth Pierce
Hey Joanne! They are in step 2 “Remove meatballs to oven proof plate or cookie sheet. Place in the oven while you make the sauce.” I hope that helps.
Dee
I made this tonight for dinner. I followed the recipe exactly except I added salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to the meatballs and sauce. I made extra sauce, it was so creamy and delicious. The meatballs were juicy and perfectly cooked. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Awesome! Thanks Dee! So glad that you liked them!
Sara Welch
Served this for dinner last night and it has easily become a new family favorite dish! Excited for leftovers again tonight!
Allyson Zea
Wow this looks like a delicious and easy meal!!
Suzy
The flavor of the cream sauce with the turkey is incredibly good! Definitely will make again!
katerina @ diethood.com
Oh wow, that cream sauce looks incredible! I bet these taste amaaaazing!
Jen
This is yet another winning dinner idea! Loved that I had everything already in my kitchen to make this. My kids loved it over the egg noodles. Thank you!
Catalina
I am impressed how creamy these meatballs are! I should try them!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
These delectable Turkey Meatballs sound delicious! Dangerously good…
Michelle
These meatballs are so delicious.They are in my rotation
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Michelle! So glad that you like them!
Kimberly
That sauce looks and sounds absolutely to die for – on the meal plan for this week and I’m going to double that luscious sauce!
Paula
Wonderful flavor….will use this recipe again! By necessity we must prepare Gluten Free and had to adapt for that. With your recipe it was a breeze! Used Trader Joe’s Rice Crumbs, same measurement, as the substitute for bread in the turkey meatballs. For the sauce we followed directions without adding flour and instead used a mixture of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water which we whisked into the sauce once it had come to a simmer.
I have a base sauce that is similar…never would have added Worcestershire sauce – brings it to a new dimension.
Thank you for sharing your talent….Such an enjoyable meal
Beth Pierce
Thanks Paula! I am so glad that you liked it. The pleasure in all mine. Those are awesome tips for readers that are on a GLUTEN FREE diet. Thanks so much for taking the time to post those ideas.
Elsa
This was amazingly tasty, delicious and easy. Thank you
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Elsa! So glad that you liked it!
Gina
I made this recipe late at night after work… I’m a head chef so I’m always looking for tastey new things to try. I didn’t have any milk or cream, so I used refrigerated non dairy coffee creamer, and added an extra tablespoon of butter at the end!! Props to you, from one chef to another your meatballs were delicious and the sauce creamy and smooth. Served over rice.Five stars!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Gina! I am so glad that you liked them! I just love a good meatball in cream sauce. Great comfort food!
Sue
Gina I’ve been reading through these reviews in hopes someone would have used non-dairy creamer! Voila! Making them tonight over rice as well…thanks!
Jennifer
I made just the sauce (had 1 lb of turkey meatballs in the freezer already). This was a “use what you have” night, so I used whole milk instead of cream. I’m sure cream would have been amazing, but the milk turned out perfectly! I made just a little extra rue to compensate for it not being as thick. I’ll try the meatball recipe another day – love the tips for keeping them round. That’s always my biggest challenge.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Jennifer! So glad that you enjoyed them and were able to make it work with what you had on hand!
Kathy
I don’t have heavy cream can I use cream cheese or sour cream? Which would be the better sub?
Beth Pierce
Sorry I missed this one today. I think I would go with the sour cream. I hope it turned out okay for you.
Annika
My husband has about a million allergies so I substituted my way around my recipe and he loves it! I make it at least once a week. It’s definitely become a staple in our home. Thanks Beth for sharing!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Annika! The pleasure is all mine! So glad that you were able to modify it for your husband!
Lesli Houseman
I made this for dinner tonight. All of us enjoyed it, and it was very quick to make. I had an open beef broth so I used that in place of chicken. It was delicious, served over rice! Thanks for sharing
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! So glad that you liked it. The pleasure is all mine!
Sue
This may sound odd, but I had no heavy cream and was too lazy to go out just to get some. I substituted sour cream, and it was amazing! Almost like a turkey meatball stroganoff. So yummy, thank you.
Beth Pierce
I love a cook that can improvise! That does sound delicious!
Sherri
Always looking for something new to cook for dinner! Had ground turkey and didn’t feel like tacos. I googled ground turkey recipes and found this! I think it is wonderful and will definitely be making it again. The meatballs were tender and flavorful but I have to say my favorite was the sauce. The only thing I didn’t like was the pasta I made with it. I would definitely try it over Dutch egg noodles next time like people recommended. I might double the sauce like they mentioned too! Sooo good! After 39 years of making dinner every night it’s nice to have something new!
Beth Pierce
That is so sweet Sherri! You made my day! I had a rough night last night and I needed a little pick me up!
Rachel
Would the recipe be the same if we made it with ground beef? I know it’s not as healthy but that is what we have right now!
Beth Pierce
That should be delicious as well. I love a cook that can improvise!
Lily D
Can I substitute the cream with whole milk? Looking forward to making this tomorrow!
Beth Pierce
If you do you must use something to thicken it like a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a little milk. Milk will not reduce and thicken like cream does.
Jess
My family love these meatballs! Absolutely delicious! I’ve served them with spaghetti (so good!) and a low carb version with sweet potato mash and veg. A new regular dish for us! Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jess! So glad that you like them. We love them too!
Jacqueline
These are delicious and my two year old loves them! We change it up occasionally by subbing milk for the worechestershire sauce and using turkey gravy instead. The meatballs freeze well too.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Jacqueline! So glad that you and yours love them!
Jessica
I have a question…. could buttermilk be used instead of the cream? Thanks for your thought… looking forward to making the dish over the weekend.
Beth Pierce
I am sorry Jessica but that is not going to work. You need cream for this recipe as it reduces and thickens while buttermilk will curdle over those temperature.
Julia
These meatballs in cream sauce look like comfort food personified! I am sure a touch of worcestershire adds so much flavour to the sauce!
lauren kelly
I don’t know what I like better, the meatballs or that delicious cream sauce! Thank you so much!
Jen
I made these for a get together over the weekend and they were a huge hit! Everyone kept asking for the recipe.
Alli
My mother in law works at a turkey store sober always have so much turkey. This was perfect to use up some of that. So good!
Sarah Skaggs
Wow, so good! Loved it!
Adrianne
How fantastic do these look!! I love the sound of them as well and could eat them right from the pot!! The garlic powder in the cream sauce is the perfect touch!!
April
This recipe is fantastic! They are like tiny meat loaves, so soft and flavorful. A new favorite, and my daughter loves them too.
I subbed a couple things, and I have zero guilt eating them. Making them tonight with riced cauliflower stuffed mushrooms. I’ve made your meatballs twice in two weeks 🙂
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Beth Pierce
I am so glad that you liked it! We love this recipe too! So sweet that you have made these twice!
Angie
This is a great recipe! I did add some more spices, and served over zoodles!! (Zucchini noodles) thank you so much!! Its delicious!!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! So glad that you liked it. I love playing with different spices in dishes.
Lauren K
I have everything for the recipe but Worstechire sauce. Would it still be okay without it?
Beth Pierce
Sorry about the delayed response. I have never tried it that way however I think it would okay.
Amanda
Nevermind, I see that is just all the ingredients to make the cream sauce!
Amanda
I see in the recipe it says cream sauce. Is that just alfredo sauce? How much?
Kimberly
can the recipe easily be doubled??
Chloe
How many meatballs does this make?
Beth Pierce
20-24
Gina
Can i substitue the chxn broth for white wine…and his half and half ok instead of cream
Beth Pierce
You can sub the chicken broth for the white wine but I would not use half n half. I have found that it does not reduce the same way and does not produce near as good results.
Mary Hall
There was no wine in the recipe above ?????
Beth Pierce
No not this one! I don’t add wine to every recipe.
Barb Kaiser
These look very delicious!!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Barb!!
Rachel Laffoon
This was amazing! My whole family loved it and we didn’t have any leftovers. I served it over rice with roasted Brussels sprouts on the side. Thanks for the great recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! I am so glad that you liked them. The pleasure was all mine.
Kim
I have a package of 3 lbs of ground turkey. For the meatball ingredients what would I change the amounts to? I’m going to freeze a bunch so I have for later and just need the sauce.
Thanks!
Kim
Beth Pierce
I think I would just double the ingredients with adding maybe a little more breadcrumbs and spices.
A Brown
The family liked this. I doubled the sauce and upped the amounts of spices. I served it with egg noodles.
Beth Pierce
Awesome! So glad that the family liked it. I like a lot of sauce too but I try to find a happy medium for all the readers. It is nice for everyone to adapt the recipes to their taste and I try to encourage that. I love the Amish egg noodles. They are so good!