Juicy Baked Turkey-Ricotta Meatballs Recipe

These cheesy, light as a feather, juicy ricotta meatballs are gluten free and bake in the oven. Serve them with your favorite marinara sauce on their own or over pasta, grains, cauliflower rice or more!

There’s nothing better than biting into a juicy, cheesy, flavorful meatball! And here’s the secret ingredient: flax meal—which helps create that tender, juicy texture you crave. The problem is, oftentimes meatballs come out tough. Or they seem tough to make! I promise you there’s a better way.

These juicy ricotta turkey meatballs are naturally gluten-free because we use flax meal in lieu of breadcrumbs as the binder in this recipe. The meatballs are great served on their own in marinara sauce or over top of mashed or riced cauliflower for a gluten-free, low-carb meal. They’re also a perfect complement to pasta, couscous, or any other grain you have on hand!

I love that these meatballs are oven-baked because you a) aren’t committed to standing over the stove to brown them, and b) you can actually — legitimately! — relax while they bake. We love a hands-free cooking moment.

Why use ricotta in meatballs?

Now, let’s talk about why ricotta cheese is the star of the show here. The generous amount of ricotta cheese adds an incredible creaminess to these juicy turkey meatballs, making them light as air. The texture is fluffy, and they stay tender while baking — none of that tough, rubbery bite that can sometimes plague meatballs made with ground beef. It’s the perfect ingredient to balance out the lean turkey, keeping things moist and flavorful.

Ricotta also plays well with the turkey, which can sometimes be a bit drier on its own. The ricotta makes these meatballs so juicy, you’ll wonder why you haven’t used it before! If you’re on the hunt for the best meatballs that won’t dry out, then this recipe is a must-try.

Ingredients you’ll need for Ricotta Turkey Meatballs:

Here’s what you’ll need to make these turkey ricotta meatballs:

• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup flax meal (this is your gluten-free binder, but you can swap it with panko breadcrumbs if you prefer)
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 lb ground turkey (lean ground turkey works best)
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce (I’m a huge fan of Rao’s!)
• Optional for serving: Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves/ fresh parsley

Here’s how you’ll make these Juicy Ricotta Turkey Meatballs:

1. Preheat your oven to 400º.
2. Cook diced onions and garlic on the stove to soften then take off heat to cool.

3. Mix together ricotta, egg, flax meal, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper before adding in cooled onions & minced garlic.

4. Gently add in ground turkey to combine.

5. Scoop out the mixture and form meatballs, placing on an aluminum foil lined and greased prepared baking sheet.

6. Bake all meatballs in preheated oven for 20 mins.

7. Heat sauce stovetop then transfer meatballs to simmering sauce before serving!

The key to light and pillowy meatballs is to AVOID OVERMIXING when you’re combining all of your ingredients together! You can do so by mixing everything *except* the meat first, then gently folding/mashing in your ground turkey last.

Storing + reheating

Got leftovers? These meatballs keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. For the best results, let them come to room temperature before reheating. To reheat, simply pop them in the microwave or warm them in a pot with your favorite sauce. They’ll taste just as juicy as the first time!

What can I serve these Juicy Ricotta Turkey Meatballs with to keep the ingredients gluten-free?

• On their own in sauce, with a big side salad
• Over mashed cauliflower
• Over riced cauliflower
• Over quinoa
• Over chickpea pasta (I love Banza brand)
• Over brown rice

I hope you love these light-as-air meatballs! If you make them, a rating/review is SO appreciated! Thank you fam!

Looking for other meatball recipes? Check these out:

• Whole30 Chicken Piccata Meatballs
• Lightened Up Swedish Meatballs
• Coconut Red Curry Chicken Meatballs
• Feta-Stuffed Greek Meatballs
• Baked Asian Glazed Meatballs
• Skinny Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Greek Ranch Dip

Savvy tips for Perfect Meatballs

Making juicy meatballs is all about the right balance of ingredients and handling them carefully:

Looking for other meatball recipes? Check these out:

• Whole30 Chicken Piccata Meatballs
• Lightened Up Swedish Meatballs
• Coconut Red Curry Chicken Meatballs
• Feta-Stuffed Greek Meatballs
• Baked Asian Glazed Meatballs
• Skinny Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Greek Ranch Dip

FAQs

These turkey ricotta meatballs are the perfect balance of juicy, cheesy, and satisfying. Just bake, simmer, and enjoy. I hope these meatballs become one of your favorite recipes — I know they’ve become one of mine!

Let me know what you think if you try them, and don’t forget to leave a rating or review. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy this comforting dish!

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