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Easy Crockpot Turkey Meatballs in Marinara

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A reliable, slow-cooker recipe for tender turkey meatballs in marinara sauce that requires minimal prep time and delivers comfort food flavor without the fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground turkey (93% or 99% lean)
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (Panko or Italian)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, fresh minced
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced or grated
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 cups marinara sauce (low sugar)
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Olive oil (for browning, optional)

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes to form a paste (panade).
  2. Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic and parsley.
  3. Add ground turkey, milk-soaked breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning to the bowl.
  4. Mix gently with hands until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Roll mixture into 1.5-inch diameter balls (yields 20-24 meatballs).
  6. Optional: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides for 2-3 minutes per batch.
  7. Pour half of the marinara sauce into the bottom of a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
  8. Place meatballs in the slow cooker in a single layer (or two layers if necessary).
  9. Pour remaining sauce over the meatballs.
  10. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  11. Serve over spaghetti, zucchini noodles, or crusty bread.

Notes

Do not overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs. If the sauce is too thick after cooking, add a splash of chicken broth or water. For best results, cook on LOW rather than HIGH to prevent drying out the lean turkey. Meatballs can be frozen separately from sauce for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot turkey meatballs, slow cooker dinner, easy weeknight meals, healthy turkey meatballs, meal prep recipes, gluten-free options

Find it online: https://mandydishes.com/easy-crockpot-turkey-meatballs-in-marinara-30-minute-dinner/