Sweet Tooth Sweet Life

A Love of Food, Fitness, & Fashion

  • Home
  • About
    • Sponsorships
    • Contact Me
    • Everything NASM
    • Wedding
      • Courtney & Jay
      • Getting Ready
      • Ceremony
      • Wedding Party
      • Flowers
      • Decorations & Details
      • Reception
      • Honeymoon at Sandals Grande St Lucian
    • Q & A’s
      • Q&A’s – Round 1
      • Q&A’s – Round 2
      • Q&A’s – Round 3
      • Q&A’s – Round 4
      • Q&A’s – Round 5
  • Pregnancy & Babies
  • Meal Planning
  • Recipes
    • Recipes
      • Breads & Muffin Recipes
      • Breakfast
        • Coffee Recipes
        • Egg & Omelet Recipes
        • Oatmeal & Buckwheat Recipes
        • Pancake & French Toast Recipes
        • Smoothie Recipes
      • Cookies/Cookie Bars
      • Cakes/Cupcakes & Frostings
      • Dinners
        • Chicken & Poultry Recipes
        • Beef & Pork Recipes
        • Seafood Recipes
        • Crockpot Recipes
        • Meatless Recipes
        • Pasta Recipes
        • Pizza Recipes
        • Soup/Stew/Chili Recipes
      • Pies/Trifles/Truffles/Candies/Crisps
      • Salads/Sides/Odds & Ends
  • Favorites
    • Shop
    • Blog Love
    • Fashion
    • “Just Because” Posts
    • Workout & Fitness Posts
    • Cody Posts
    • Restaurants (local and travel)
  • Workouts
    • Workouts
      • Circuit Workouts
      • 20-30 Minute Treadmill Routines
      • 35-55 Minute Treadmill Workouts
      • Upper Body Workouts
      • Lower Body Workouts
      • Walking Treadmill Workouts
      • Elliptical Workouts
  • Resources

Easy {4 Ingredient} Turkey Meatballs for Baby

By Courtney 74 Comments

These turkey meatballs for baby are perfect for babies just starting out with fingers foods. They can be whipped up in no time, thanks to a minimal ingredient list and are easy to freeze, too!

*************

Turkey Meatballs for Baby

We’re still getting the hang of finger foods over here.

I LOVE the fact that Alex is able to eat some finger foods these days, since it gives me a little more time to eat my own dinner, prep dinner, whatever it may be. But let’s be real…sometimes, the mess that comes with it is worse.

IMG_5444

But heyyyy, that’s what this stage is all about right? Constantly cleaning up messes? ; )

Alex tends to have a pretty heavy gag reflex, and he also loves to shovel as much food as possible into his mouth, so for those reasons (combined with the fact that I tend to be a nervous mama bear) I’ve been cautious on the types of finger foods Alex gets. Most of them are soft and easy to mash, such as bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, and squished peas, to name a few.

IMG_5451

While we’re good with fruits and veggies, I still wanted to introduce some protein, which is where these turkey meatballs came into play.

Turkey Meatballs for Baby

They were incredibly quick to throw together, and the texture is super soft, making them perfect for little ones just starting out (or also, in our case, for those that are still all gums!).

Turkey Meatballs for Baby

I’ve been offering one meatball for dinner lately, cut up in tiny little pieces (also helping him practice his pincer grasp!). I’d say about 50% of it winds up in his bib, maybe 20% on the floor, and the rest in his mouth on the first try.

IMG_5446

We’re getting there. ; )

So if you’re in need of something new/different to offer your babe, give these a shot!

Easy Turkey Meatballs for Baby

Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life

Yields Approx 20 meatballs

Easy {4 Ingredient} Turkey Meatballs for Baby

5 minPrep Time

5 minTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 1lb organic ground turkey
  • 1 medium sweet potato, cooked and mashed
  • 1/2 cup oatmeal cereal*
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking dish with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Combine all ingredients together, form into approx 20 meatballs.
  3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden and internal temperature reads 165 degrees F. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Notes

*This is baby oatmeal cereal. If you don't have any, you could also try pulsing regular oats to form the same texture.

7.8.1.2
161
https://www.sweettoothsweetlife.com/easy-4-ingredient-turkey-meatballs-for-baby/

Looking for some more recipe ideas for your baby or toddler??

Mini Turkey Apple Toddler Meatballs

Easy Cheesy Spinach Pasta (<—one of the most popular recipes here on STSL!)

Oatmeal Banana Toddler Muffins

Do you have little ones at home? How old are they and what foods are they loving these days??

Share This:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Yummly (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on StumbleUpon (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

March 8, 2017 Filed Under: Toddler Meal Tagged With: baby finger foods, baby led weaning, baby meatballs, turkey meatballs for baby

About Courtney

I'm a working mom of two beautiful little boys, Lucas and Alex, and I began writing Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life in April 2010. I enjoy chronicling my love of food (healthy and indulgent!), baking, motherhood, fitness, fashion, and everything in between!

« 7 Fun Weekend Things
Alex: 9 Months »

Comments

  1. Caitlin says

    March 9, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    Yay these look so good! I'm definitely going to try them for Ella. Thanks :)
    Reply
  2. Carrie this fit chick says

    March 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm

    Sweet tater and applesauce in those? Super creative! Is it odd that I would eat these too? They sound good!
    Reply
    • Shaqueefa says

      March 11, 2017 at 3:22 am

      Carrie pls
      Reply
    • Sue says

      June 28, 2022 at 1:30 pm

      I made them for my babe and ate a couple myself - they are tasty!
      Reply
  3. Annie says

    March 10, 2017 at 5:44 am

    Ooooh these look great! My son is 15 months and basically hates all proteins. Hopefully he'll give this recipe a try!
    Reply
  4. Ashley says

    March 10, 2017 at 11:27 am

    Does it have to be oatmeal cereal or could I sub rice cereal?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      March 10, 2017 at 12:14 pm

      I think you could definitely do rice cereal! Same texture so I think the swap would be totally fine.
      Reply
      • Rachel says

        December 8, 2020 at 3:54 pm

        Do you think this could be made with butternut squash instead of sweet potatoes?
        Reply
        • Courtney says

          December 18, 2020 at 9:42 am

          Definitely!
          Reply
      • Christina says

        February 10, 2021 at 8:55 am

        Are you supposed to make the cereal or just use the powder part of the cereal?
        Reply
  5. Shaqueefa says

    March 11, 2017 at 3:21 am

    Meatbawls! Nom!
    Reply
  6. Kaylee says

    April 12, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    It really only takes 20 min? My meat thermometer is broken :/
    Reply
  7. Christin Sanders says

    June 9, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    What can I sub for the apple sauce? My son gets a rash from apple sauce! Maybe I could use some baby food for the moisture? Thank you!
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      June 11, 2017 at 7:52 pm

      Hey Christin! Yes, I'd say any flavor baby food that would be similar (pears, peaches, etc). Good luck!
      Reply
  8. Cassie says

    July 8, 2017 at 1:42 pm

    Do you freeze them before or after you bake them?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      July 9, 2017 at 8:11 pm

      After! :)
      Reply
  9. Amanda says

    July 24, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    Maybe silly question but how do I reheat them after frozen?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      July 24, 2017 at 7:31 pm

      I just defrost in the microwave for about 20 seconds at a time until they're ready!
      Reply
  10. Andrea says

    August 30, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    Is it normal for them to be a little mushy on the inside still? I had them in the oven for almost 30 minutes!!
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      August 31, 2017 at 2:25 pm

      Hmmm, they shouldn't be?? Then again, the texture is a little different from a regular meatball. Hopefully they turned out okay for you!
      Reply
    • Noelle says

      January 2, 2018 at 1:50 am

      Mine came out mushy from too much sweet potato and applesauce. I added more Turkey and they firmed up nicely. Great recipe!
      Reply
      • Kristina Freire says

        November 19, 2020 at 2:28 pm

        I kept cooking mine because i wasnt sure if they were done.. i must have cooked them for like an hr and im still not sure they are done i dont have a meat thermometer. They are a bit myshy on the inside but maybe i used too much sweet potato and applesauce.
        Reply
  11. anne says

    September 13, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    Can I use cooked carrots that I pureed for the sweet potatoes?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      September 14, 2017 at 10:55 am

      Sure!
      Reply
  12. Lindsey W. says

    October 13, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    Thank you for this! My son is allergic to eggs but I’ve been looking for recipes to get protein into him! Also, love that these use baby oatmeal that I have leftover! Trying these tomorrow!
    Reply
  13. Lisa Wilken says

    October 30, 2017 at 11:33 am

    Making these today with a little spinach added and 3 prunes blended in to help keep my squish from getting backed up! Great recipe :)
    Reply
  14. Danielle says

    November 15, 2017 at 10:33 pm

    Made these tonight with organic ground turkey, homemade organic sweet potato purée, homemade organic apple sauce and organic baby oatmeal. And my 7 month old LOVED it thank goodness! I cooked it for 35 minutes just to beat safe. They came out great. Very soft which is perfect for a baby with no teeth yet. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
    Reply
  15. Danielle Z says

    November 15, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    Made these tonight with organic ground turkey, homemade organic sweet potato purée, homemade organic apple sauce and organic baby oatmeal. And my 7 month old LOVED it thank goodness! I cooked it for 35 minutes just to beat safe. They came out great. Very soft which is perfect for a baby with no teeth yet. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
    Reply
  16. Barbara says

    February 19, 2018 at 12:42 pm

    Thanks for this recipe. My grandson (and son and daughter-in-law) live with us and I care for him during the day. He’s only seven months old but doesn’t want the bottle most of the time and is really ready to eat real food. I was trying to figure out how to get around using eggs in meatballs and love your ingredient list.
    Reply
  17. Lynn says

    March 19, 2018 at 9:26 am

    Can you use ground meat instead of turkey for this?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      March 19, 2018 at 1:38 pm

      I'm sure you could! I've never tried it but I would say to just monitor the time and check the internal temperature to make sure they're fully cooked
      Reply
  18. Eve says

    March 23, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    What is the best way to freeze these?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      March 23, 2018 at 10:26 pm

      I freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet then once frozen, toss them into a freezer bag or container!
      Reply
      • Eve says

        March 28, 2018 at 9:30 pm

        thanks so much! meatballs came out perfectly and my L.O. loves them! :)
        Reply
  19. Cheryl says

    March 27, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    How long are they good for in the fridge and freezer??
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      March 27, 2018 at 8:06 pm

      I usually do about a week or so in the fridge, and I've kept them in the freezer for a few months with no issues!
      Reply
      • Cheryl says

        March 28, 2018 at 12:14 am

        Thanks. Made them today and my 8 month old loved them!!!
        Reply
  20. Maria says

    April 20, 2018 at 3:22 pm

    How do I reheat these after I freeze them?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      April 24, 2018 at 10:49 am

      I usually let them thaw in the fridge a bit for a day or so (if possible). Otherwise, I typically defrosted them in the microwave until warmed through
      Reply
  21. Kelsey says

    May 9, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    Silly question -- for the baby oatmeal, do you mean just the powdered dry oats? Or with the liquid added (actual oatmeal)? And if it's the liquid added also...is that a 1/2 cup total, or a 1/2 cup dry?
    Reply
    • Alejandra says

      May 12, 2018 at 11:35 pm

      1/2 cup of Just the powdered dry Oats, no liquid added when measured.
      Reply
  22. Alejandra says

    May 12, 2018 at 11:38 pm

    Thank you so much for this recipe! My 10 month old loves them!!! I wish you published this recipe when my almost 3 year old was an infant!
    Reply
  23. Sarah says

    May 24, 2018 at 7:18 pm

    I tried these but after 40 minutes, The highest the temperature got outside of the oven was 130°. Not sure what we did wrong. Any advice?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      May 25, 2018 at 7:34 pm

      Hmmmm, that's odd - 40 minutes would definitely be enough time for these. I know I've been having trouble with my thermometer lately...maybe that could be it?
      Reply
    • Ellen says

      July 11, 2022 at 4:31 pm

      I have had this same issue every time I make them… with several different thermometers so I end up cooking them until they dry out just to be sure. Could it be because of the sweet potato and applesauce that they don’t seem to reach temp?
      Reply
  24. Ashley Chavis says

    June 30, 2018 at 4:35 pm

    Is it suppose to be mushy or a little hard like a regular meatball. Had mine in for 20min ahe doesnt look ready. Cooking more.
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      July 3, 2018 at 12:18 pm

      They're definitely a bit more mushy than a regular meatball. Having a meat thermometer is really handy to ensure they're fully cooked!
      Reply
  25. Neil says

    July 7, 2018 at 10:28 pm

    Random/naive question, do you mix the cereal with water/formula, or just add the oatmeal straight in?
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      July 9, 2018 at 11:26 am

      Add it straight in :)
      Reply
  26. Alison says

    August 1, 2018 at 9:25 am

    These are amazing. I just made them and tried them and can’t wait to feee them to my babe ! She has an egg allergy so it was great to find a meatball sans egg. The consistency seems perfect. I followed ingredients exactly. I cooked at 350 for 15 minutes and flipped them over and let them cook another 15-20 at 300 degrees while I showered. Awesome recipe!
    Reply
  27. Lisa says

    August 16, 2018 at 1:03 am

    Mine came out way too mushy as well. I wanted a healthy finger food for my 10 month old. However, they fell apart while he was trying to pick them up. So I had to feed with a spoon. Little one really liked them though. Too bad they were so mushy because what I wanted was a finger food. Will search the internet for another recipe.
    Reply
  28. Sara says

    August 18, 2018 at 7:24 pm

    Thanks for sharing how big of a mess babies feeding themselves is! I’m such a clean person and cringe when my daughter (8 months) gets food EVERYWHERE. It’s so much easier to feed her with a spoon, but I have to keep reminding myself that she has to learn to do it herself! I’m going to give these turkey balls a try this week. Thanks so much for sharing!
    Reply
  29. Jessica says

    September 24, 2018 at 6:49 pm

    My daughter LOVED these!!! I actually used gerber purees because my daughter won’t touch them and I have a whole cabinet full... I used the sweet potato, apple, pumpkin one. She literally ate the whole thing!!! I had one myself.. delicious!
    Reply
  30. Lucia Salas says

    December 5, 2018 at 10:41 am

    I made this recipe without applesauce and my 8 months old baby boy loved it!! 😊 Thanks for sharing this 😉
    Reply
  31. Sarah says

    January 6, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    Do you just make them with raw meat or do you have to cook the groung turkey before hand??
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      January 7, 2019 at 5:44 am

      You use raw meat :)
      Reply
  32. Heather says

    April 17, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Can you use an egg instead of the applesauce? And what about jarred sweet potato baby food?
    Reply
    • Christina says

      October 26, 2020 at 9:45 am

      I’m looking for the same answer..? Can we use an egg instead of applesauce ???
      Reply
  33. Brynne says

    May 16, 2019 at 12:42 am

    When you say a 'medium' sweet potato, what are the approximate dimensions or what's the equivalent amount in cups? The average sweet potatoes we have at my grocery store are GIGANTIC; I just weighed the one I have in my pantry on my kitchen scale and it's 2.5lbs and almost as big as my head.
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      May 16, 2019 at 11:32 am

      OMG well not that big, lol!! I'd say maybe around 10ish ounces should be good!!
      Reply
  34. Ciara says

    January 12, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    I have to say these turned out terrible for us. after 20 minutes they weren't remotely close to being done and looked like they had burned on the bottom. I left them for 30 minutes and flipped them and sure enough, the bottom is scorched and they aren't near as crispy on the outside as i had hoped. Super disappointed.
    Reply
  35. Erika says

    February 17, 2020 at 8:29 pm

    Delicious! Made them for my toddler and 8 month old and they both loved them! Thank you for this!
    Reply
  36. Patrick says

    March 12, 2020 at 9:39 pm

    Can i use like chicken or pork instead of turkey? its not easy to find it here!
    Reply
  37. Susan Dubose says

    May 14, 2020 at 9:34 pm

    I made this for my nearly 10mo daughter and she absoutely scoffed it down. I added some extra veg to the sauce and omitted the parmesan cheese as she’s dairy/egg intolerant.
    Reply
  38. Eve says

    June 9, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    If I want to add a green vegetable to this, what would You recommend? Broccoli or spinach? If so, how much. Thank you!
    Reply
  39. Callie says

    June 23, 2020 at 9:48 pm

    I love finding new ways to jazz up turkey meatballs since I make them so often and I love the combination of flavors in this recipe. I’ll definitely be trying these!
    Reply
  40. Lori says

    July 8, 2020 at 9:39 pm

    Wow this is an amazing recipe! It was very easy to follow and my 20 month-old loves it! Thank you for sharing.
    Reply
  41. Emily Stimpson says

    August 24, 2020 at 9:06 pm

    They can be whipped up in no time
    Reply
  42. Lisa says

    August 25, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    These turkey meatballs these for baby are perfect for babies just starting out with fingers foods. Thank you for sharing!
    Reply
  43. Daphne says

    August 14, 2021 at 10:10 pm

    I made these for my 7 1/2 month old tonight and he gobbled them up! I used 1/2 cup canned sweet potato purée (lazy mom for the win!) and subbed quinoa flakes for the baby oatmeal. I also made them more of an oval shape so I could cut up long strips for him to self feed (not much of a pincher grasp over here yet). They came out perfectly after 15 minutes at 350. Will definitely be making these again!
    Reply
  44. K says

    November 5, 2021 at 11:59 pm

    These look great—I'm going to try this for my pup. :-)
    Reply
  45. Emily says

    December 21, 2021 at 8:32 pm

    Mine also came out mushy, my daughter couldn’t hold it without smushing it. Should I try putting it back in the oven? Or air fryer?
    Reply
  46. Sue says

    June 27, 2022 at 4:09 pm

    These turned out nice and moist which I have been searching for in a meatball recipe for my 10 mo. Not sure why some said they weren’t done even after 20 minutes. Mine were done according to the thermometer and in just looking at them in 15 minutes like the recipe says.
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sweet Tooth Sweet Life
Court Profile CircleI'm Courtney, a 30-something wife and working mom living in upstate NY. I'm a food lover, fitness enthusiast, baker extraordinaire and lover of all things sweet.
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • A Little Living Room Makeover
  • The Five F’s {3/12}
  • My Last 10 Favorite Amazon Purchases
  • Fun Facts Friday – The Five F’s

Courtney’s Recipe Picks!

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Subscribe to Sweet Tooth by Email!

Instagram

Instagram did not return a 200.

Follow Me!

  FitFluential Is Fitness Found 
  
 

Categories

Archives

Disclaimer

I am not a registered dietitian, or certified fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my own personal knowledge, opinions, and experiences with food, fitness, and life. My Privacy Policy can be found HERE.

Content Marketing Editorial Calendar For WordPress

WordPress Support & Maintenance provided by WP Site Care

· Copyright © 2023 Sweet Tooth Sweet Life ·