This Lightened-Up Turkey Swedish Meatballs Recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or party appetizer! Homemade turkey meatballs smothered in a light, yet very delicious gravy sauce.
EASY SWEDISH TURKEY MEATBALLS
Just the way I like meatballs ~ humble, rustic, and vibrant!
Hi Hey Hello! Happy Sunday, my internet BFFs! I hope you are enjoying this day with your feet up on the couch, your blanket around your shoulders, and the TV remote in YOUR hands.
I’ve told you on many-ah-occasions that Sundays are my favorite. I love them… but I hate them after about 6 pm, around that moment when I realize all-the-things that gotta get done before Monday arrives. AND that I have to get up early in about 12 hours. Blah.
But, I gotta say, and I’m about to repeat myself for the umpteenth time this week, however, I am really, really looking forward to tomorrow’s Monday. You know why? BECAUSE, Punta Cana here I come!
P.S. I hate flying. ✈
P.P.S. I love the beach.
In addition to finishing up with packing, I’m also stuffing my hungry face with these meatballs. Lucky girl, I know.
P.P.P.S. Like a little kid, I still giggle at the word “meatballs”.
What Makes These Lightened-Up Turkey Meatballs So Good?
So, Lightened-Up Turkey Swedish Meatballs is one of those recipe names where you read it and say, mmmmmm! sounds… good? ….and. what is it? Let me tell you about my version of Swedish Meatballs. Ahem.
For one, it’s kind of, sort of, nothing like Swedish Meatballs, LOL!, BUT they’re Swedish because of the gravy sauce. Which is also not *just* like the gravy sauce that Swedish Meatballs are supposed to be swimming in. LOL again! (I really AM laughing. ) BUT BUT BUT. Sometimes, when you want to eat better, healthier, lighter, you gotta take good ol’ classics and give ’em a facelift. And that’s what I’m here for.
Though truthfully, honestly, fo’ realz, I just love this so super easy meatball recipe like a hundred-times better than any other. Mainly for the gravy.
I also took my favorite turkey meatballs recipe, modified it a bit, and smothered them in said gravy, which is flavored with dijon mustard. *drools*
Don’t knock it until you try it. It’s awesome.
Get your face right in there. YUM!
ENJOY!
CRAVING MORE? SIGN UP FOR THE DIETHOOD NEWSLETTER FOR FRESH NEW RECIPES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!
FOLLOW DIETHOOD ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM FOR ALL OF THE LATEST CONTENT, RECIPES AND UPDATES.
Lightened-Up (Turkey) Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1- pound ground turkey
- 1/2- cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1 egg , lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper , or to taste
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese , divided
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2-1/4 cups low-sodium fat-free chicken broth
- salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Place a wire rack over a baking sheet; grease with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, fresh ground pepper, garlic and oregano.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix until well combined and thoroughly incorporated.
- Shape mixture into 2-inch balls and place on previously prepared baking sheet. You may have to do this in batches, depending on the size of your baking sheet.
- Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a nonstick frying pan.
- Add 1 tablespoon cream cheese to heated oil; gently stir it around until the cream cheese melts.
- Whisk in remaining cream cheese, mustard and worcestershire sauce.
- Add flour and continue to whisk for about 3 minutes, or until the roux becomes a golden brown color.
- Slowly add the chicken broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
- Continue to cook over low heat for 10 minutes, or until the gravy thickens.
- Remove meatballs from oven and add them to the gravy; continue to cook for about 1 minute, spooning the gravy sauce over the meatballs.
- Remove from heat.
- Garnish with parsley.
- Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Categories:
SIMILAR RECIPES:
My family liked this, but I’ll reduce the cayenne next time by half. Thanks for a tasty dinner recipe!
I’m very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I’ve made this recipe a couple of times without changing any parts of the recipe. It’s the best gravy I have ever had and the meatballs are scrumptious! It’s definitely a new favourite of mine and my family’s. Thank you for sharing!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I just meal prepped this for the entire week and it’s one of the most delicious recipes I’ve ever tried. The meatballs are super flavorful by themselves and the sauce is creamy and exploding with flavor. Thanks for sharing.
Made the gravy with some ready-made turkey meatballs and it was so good! Wasn’t sure what the end result would be but I’m happy I gave it a try. Will definitely make again with homemade meatballs!
This was delicious! Not exactly what I was expecting, and not quite Swedish meatballs, but I loved the taste of the gravy, and the spices in the meatballs added a nice depth of flavor. It was nice to have a gravy without milk or heavy cream. Thanks for sharing, I will definitely be making again!
I see the nutritional information. What is the number of servings though?
I love turkey meatballs! I don’t eat a lot of red meat. Yum, now I’m hungry.
As I watch the snow coming down outside, I’m jealous of your trip to warmer climes.
Love the meatballs. I was going to grind up half of this year’s Thanksgiving turkey (dark and white meat) and make meatballs but I went in another direction. Now I want to go to the city market and pick up some ground meat and make these. They look delicious. 🙂
Oh what a great idea! That would be one awesome recipe for turkey leftovers!! I didn’t even think of that! *making note for next year*
I hope you’re enjoying the weekend!! xo
I was actually going to cut the raw turkey in half and use the meat from half for the meatballs while roasting the other half for a more traditional turkey dinner. I’ve never made meatballs from ground, cooked meat.