Healthier BBQ Turkey Meatballs for National Meatball Day

National Meatball Day falls during National Nutrition Month, which makes it a good excuse to make a batch the healthier way. Traditional meatballs can run heavy on fat, salt, and sugar — this version, built around ground turkey and a sugar-free BBQ sauce, is high in protein and full of flavor without those trade-offs, and it works just as well in spaghetti, at a party, or as sandwich leftovers the next day.

Favorite BBQ Turkey Meatballs

Meatball Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 slice whole-wheat bread, made into crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp shoyu (soy) sauce
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 6 oz tomato paste
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp Truvia or Stevia

Sauce Instructions: Sauté the onion and garlic in coconut oil, then add the remaining sauce ingredients and simmer until thickened. The flavor improves if you make the sauce at least a day ahead and let it sit.

Serving Suggestions: Keep the meatballs warm in a slow cooker, pile them on a sandwich, or serve over spaghetti squash pasta for a particularly good combination.

Freeze-Drying the Meatballs

Arrange whole or halved meatballs on the trays and run a standard freeze-drying cycle, adding extra dry time if needed. Store the finished meatballs in an airtight container. To rehydrate, warm them slowly with hot water, covered in a dish or in the microwave, until the water is fully absorbed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes these meatballs healthier than a traditional recipe?
They're built on lean ground turkey and a sugar-free BBQ sauce sweetened with Truvia or Stevia instead of sugar, which keeps them high in protein without the extra fat, salt, and sugar a traditional recipe often carries.

How do you freeze-dry meatballs?
Arrange them whole or halved on the trays, run a standard cycle (with extra dry time if needed), and store in an airtight container once fully dry.

How do you rehydrate freeze-dried meatballs?
Warm them slowly with hot water, either covered in a dish or in the microwave, until the water is fully absorbed.

What's a good way to serve these meatballs?
They work well over spaghetti squash pasta, piled on a sandwich, or kept warm in a slow cooker for a party.