Easy Turkey Meatballs Pumpkin Sage (Printer View)

Tender turkey meatballs cooked in a creamy pumpkin and aromatic sage sauce for a comforting meal.

# What you'll need:

→ Turkey Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 large egg
03 - ½ cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if desired)
04 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried)
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp black pepper
09 - 2 tbsp milk

→ Pumpkin Sage Sauce

10 - 1 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
12 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1¾ cups pumpkin purée (canned or homemade)
14 - 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
15 - ½ cup heavy cream
16 - 1½ tsp fresh sage, finely chopped (or ½ tsp dried)
17 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
18 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
19 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, mix ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and milk until just combined without overworking.
03 - Shape the mixture into 16 to 18 small meatballs and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden and fully cooked.
04 - While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion for 3 to 4 minutes until soft, then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
05 - Stir in pumpkin purée, broth, cream, sage, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
06 - Incorporate Parmesan cheese, adjusting seasoning to taste.
07 - Add baked meatballs to the sauce and simmer together for 2 to 3 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra sage or Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy to prepare
  • Rich and flavorful
02 -
  • Use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free
  • Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge
03 -
  • Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender
  • Simmer sauce gently to avoid curdling the cream
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