A simple and flavorful meatball, these Turkey Kale Meatballs are protein packed and also include some greens!
Meat-a-balls. I always feel the need to say that when I have meatballs. Hope everyone had a good weekend! The weather was amazing in Austin, low 80s and sun every day, which made the weekend even better. It involved more drinking than normal, but when it’s beautiful out and friends have BBQs with drinking games, you go with the flow.
Being at our friends house with a grill made me want to get Michael a grill really bad. I told him I would get him one for Christmas, but he could pick it out. Well we never got around to picking one out (bad gf alert), but now since it is starting to feel like summer here already I am going to make him pick one out this week. I am going to go into grill everything mode. And it will make meal prep so easy on Sunday.
These meatballs are super easy to make, hello one bowl, and healthy to boot. Lean ground turkey make up the base, while I added some kale and cheese to make them feel more well rounded. Kale is a nutritional power house, ranking as one of the highest vegetables that helps prevent cell-damaging free radicals. It is loaded with calcium, iron, and vitamins A, C, and K. The Pecorino Romano adds a nice nutty and saltiness, but doesn’t get too melted into the meatballs as they cook. Did you know Pecorino Romano is from sheep’s milk? Well now you do.
Sheep (and goats) are less likely to be factored farmed so their milk (and cheese) may contain a lot less antibiotics and drugs. Since adding dairy back into my diet after giving it up for almost 2 years, it is important for me to understand where my food is coming from. I choose to eat cheese in moderation from grass fed cows, sheep, or goats. The cheese used in this recipe was from raw sheep’s milk and a product of Italy (the standards in foreign countries seem to be a lot higher for raising animals). You can purchase it at Trader Joe’s for a reasonable price.
The meatballs are seriously packed with protein (34 grams per serving!) and have some healthy fats to keep you full. We have thrown them over some zucchini noodles with a red sauce, I have them with salad, and also just eaten them straight up cold out of the fridge when I am hungry. When we had them for dinner for the first time Michael said they could be my best meal yet. Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing?? Have my other meals just been mediocre and then these were amazing? Or were these just that good. I am going with these are just that good haha.
Turkey Kale Meatballs
ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 cups packed chopped kale (50 grams)
- 2 ounces freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (56 grams)
- 1/8 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
instructions
- Place a large, well seasoned cast iron skillet over medium heat to warm.
- Add ground turkey and chopped kale to a bowl and thoroughly combine (using your hands works best).
- Add egg and mix to combine.
- Add cheese and mix to combine.
- Add parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and make sure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Using a tablespoon, take a heaping scoop of the turkey mixture and form into balls.
- Distribute evenly in cast iron skillet and cook for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides and no pink remains.
- Serve and enjoy!
notes
nutrition
What is your favorite way to pack in the protein easily?
Amanda says
Delicious and healthy! I liked the other reviewers’ suggestion and paired them with cauliflower rice for some tasty meal prep lunches!
Kelly says
Happy to hear you liked them Amanda, thanks for trying them!
Jen says
I’ve made these many times and we love them! Perfect with some garlic-Parmesan cauliflower rice, or with a red sauce over pasta! I always make a double batch so we can have leftovers. Thanks for sharing this recipe!!
Kelly says
Oh, that cauliflower rice sounds so good! Glad you enjoy them Jen and love the idea of making a double batch. Thank you for trying them!
Kate Bergstrom says
I love these Meatballs!! Is there any particular sauce you recommend on the side?
-#theinsufficientchef
Kelly says
Thanks Kate! I love a good red sauce with these with a litle parmesan on top!
Teresa says
Super annoyed because this recipe ruined my family dinner tonight. Not only did they fall apart but the instructions were just dumb. Form the meatballs with hot turkey and hot kale you just sautéed? That’s bright. Thanks for the burns and the crappy recipe.
Kelly says
Hi Teresa, I’m sorry to hear that. I think you may have read the recipe wrong. It isn’t written the best (it’s one of my first ones from 2015), but you add ground turkey and chopped kale to a bowl, not the skillet. The skillet just heats up while you mix all the ingredients in the bowl to form the meatballs. Then you cook them in the pan. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Greg H says
Teresa that sounds terrible, but I think you misread the recipe. Also, and I almost wasn’t going to acknowledge this, even if you HAD read the recipe correctly, human beings shouldn’t talk to other human beings the way your comment was phrased.
We are all just trying to make it and in this world we live in, we should be as kind to each other as humanly possible.
Also, planning to make this tonight using fake ground meat, can’t wait!
Kelly says
Thanks Greg, hope they turned out!
Anji says
Hi, could you help me understand the nutrition facts? It reads to me that every 4 grams is 202 calories? I’m new to calorie counting and please correct me if I’m wrong but that seems really high to me. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe tonight!
Kelly says
Hi Anji! Sorry about that – the software that I use to have the labels sometimes messes up the serving size. The serving size is 1/4 of however many meatballs you get. I usually get about 20 meatballs, so the serving size would be 5. Hope that helps!
hannah says
theses turkey kale meatballs were a 10 out of 10! I love them, will definitely be making this again.
Kelly says
Yay! So happy to hear that Hannah – thanks for trying them out!
Kaileigh says
These meatballs were delicious!! I give them ***** I do not think they need to cook for 20-25 min. I took them off at about 15 min and they were perfect! Also make sure you do not use ground turkey breast ! You need the mix of dark. Loved them will be making again !
Kelly says
Yay! So glad you liked these Kaileigh! I haven’t made them in so long and need to change that! Thanks for trying them!