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    Home » Type » Main Courses » Turkey

    Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce

    Published: Dec 10, 2018 · Modified: Jan 19, 2022 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This recipe for Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce is basically a meatball gratin. Aromatic with garlic and rosemary, these cheesy turkey meatballs are smothered in a cream sauce, topped with cheese, and baked.

    Bowl of Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce on Metal Tray

    I always seem to have a pack of ground turkey tucked away in my freezer. It’s delicious and very versatile, but for some reason, ground turkey is something that’s not frequently on my radar to make! I think these Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce will change that.

    I recently spotted a package of ground turkey in my freezer that had been stashed there a while ago, and decided it was high time to put it to good use. The idea of turkey burgers came to mind, but with the weather turning a little cooler (even here in Florida!), I thought meatballs served with a creamy would be a good option for a heartier meal.

    This recipe couldn’t be any easier to make. I made really easy cheesy turkey meatballs, and then a super simple cream sauce. I drenched the meatballs in the cream sauce, topped them with even more cheese, and baked. The end result is basically what I’d consider a meatball gratin. I used slightly piney flavor of rosemary paired with Parmesan cheese and garlic and onion sautéed in butter to flavor these cheesy turkey meatballs. The cream sauce adds flavor and makes this easy weeknight meal seem completely luscious!

    Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce in Casserole Dish

    How to Make Homemade Turkey Meatballs

    Turkey meatballs are very easy to make; the ingredients and method for turkey meatballs are similar to beef meatballs. Meatloaf and meatballs are usually a budget-friendly meal, and a good way to stretch a dollar because they both typically contain breadcrumbs mixed in with the meat. However, to keep these Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce as low in carbs as possible, I omitted the breadcrumbs. Instead, I used egg white and Parmesan cheese to bind the meatballs; as a result, they’re packed with both flavor and nutrition.

    To make homemade turkey meatballs, simply mix together all ingredients (clean hands work best here), and make sure not to over-mix the meat mixture. Roll the mixture into meatballs, and then cook them! You can fry meatballs in a skillet on the stovetop, bake them in the oven, or simmer them in tomato sauce. Here I half-baked them in the oven, and then drenched them in a flavorful cheese sauce and returned them to the oven to finish cooking.

    How to Cook Turkey Meatballs in the Oven

    To cook turkey meatballs in the oven, preheat the oven to 400F. Drizzle a bit of oil (such as avocado oil or melted ghee) on a baking sheet. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, and bake until fully cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes at 400F.

    White Bowl of Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce with 2 Forks

    What Kind of Sauce to Put on Turkey Meatballs

    Depending on what seasonings I add to the meatballs, I use a different sauce for the outside. Here are a few of my favorite flavor combinations:

    • Tomato Sauce: Goes well with a basic turkey meatball, or meatballs seasoned with garlic and Italian seasoning.
    • Salsa: Great with taco-spiced turkey meatballs.
    • Honey Garlic Sauce, Sweet and Sour Sauce, or Teriyaki Sauce: There are store-bought sweet and sour sauces available, but you can easily make your own with jam, vinegar, and a few other pantry staples. Teriyaki sauce and honey garlic sauce are also both easy to find at the grocery store or to make at home. I find that these types of sauces go well with meatballs that are seasoned with garlic and ginger.
    • Creamy Mushroom Sauce: This type of sauce is perfect for Swedish meatballs.
    • BBQ Sauce: Basic meatballs coated in BBQ sauce make a pretty fantastic appetizer.
    • Rosemary Cream Sauce: The sauce I whipped up for these Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs is similar to an Alfredo sauce, but even easier to make!

    What to Serve with These Low Carb Cheesy Rosemary Turkey Meatballs to Make it a Meal:

    • Zoodles
    • Cauliflower rice
    • Steamed broccoli
    • Sautéed Brussels sprouts
    • Roasted green beans

    Bowl of Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce on Wooden Background

    Ground Turkey Nutrition Information

    According to the National Nutrient Database, one (4 oz/113 g) serving of raw ground turkey has the following nutrition information:

    • 167kcals
    • 22g protein
    • 66g fat
    • 0g carbohydrates

    More Ground Turkey Recipes:

    • Turkey Taco Rice Salad Bowls with Creamy Tex-Mex Dressing from An Edible Mosaic
    • Ground Turkey Fried Rice from Show Me the Yummy
    • Ground Turkey Teriyaki Rice Bowl from Yellow Bliss Road
    • Spanakopita Turkey Burgers with Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce from An Edible Mosaic
    • Ground Turkey with Potatoes and Spring Peas from skinnytaste
    • Mango Turkey Sloppy Joe Salad Bowls from An Edible Mosaic

    Close Up of Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce in White Dish

    Bowl of Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce on Metal Tray

    Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce

    By: Faith Gorsky
    Aromatic with garlic and rosemary, these Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce are smothered in a cream sauce, topped with cheese, and baked.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5 people
    Calories 465 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for the baking sheet and baking dish
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 2 large cloves garlic minced
    • 1 lb ground turkey
    • 1 large egg white
    • 3 oz freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, divided about ¾ cup grated
    • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary plus a couple more sprigs
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 3 oz shredded sharp white cheddar about ¾ cup shredded; see Note

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400F; line a large baking sheet with a silpat liner or foil and lightly spray or brush it with oil.
    • Add the oil to a medium skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and garlic, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer half of the onion/garlic mixture to a large bowl and cool and leave the other half in the skillet.
    • To the large bowl with the cooled onion/garlic mixture, add the turkey, egg white, ⅓ of the Parmesan cheese (about ¼ cup), 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to combine, being careful not to over-mix. Roll the mixture into meatballs about 1 heaping tablespoon in size (I got about 16 to 18 meatballs). Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes at 400F (don’t eat them after this, they’re only half cooked; we’re going to gratin them).
    • Meanwhile, to the skillet with the remaining half of the onion/garlic mixture, add the cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in ⅔ of the cheddar (about ½ cup), and ⅓ of the Parmesan cheese (about ¼ cup) until smooth, and then remove from the heat.
    • Lightly spray the inside of a 9 by 9-inch (or close to it) baking dish with oil. Arrange the meatballs on the bottom, pour on the sauce, and top with the remaining cheeses (⅓ of the cheddar, which is about ¼ cup and ⅓ of the Parmesan, which is about ¼ cup). If you have a couple sprigs of rosemary, nestle them down into the sauce.
    • Bake at 400F for 10 minutes, and then broil a couple minutes to brown on top.
    • Serve with zucchini noodles, riced cauliflower, or anything you like.

    Faith's Tips

    Net Carbs: 4g per serving
    Sharp White Cheddar: For this recipe I like using Cabot White Oak Cheddar Cheese.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 465 Calories from Fat 315
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 35g54%
    Saturated Fat 18g113%
    Cholesterol 144mg48%
    Sodium 581mg25%
    Potassium 387mg11%
    Carbohydrates 4g1%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 33g66%
    Vitamin A 1025IU21%
    Vitamin C 2.3mg3%
    Calcium 365mg37%
    Iron 1.1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword cheesy turkey meatballs
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with Rosemary Cream Sauce with Description

    Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items. Thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Barbara Smith says

      March 18, 2023 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      Extremely delicious! Great recipe. Will make it again!

      Reply
    2. Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says

      December 10, 2018 at 6:40 am

      Love turkey meatballs! Thanks for the Ground Turkey Fried Rice love :) <3

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Best Pesto Recipe - Easy & Homemade - The Keto Queens says:
      May 31, 2019 at 3:01 am

      […] Rosemary Cream Sauce […]

      Reply
    2. Turkey Sausage Meatballs with Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce - The Keto Queens says:
      December 14, 2018 at 10:28 pm

      […] Low Carb Cheesy Turkey Meatballs with rosemary cream sauce […]

      Reply

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