These Crockpot Turkey Meatballs are tender, flavorful, and slow-simmered in a rich tomato sauce made with garlic, herbs, and crushed tomatoes. Perfect over pasta or veggies or served in sandwich rolls with melty mozzarella, they’re a comforting, family-friendly dinner that reheats beautifully for meal prep.
Crockpot Turkey Meatballs
These Crockpot Turkey Meatballs are tender, juicy, and simmered low and slow in a rich homemade tomato sauce for an easy, comforting dinner the whole family loves. Made with lean ground turkey, simple pantry ingredients, and a slow cooker, this is one of those set-it-and-forget-it meals that delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
Slow cooking allows the meatballs to stay incredibly moist while soaking up all the savory, herby goodness of the tomato sauce. Whether you’re serving them over pasta, tucking them into hoagie rolls, or spooning them over creamy polenta, these turkey meatballs are cozy, versatile, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Turkey Meatballs
- Hands-off cooking: Let the slow cooker do all the work!
- Tender and juicy: No dry turkey meatballs here!
- Family-friendly: Mild, comforting flavors everyone enjoys.
- Versatile: Serve with pasta, rice, subs, or veggies.
- Great for meal prep: Leftovers reheat beautifully
Tips & Variations for the Best Turkey Meatballs
- Don’t Overmix: Gently combine the meatball ingredients just until mixed. Overworking the mixture can make the meatballs dense instead of tender.
- Even Size: Roll meatballs into uniform sizes so they cook evenly and finish at the same time.
- Extra Flavor: Swap ½ pound of the ground turkey for sweet or mild Italian sausage for richer, more robust flavor.
- Gluten Free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers in place of regular breadcrumbs.
- Lean Turkey Tip: If using very lean ground turkey, the milk and breadcrumbs are essential for keeping the meatballs moist.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce or meatballs for a subtle kick of heat.
- Herb Swap: Swap the fresh parsley for fresh basil in the meatballs for a slightly sweeter, more aromatic flavor.
- Creamy Finish: Stir in a splash of heavy cream during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking for a richer, silkier sauce.
- Thicker Sauce: For a thicker sauce, crack the lid slightly during the last hour of cooking to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
What to Serve with Crockpot Turkey Meatballs
These meatballs pair perfectly with spaghetti, linguine, rigatoni or any kind of pasta, really. But they’re just as good over mashed potatoes, creamy polenta, or zucchini noodles. They also make an excellent filling for meatball subs with melted mozzarella.
These Crockpot Turkey Meatballs are also excellent for meal prep. Pair them with roasted spaghetti squash, sautéed spinach, zucchini noodles, steamed broccoli, or garlicky mushrooms for easy, balanced lunches throughout the week. The meatballs stay tender and flavorful as they reheat, and the sauce keeps everything moist, making them perfect for make-ahead meals that don’t feel dry or boring. Portion into individual containers and reheat gently for a quick, satisfying lunch or dinner.
More Meatball Recipes You'll Love
- Slow Cooker Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs - Tender meatballs filled with melty mozzarella and simmered in sauce for a cozy, slow-cooked dinner the whole family loves.
- Porcupine Meatballs - A nostalgic comfort food made with beef and rice meatballs baked in rich tomato sauce, just like grandma used to make.
- Authentic Swedish Meatballs - Classic Swedish meatballs simmered in a creamy, savory gravy and served over noodles or mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
- Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs - A hands-off slow cooker dinner with tender meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and spaghetti cooked right in the crockpot.
- Baked Cheddar Bacon Ranch Meatballs - Flavor-packed meatballs loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ranch seasoning, baked until golden and irresistible.
Crockpot Turkey Meatballs Video
Crockpot Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground turkey
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ small sweet onion finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes (28 ounces each)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (15 ounces)
- ½ small sweet onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons sugar (optional to cut the acid)
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Parmesan and fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix together using clean hands until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Roll meat mixture into 1-inch balls. Place meatballs directly into the base of your slow cooker. Set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, add all sauce ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Pour sauce over meatballs.
- Cover and cook on Low for 7-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours.
- Serve immediately topped with fresh chopped basil and grated Parmesan.
Notes
- While rolling meatballs, lightly wet your hands with cold water to prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands.
- Use a store-bought sauce instead of the homemade one to save some time.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer Directions: Prepare and cook meatballs in sauce. Allow to cool. Place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating on the stovetop.
Nutrition
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