Easy Paleo Turkey Meatballs (No Egg, Whole30)

These paleo turkey meatballs are made without eggs and without breadcrumbs, but still have a moist, tender texture and hold together well. They are made with ground turkey, cassava flour, basil, garlic and ground spices, then coated in a citrus herb sauce. Furthermore, this turkey meatball recipe is paleo, gluten free and whole30 approved.

In the past, I wasn't a big fan of turkey, as it tends to be dry and tasteless. But wow! These paleo turkey meatballs are amazing!

They are tender and flavorful, not dry at all. Plus, they hold together well and cook easily even though they're made without breadcrumbs and without eggs.

These meatballs are cooked on the stovetop with a little avocado oil, then smothered in a citrus herb sauce.

In addition, this egg free turkey meatball recipe is paleo friendly, gluten free, dairy free and whole30 approved. They're really easy to make and a dinner recipe the whole family will love.

Ingredients in Paleo Turkey Meatballs

These meatballs are made with ground turkey and cooked in a paleo citrus herb sauce. Here's what you need for the meatballs and the sauce:

Turkey Meatballs

• ground turkey
• pressed garlic
• chopped basil
• cassava flour
• salt
• cumin
• paprika
• chili powder
• avocado oil (for cooking)

For texture purposes, I used cassava flour in this ground turkey meatball recipe. It acts as a binding agent and keeps the meatballs moist and tender, rather than dry. A gluten free flour blend would be the best replacement, but I have not tried any substitutions.

Meatball Sauce

• citrus herb marinade
• tapioca starch

I coated these paleo turkey meatballs in a citrus herb sauce from New Primal. It's paleo and whole30 approved, and my family and I love the flavor! However, feel free to swap this sauce for any other paleo friendly marinade of your choice. BBQ sauce, teriyaki sauce and buffalo sauce are all excellent options (and one's I've tried as well).

How to Make Paleo Turkey Meatballs

These whole30 turkey meatballs are cooked on the stovetop and ready in under 30 minutes. Here's how to make them:

1. Drizzle the avocado oil on a frying pan. (I used my 10.5" ceramic frying pan.) Set the heat to medium to preheat the pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine all meatball ingredients.  Mix with a spatula, then use your hands to combine the ingredients. The mixture is quite sticky!
3. Form the mixture into balls, about one tablespoon in size, making 20-22 meatballs.

4. Place the meatballs on the preheated frying pan.  Place a lid over the pan and cook on medium heat for 6 minutes. (Putting the lid on the pan helps to cook them through to the middle.)
5. Remove the lid, rotate the meatballs and continue cooking until they're browned on all sides.
6. In a small bowl, combine the citrus herb marinade and tapioca starch.  Once the meatballs are browned, pour the sauce over the meatballs and continue cooking on medium heat until the sauce thickens.
7. Cool slightly, then serve with your favorite sides.

Storage

Store any leftovers in a sealed, airtight container for up to 5 days. These whole30 turkey meatballs are great for meal prep and their flavor gets even better after a day or two.

What to Serve with Turkey Meatballs

These easy turkey meatballs can be served on a bed of cauliflower rice (or rice if you aren't strict paleo), with a side of fries, on top of a salad or with your favorite roasted veggies.

The meatballs in these photos were plated on a bed of spring mix salad, with a side of my favorite garlic parsnip fries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for the cassava flour?

A gluten free blend should work as a replacement for the cassava flour, but I have not tested anything. I originally tested this recipe with almond flour, and the meatballs turned out dry. Cassava flour adds so much to the texture, so I highly recommend using it if you can.

Do these turkey meatballs hold together?

Yes! The cassava flour acts as a binding agent and helps the meatballs keep their shape.

Can you bake these turkey meatballs in the oven?

Although I have not baked these turkey meatballs in the oven myself, they should turn out well cooked that way. I actually have a turkey burger recipe that's baked in the oven and they are amazing! If you try baking them, let me know how the recipe turns out in the comment section below.

Can I use a different sauce?

Yes! Just because I used a citrus herb sauce, doesn't mean you have to! Any paleo friendly sauce or marinade will work for this recipe. A few of my favorite alternatives include paleo teriyaki sauce, buffalo sauce and whole30 BBQ sauce.

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