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Last updated January 17, 2023

Asian Style Turkey Meatballs (Paleo, Dairy Free, Gluten-free)

These baked Asian-style turkey meatballs are dairy-free, gluten free and Paleo diet compatible. Oven baked and quick and easy to make they are perfect as an appetizer or can be added to steamed vegetables or cauliflower rice to complete a healthy paleo mid week meal. Drizzled with a home-made zingy and slightly sweet sesame and ginger sauce, and topped with sesame seeds and green onion slivers, they are super tasty and will quickly become a go-to recipe for your quick clean healthy protein fix.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

We love this recipe because it is so quick and easy to make! In less than 5 minutes we can roll the meatballs and put them in the oven to bake and whilst they are cooking it takes only another couple of minutes to mix up the sauce! We sometimes eat them on their own, but to complete a simple and easy mid-week meal we often steam some broccoli florets and some cauliflower rice to add some carbohydrates and complete the meal. Perfect for meal preparation ahead of time we often put portioned turkey meatball meal packs into the fridge to have them readily available for a healthy lunch option when we are short for time.

Key Ingredients

Turkey Mince – Purchase the best quality turkey mince that you can afford, preferably free range and organic if possible. Turkey mince is readily available, high in protein and low in fat so it is a good choice for those looking for a lean source of protein. It is a good source of B vitamins and rich in minerals selenium, zinc, phosphorus and iron.

Coconut Aminos – Coconut aminos is a dark-colored sauce that tastes similar to soy sauce. Instead of being made from soy, however, coconut aminos comes from the sap of the coconut plant — not coconuts. After extraction, the sap gets stored and ages. During this time, it ferments due to the natural sugars present within it. The final result tastes savory and not at all like coconut. We always have a bottle of this on hand in our pantry for a soy-free, gluten free soy sauce substitute.

Sesame Oil – A popular cooking oil used in Chinese, Japanese, and Middle Eastern cuisines, sesame oil is made from raw or toasted sesame seeds. Sesame oil is believed to have some important health benefits, like providing heart-healthy fats, combating inflammation, and protecting skin from sun damage.

How To Make Baked Turkey Meatballs

  1. Set the oven to preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Make the paleo turkey meatballs by using a large mixing bowl to combine the fresh ground turkey meat, beaten egg, garlic, onion, coconut aminos, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  3. Use a large spoon to equally portion each turkey meatball and roll them in your hand to make a ball of around 1.5 inches in diameter, about the size of a golf ball.
  4. Oil a baking tray or mini muffin tin and place the meatballs evenly spaced onto the tray. Then bake for 10 minutes in preheated oven. After 10 minutes, remove the meatballs and turn each one over and then return them to the oven to bake for another 5 minutes or until they are cooked through and evenly browned on all sides.
  5. Carefully remove the hot meatballs from the pan onto a paper towel-lined plate to help soak up any extra grease from baking.
  6. While the meatballs are cooling make your sesame ginger sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients well in a small mixing bowl.  Pour the sauce over the meatballs and enjoy!
  7. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or even freezer for later!

Tips and Variations

If you’re entertaining a crowd, these easy healthy meatballs are an awesome appetizer idea if you need something to fill up a large party platter. Make the meatballs and place them on a large platter along with a bowl of the sauce and your guests will quickly devour them! Make sure you make a lot because they will not last long!

To create a more wholesome and filling family meal, our latest creation is as follows: Stir the paleo turkey meatballs, cauliflower rice, and broccoli together in a large skillet and add in red bell pepper pieces, diced mushrooms, and a doubled recipe of the sesame ginger sauce for an awesome sesame ginger paleo turkey meatball stir fry skillet. Here’s a quick phone photo from last time we cooked it, not Insta-worthy photography but hey, you get the idea!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this recipe Whole-30 and keto diet friendly?

Yes, by removing the sweetener, maple syrup or honey, in the sauce this recipe conforms to the Whole-30 diet and these Asian-style meatballs will also be suitable for someone that is following the keto diet.

Can I use other types of ground meat?

Yes, you can easily substitute the ground turkey for ground chicken if you prefer. It will still taste just as good! Ground pork or beef could be used in a pinch but the flavors are less suited for these types of meat.

Storage, Freezing and Reheating Instructions.

  • Store any left-over or meal preparation meatballs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can either store with the sauce already added or store the sauce separately and add as required after reheating.
  • Freeze cooled meatballs with added sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months, you can even freeze with steamed broccoli and cauliflower rice in individual proportions for a quick reheat meal when required.
  • Reheat ideally after thawing for a few hours or reheat directly from frozen if in a pinch! We prefer to reheat on the stove top for best results but the meal can be microwaved if required.

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Asian Style Turkey Meatballs (Paleo, Dairy Free, Gluten-free)


  • Author: Jess Kirk
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Asian Style sesame and ginger paleo turkey meatballs drizzled with homemade sweet and zesty sesame ginger sauce and topped with sesame seeds and green onion slivers. It’s the perfect gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free appetizer or meal over rice and steamed vegetables!


Ingredients

Scale

PALEO TURKEY MEATBALLS

  • 1 pound turkey, ground
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 TBSP onion, finely diced
  • 1 tsp coconut aminos
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • pinch salt and pepper

SESAME GINGER SAUCE

  • 3 TBSP coconut aminos
  • 2 TBSP honey, or maple syrup for a paleo option
  • 2 TBSP sesame oil
  • 1 TBSP rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • sesame seeds and green onion slices, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400*F.  Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and then thoroughly mix together with your hands.
  2. Roll into 1-1.5″ inch balls (refer to video to see the exact size of the meatballs that I make) and place in a mini muffin tin.
  3. Bake for 10 minutes, take out of the oven, flip over, and bake in the oven for an additional 5 minutes of until thoroughly cooked and the outsides are nicely browned.
  4. Carefully remove the hot meatballs from the pan onto a paper towel-lined plate to help soak up any extra grease from baking.
  5. While the meatballs are cooling make your sesame ginger sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients well in a small mixing bowl.  Pour the sauce over the meatballs and enjoy!
  6. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or even freezer for later!
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 15

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