Turkey Meatballs in Dijon Gravy | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2024)

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Tangy, creamy, and lightened up just enough–Turkey Meatballs in Dijon gravy is the ultimate comfort food. Serve with egg noodles or mashed potatoes to soak up that heavenly sauce.

Turkey Meatballs in Dijon Gravy | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (1)

My husband loves meatballs. Whenever I ask if he has any requests for our weekly menu, he’ll either say meatballs or tacos. Every time.

That means I have to get creative. Even though I love traditional meatballs and my Chicken Parmesanversion, I still need some variety.

This recipe is a perfect way to change up your spaghetti and meatballs night. The tangy, creamy sauce is just unique enough to add some zip to your weekly routine, but it’s definitely kid-friendly and easy enough to make often.

And the combos are limitless! Serve it with some Lightened-Up Mashed Potatoes. I also love it with Carb Nada Egg Fettuccine to keep the points lower (it’s 4 SmartPoints a serving). I buy the pasta on Amazon here. Whole wheat pasta also works great with this and will lower the points if you are on WW Purple.

Turkey Meatballs in Dijon Gravy | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2)

These Turkey Meatballs in Dijon Gravy are kind of like a kicked-up version of Swedish meatballs but with more tang and complexity. The combination of dijon mustard, creamy sauce, and perfectly seasoned meatball is just heavenly!

You could even mix up the mustard types for different tastes and texture–whole grain, spicy, horseradish, etc. I’ve also added mushrooms to make it feel more like a stroganoff.

This is great with some steamed veggies on the side, but you could even add some chopped spinach to the sauce for some more greens.

I love these for meal prep, too. Make a double batch on the weekend and eat all week for a quick and healthy lunch. You’ll definitely look forward to your meals!

Turkey Meatballs in Dijon Gravy | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (3)

how to make flavorful turkey meatballs

f you’ve tried to make meatballs with 99% fat free ground turkey before and they came out too dry, definitely give this version a shot.

I’ve found that super finely chopped onion and garlic adds just the right amount of moisture, not to mention simmering in this decadent sauce.

You have to make sure that they are seasoned well, too. This blend works perfectly for a variety of meatballs. And it t doesn’t hurt to simmer them in a decadent sauce. This cream sauce is to die for!

If creamy sauces aren’t your thing, give my Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs a shot. Just as delicious but totally different flavor profile.

Turkey Meatballs in Dijon Gravy | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (4)

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you make it, be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook (@litecravings) and use the hashtag #litecravingsrecipes. I sometimes miss a tag here or there, but I always check in on the hashtag. 🙂

Print Recipe

5 from 14 votes

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Servings: 6

Calories: 198kcal

Ingredients

FOR THE MEATBALLS

  • 1.25 lbs 99% fat free ground turkey
  • 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1 small onion chopped as finely as possible, preferably in a food processor
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped as finely as possible, preferably in a food processor
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped (or 2 tsps dried)
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground all spice
  • 1 large egg

FOR THE DIJON GRAVY

  • 2 Tbsp light butter (I use Land ‘O Lakes)
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups fat free chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1/4 cup dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix together all of the meatball ingredients until fully combined. I find the meatballs have the best texture if you use a handheld food chopper or food processor to mince the onion and garlic as finely as possible. You can knead the mixture with your hands until just combined, or mix it in a stand mixture with a paddle attachment.

  • Form balls with the meat, one heaping tablespoon at a time. Drop them onto a cookie sheet as you form them. You should be able to make about 24 balls. If your meatballs seem too soft to keep their shape in a pan, place your cookie sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes.

  • Heat nonstick spray in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides until they are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove meatballsfrom the saucepan and set aside. Make sure you save all of those delicious browned bits sticking to the bottom!

  • Melt the butter in the skillet. Whisk in the flour and cook for a minute. Pour in the broth, whisking constantly, until everything is incorporated. Simmer until thickened and glossy, about 10 minutes. Add in the milk, mustard, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thick and creamy, about another 5 minutes.

  • Place the meatballs in the sauce and cook until they are heated through, just a few minutes. Serve over pasta or with mashed potatoes.

Notes

Click hereto log your WW Points (if you are logged in to your WW app, it should calculate for you automatically). Serving size is 4 meatballs and about 1/3 cup sauce for 3 Points

WW Green SmartPoints: 4 for 4 meatballs and 1/3 cup sauce

WW Blue SmartPoints: 3 for 4 meatballs and about 1/3 cup sauce

WW Purple SmartPoints: 3 for 4 meatballs and about 1/3 cup sauce

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 792mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

Turkey Meatballs in Dijon Gravy | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep turkey meatballs from falling apart? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

Why are my turkey meatballs tough? ›

Overworking the mixture will result in tough meatballs, so use your hands to mix in the meat and stop when it's just combined. Simmer the meatballs gently in the sauce. These are delicate meatballs, so you'll want to treat them that way. When adding them to the sauce, make sure the sauce is just gently simmering.

Why are turkey meatballs good for you? ›

Leaner than beef, turkey meatballs are healthier, packed with protein and flavor, and very moist. Turkey also provides a number of vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, and niacin, essential for the body's energy production.

What is the secret to firm meatballs? ›

Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked. Parmesan: My secret ingredient for the best meatballs! Parmigiano-Reggiano adds flavor and salt to our mixture.

Is it better to fry or bake meatballs? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

Is it okay to eat turkey every day? ›

Protein is a macronutrient, which means that your body needs a lot of it. Your body can't store protein, so you need to consume it every day. As long as you don't eat too much turkey, it is a healthy way to get the protein you need. It's also a good source of beneficial vitamins and minerals like magnesium and niacin.

Are turkey meatballs healthier than beef? ›

If you're eating for a healthy heart, lean ground turkey—which is lower in saturated fat—is the better pick for you. Of course, you can still enjoy ground beef from time to time, but choosing lean ground turkey more often will help your heart in the long run.

Is turkey good for high blood pressure? ›

In general, those foods include those high in fat, salt and calories. So herewith, a sampling of the most blood-pressure-unfriendly foods to avoid over the Thanksgiving holiday. Red Meat: Stick to the turkey — the non-deep-fried turkey, that is — because a big 'ol steak registers high in fat, salt and calories.

How to make meatballs that stay together? ›

Here, we're soaking fresh or dried breadcrumbs in a little milk until the bread becomes soggy, then mixing that right into the meat. This binder (aka panade) helps add moisture to the meatballs and also prevents the meat proteins from shrinking and becoming tough.

Why won't my meatballs stay together? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

How do you keep ground turkey patties from falling apart? ›

Just half a beaten egg in the raw meat will work as a binder to hold it all together. Just be sure to mix it into the meat well before forming patties. Turkey burgers are really worth the extra effort. When they turn out well, they are a fantastic burger that stand alone as great BBQ food.

How do you hold ground turkey together? ›

Add a spoonful of mayonnaise.

Most recipes use egg to bind ground turkey, helping the meat to form into cohesive, juicy patties.

References

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