For More Flavorful Turkey Meatballs, Reach For One Ingredient

When cooking meatballs, most recipes call for beef, pork, or a mixture of the two since meats that are higher in fat naturally lead to more tender and moist product. But if you prefer leaner meats or avoid eating red meat in general, all hope isn't lost to create super tender chicken or turkey versions of the classic dish. The secret lies in one essential addition: pesto.

For many of us at home, when we're looking to make a healthier swap, we'll tackle the rest of the recipe exactly as written. Unfortunately, swapping chicken for pork or turkey for beef and adding the usual binding ingredients like eggs, milk, or stock will lead to incredibly dry meatballs. Without the fat of richer meats, you'll need a little more liquid, a little more binding power, and a little more flavor. 

To overcome all three obstacles, home cooks and recipe developers have turned to saucy, oily, herbaceous basil pesto. Whether store-bought or homemade, pesto's loose consistency incorporates a touch of liquid, while its oil adds back a bit of fat. Meanwhile, its sharp pine nut, garlic, and parmesan flavors bring the piquancy that turkey or chicken meatballs need. See for yourself if pesto might turn you into a lean protein meatball enthusiast.

To a certain extent, how much pesto you add to your meatball mixture is a matter of taste. At least 3 tablespoons are needed as a helpful binding agent, but your mixture can incorporate as much as a cup of pesto for one pound of ground turkey. If possible, look for dark turkey meat at the grocery store for an even richer flavor. Once you've stirred up your mixture, you can cook your turkey or chicken meatballs as you would normally. They can be pan-fried, baked, or sautéed, though another bonus of lean-meat meatballs is that they need less time to cook. Unlike all-beef meatballs, however, you do need to keep a more careful eye on them while they cook.

If you're baking your turkey meatballs in the oven, consider adding a few more of your favorite veggies, like zucchini and broccoli, to the pan. Then give the entire dish an extra drizzle of pesto before serving for a delicious, nutritious one-pan meal. If you're sautéing your turkey-pesto meatballs, incorporate an extra serving of sauce and dish up your meatballs over your favorite pasta shape. Of course, pesto could also complement tomato-rich marinara sauce, so feel free to serve your pesto meatballs with the classic tomato sauce staple. Pesto turkey meatballs are also the perfect anchor for a hearty soup or as a flavorful protein hit in a beans and greens salad. The pesto meatball possibilities are seriously endless.