Easy Turkey Meatballs Pumpkin Sage (Printable)

Tender turkey meatballs gently simmered in a rich pumpkin sage sauce, ideal for cozy meals.

# What You Need:

→ Turkey Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 large egg
03 - ½ cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free optional)
04 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried)
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp black pepper
09 - 2 tbsp milk

→ Pumpkin Sage Sauce

10 - 1 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
12 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1¾ cups pumpkin purée (canned or fresh)
14 - 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
15 - ½ cup heavy cream
16 - 1½ tsp fresh sage, finely chopped (or ½ tsp dried)
17 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste
19 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, minced garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and milk. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Shape the mixture into 16 to 18 small meatballs and arrange them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden and fully cooked through.
05 - While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened, then stir in garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
06 - Add pumpkin purée, broth, heavy cream, sage, nutmeg, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer. Let cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
07 - Stir grated Parmesan into the sauce, then taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Add the baked meatballs to the sauce and simmer together for 2 to 3 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
09 - Serve hot, optionally garnished with extra fresh sage or Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Easy comforting dish
  • Perfect for fall or cozy evenings
02 -
  • Contains eggs milk (Parmesan cream) and gluten (breadcrumbs)
  • Use gluten-free breadcrumbs for gluten-free version
03 -
  • Do not overwork meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender
  • Simmer sauce gently to develop rich flavors
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