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Mini Turkey Apple Toddler Meatballs

By Courtney 60 Comments

I had originally planned on posting this Mini Turkey Meatball recipe on the Baby Tooth page, but when I realized that Jay and I ate just as many, if not more, of the meatballs out of our last batch, I figured I really had to share with all of you.

mini turkey meatballs

These meatballs. Oh mannnn, are they good. And talk about easy?!

I’ve been making batches of these for a good few months now, and they have yet to disappoint us. At first, I was just making them for Lucas, but after sneaking a few here and there, they’ve now most definitely become a “family favorite.”

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For Lucas, we just cut them up into small hunks for now. We’ve tried adding a few dollops of ketchup to them, but he actually likes them best plain, which I have no qualms over.

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Along with his Easy Cheesy Spinach Pasta, of course. Kid can’t get enough of either of them!

Jay and I, on the other hand, have enjoyed them many ways, our most recent being sliced up on pizza. They’re also awesome over pasta, of course, and in meatball subs.

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But if you’re not feelin’ like meatballs, no problem-o. The beauty of ground meat recipes is simple enough where you can just form some into a couple of patties to make some burgers, too.

We did that last month…formed two patties, cooked them on the grill, then made the rest into meatballs and cooked them in the oven. Easy peasy!

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I’m seriously loving these things. The flavor is amazing, thanks in part to the sautéed onions and the little hint of sweetness you occasionally get from the apples, and I just love how easy they are. Make a batch on the weekend, have them for the whole week!

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So whatever your situation…you have a picky toddler at home, no kiddos at all, or just cooking for yourself…I’m still recommending you give these Mini Turkey Meatballs a try. Because they even freeze well, too (cooked, stored in an airtight container). So really, you have no excuse NOT to try them, right? Winking smile

Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life

Yields Approx 30 Mini Meatballs

Mini Turkey Apple Meatballs (Toddler Approved!)

Sweet apple chunks combine with savory turkey to make a perfect meal time option for your little kiddos. Even better, they're delicious enough to share with the whole family...but they won't last long!

15 minPrep Time

20 minCook Time

35 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped or minced
  • 1/2 small apple (Mac, Granny Smith), finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1lb (1 package) lean ground turkey (or chicken, both work great!)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or 2 slices of bread, dried and crumbled to make fresh breadcrumbs)
  • 3 tsp dried parsley
  • 2-3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • ~1 tbsp tomato sauce, optional
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the onion and apple for 3 minutes, stirring until softened. Add the garlic sauté for 30 seconds. Set aside to cool.
  3. Mix together the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, parsley, Parmesan and tomato sauce. Stir in the sautéed onion, apple, and garlic, and add the beaten egg to bind.
  4. Form the mixture into mini meatballs, about 3/4-1 inch in diameter and line up in rows in prepared baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden and internal temperature reads 165 degrees F. Allow to cool and enjoy!
7.8.1.2
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https://www.sweettoothsweetlife.com/mini-turkey-apple-meatballs-toddler-approved/

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And be sure to let me know if you try them! Smile

What are some of your favorite meals that are sure to go over well with your whole family?

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Related

October 8, 2014 Filed Under: Dinner Recipe, Popular Recipes, Recipes, Toddler Meal Tagged With: easy turkey meatballs, meatballs for the whole family, Mini Turkey Meatballs, toddler meal, turkey burgers

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!

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Comments

  1. Tiff @ Love, Sweat, & Beers says

    October 8, 2014 at 6:06 am

    Yum!! I just made lean turkey zucchini meatballs last night for the family, and Ethan loved them.
    Reply
  2. Brynn says

    October 8, 2014 at 7:06 am

    Apples are such an interesting twist. I like to add safe when I cook apples in a savory dish- such a great flavor combo. My go to dish is Moroccan spice roast chicken; super easy, ton of flavor and a total crowd pleaser.
    Reply
  3. Carrie (This Fit Chick) says

    October 8, 2014 at 7:23 am

    I love meatballs!! I wonder if I can make them on the stove as my oven doesn't work :/
    Reply
  4. Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says

    October 8, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Apples and turkey - that's such a great fall combo! My go to meal is usually spaghetti squash. Boring, I know. But, it's so good and easy!
    Reply
  5. Linz @ Itz Linz says

    October 8, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Apples? I would have never thought to put apples in meatballs! Ill have to try these - meatballs are definitely very versatile!
    Reply
  6. Torry @ A World Without Wheat says

    October 8, 2014 at 7:49 am

    I cannot thank you enough for this post!! I was planning on making meatballs this weekend - I am going to try making these just with GF bread!!
    Reply
  7. Emily says

    October 8, 2014 at 9:07 am

    I already love your blog, but I will love it 8,000 times more if you keep including toddler recipes :) We are struggling big time with food for my almost 2 year old and he really likes the spinach pasta recipe you posted recently! Thank you!
    Reply
  8. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says

    October 8, 2014 at 9:21 am

    I love meatballs! Thanks for sharing your recipe. Have a great Wednesday!
    Reply
  9. Britt@MyOwnBalance says

    October 8, 2014 at 9:33 am

    I love the idea that these are great not just for toddlers but the whole family! I love to cook but I don't want to have to make separate meals for baby and then for us!
    Reply
  10. Heather @Fit N Cookies says

    October 8, 2014 at 9:42 am

    Mmm these look delicious! I'm always looking for meals I can freeze and then pull out.
    Reply
  11. Jenn@Mark My Miles! says

    October 8, 2014 at 9:49 am

    Making these tonight! Love these toddler approved ideas. And YES, we will be eating them as a family : ) Sounds Delicious!!!!
    Reply
  12. Beks says

    October 8, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Those do sound awesome. :-) I've always been a fan of meatballs, and it's amazing how you can jazz them up.
    Reply
  13. Mary says

    October 8, 2014 at 10:08 am

    This recipe looks amazing, thank you for sharing! My tot has an egg allergy--do you think it would work without the egg? Clearly I have never attempted meatballs before!
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      October 8, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Yes, I definitely think so. It just helps bind it a bit better, but I think you could certainly do without!
      Reply
  14. Becca says

    October 8, 2014 at 11:33 am

    Do you think these would taste okay with ground beef!?!?! Thinking about making them for lunch and was gonna use what I have on hand! :) LOVE all your toddler recipes lately! :)
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      October 8, 2014 at 11:52 am

      Oh absolutely!! Let me know how they turn out ;)
      Reply
      • Becca Nemecek says

        October 9, 2014 at 11:31 am

        I had to come back and comment because these were a huge hit with my 2 and 8 year old! :) My 6 year old not so much (but she is CRAZY picky)!!! I made them into meatball subs for the hubby and I and added a small amount of mozz cheese and tomato sauces with more caramelized onions! YUM!!!!! I will definitely be adding this to the rotation for my 2 year old and I's lunches since it was obviously a HUGE hit with us! :) **OH and by the way I did use ground beef! :)
        Reply
        • Courtney says

          October 9, 2014 at 11:34 am

          Awesome!!!! So glad to hear they were a hit! :)
          Reply
  15. Alex says

    October 8, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    Yum! These look so good. I totally forgot about meatballs until recently but they seem like a great addition to a meal plan, say spaghetti and meatballs while watching football? Definitely gotta give these a try. Your recipe has me thinking about lasagna now. I feel like that is a dish that stretches a few days and is always a family pleaser.
    Reply
  16. Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves says

    October 8, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    I am allllll about the mini meatballs! (Is it socially acceptable if I eat them with my fingers like Lucas?) ;) These look delicious!
    Reply
  17. Britt @ Fit Fit Britt Britt says

    October 8, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    These look YUMMY!!! I'll have to try them soon :P
    Reply
  18. Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says

    October 9, 2014 at 7:46 am

    Love this! I am in need of "kid approved" recipes because I am nannying for a 6 year old right now. It's so much fun cooking with her, but it's definitely a change from cooking for me and Brian (my husband!) Thanks for sharing!
    Reply
  19. Christina says

    October 9, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    I'm totally making these! I just went apple picking so have tons of apples to use up and happen to have ground turkey in the freezer - SCORE!
    Reply
  20. rachel says

    October 14, 2014 at 6:52 am

    amazing idea of putting apples with turkey! Im sure thats an awesome sweet and savory combo! Yum!
    Reply
  21. Jaime D says

    October 14, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    Made these today for my 19 month old and she loved them! I did too. :) Thanks for the great recipe - I love making new things for my little one.
    Reply
  22. Gail W says

    October 21, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    I made these this weekend and they were amazing! They will definitely be on my list of "go-to recipes"! Yummo!
    Reply
  23. Carrie says

    October 29, 2014 at 7:49 am

    I made these last night and I put 2 in my spaghetti squash for lunch! By the way they look and smell, I know I'm going to love them! Thanks for the recipe!
    Reply
  24. Ella says

    March 4, 2015 at 12:31 pm

    I want to try these but can't use parmesan cheese..can I sub it with something else (non-dairy) or just leave it out? has to be kosher..thanks
    Reply
  25. Ella says

    March 4, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    I want to try these but can't use parmesan cheese..can I sub it with something else (non-dairy) or just leave it out? has to be kosher..thank you..sorry i put my wrong email address
    Reply
  26. Amanda says

    May 11, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE these! I think you should change the prep time, though. Takes 10 min just to shape all of the balls. Add in the sautéing and chopping and it's gotta be 30 min. Off to make them now!
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      May 11, 2015 at 8:33 pm

      I'm so glad you love them, Amanda! Thanks for the tip on the prep time, too!
      Reply
    • Rebekah Wolf says

      June 28, 2018 at 4:02 pm

      Agreed! From start to end, this recipe took me about an hour.
      Reply
  27. kate says

    November 5, 2015 at 11:33 pm

    hello! i just made these and they are good and healthy tasting. but i noticed that these did not taste as apple-y? your recipe called for 1/2 a small granny smith apple and i used almost half of a medium granny smith apple...my 2.5 year old and 9 month old will try it tomorrow!
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      November 6, 2015 at 8:58 am

      They're not going to be super apple-y...just a hint of sweetness! I'm sure you could always up the amount of apple you use though, if you're looking for a bit more apple flavor! :)
      Reply
  28. Holly says

    January 11, 2016 at 10:55 am

    I made these meatballs last night with ground turkey. Although I didn't read the directions fully, I didn't sauté anything I just threw all the ingredients together and formed balls they we're a huge hit for my 2 & 4 year olds! They even went back for seconds and grab some for breakfast today. Next time I will sauté the apple,onion and garlic which I believe will bring a sweeter taste! Thank you.
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      January 11, 2016 at 11:02 am

      Hey Holly, thanks for the feedback! So glad they were a hit :)
      Reply
  29. Elise Lord says

    January 22, 2016 at 3:56 pm

    Meatballs are in the oven now :-) I didn't have any apples so I used unsweetened applesauce. I'll let you know how they turn out!
    Reply
  30. Amy says

    May 17, 2016 at 1:01 pm

    Thanks for the recipe! Just made these for my 15 months old... He's yet to try them but mommy thinks they're good! Just wanted to comment with a few changes I made based on what i had around. I used red onion, Pablo crumbs, Italian seasoning instead of parsley, a little bit of tomato paste, and I used my box grater to shred the apple since I had it out already for the Parm! Yummy! I was worried they'd be bland without Any salt but they taste great, thanks!
    Reply
  31. Ellen says

    September 22, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    If I were to serve these meatballs with pasta, what kind of sauce do you recommend? Just a tomato pasta type jar sauce?
    Reply
  32. Verena Pichler says

    January 24, 2017 at 1:46 pm

    Added some finely chopped broccoli and ended up with a tasty/healthy turkey meatballs pasta!Kids loved it! thanks for sharing!
    Reply
  33. Katie @ Live Half Full says

    January 24, 2017 at 5:29 pm

    I am definitely making these soon. I am hoping to do a "freezer stock up" for my son in a few weeks since I feel guilty with all of the ready made stuff I've been giving him. Hoping to make mini muffins for snacks and breakfast, meatballs and veggie tots. Adding these to my list!
    Reply
  34. Annie says

    January 25, 2017 at 5:24 am

    These look great!! I am always looking for meals for my little guy.
    Reply
  35. Emma says

    January 29, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    I made these tonight and they taste great. Fingers crossed and my very picky toddler will like them too. The grown-ups love them!
    Reply
  36. Leah says

    March 18, 2017 at 5:11 am

    Made these tonight for my 16 month old and both he and I loved them! Great easy recipe, thanks :)
    Reply
  37. Amber says

    July 13, 2017 at 8:42 pm

    These were delicious! Made them for my daughter and ended up loving them myself. We made sandwiches one night and put them in spaghetti another night. Will definitely make again!
    Reply
  38. Sabrina James says

    February 17, 2018 at 12:01 am

    I have a very very fussy 2 year old who has been refusing to eat meat for going on a month.. I made these today and she absolutely loves them! Couldn't be happier. I used a full granny smith apple though. Turkey mince isnt something i would usually cook with so i'm glad i stumbled upon this :)
    Reply
  39. Megan says

    April 6, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    Made these for my baby a few years ago and she loved them.. time for round too! I halved the amount of onion.. I feel like it was way too much... even minced. Also subbed ground oatmeal for breadcrumbs and it worked just as well! Thanks for this tried and true recipe!
    Reply
  40. Melissa Boos says

    May 14, 2019 at 2:49 pm

    I know this post is super old, but I just had to post and say thanks! Im making these today for my 1 year old... we are having trouble getting her to eat anything but bottles and MEAT, so I'm excited to sneak something else in there!
    Reply
    • Courtney says

      May 16, 2019 at 11:33 am

      Thanks so much for sharing that, Melissa!!!
      Reply
  41. sylvie weston says

    July 10, 2019 at 8:55 pm

    Made these tonight with chicken and was a bit disappointed. To get them looking appetizingly browned enough, I had to bake them longer than indicated and they ended up being somewhat dry. For me as well, it was the idea of including apples that really made me want to try out this recipe.
    Reply
    • Boz says

      July 25, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      Next time sauté them first.
      Reply
      • sylvie says

        February 8, 2021 at 2:13 pm

        Thanks, that did the trick.
        Reply
  42. Aileen says

    July 17, 2019 at 9:58 am

    Thank you so much for this receipe! My 20 month is refused to eat any meat for a while and she ate some of this beautiful meatballs! It's very delicious
    Reply
  43. Liz says

    September 7, 2019 at 7:12 am

    This recipe looks amazing ! What method do you recommend for reheating after freezing and for how long ? Thanks
    Reply
  44. Kelly says

    September 25, 2019 at 9:24 pm

    I've made this recipe twice now and they are an absolute hit! I was thinking that next time I might make then with ground beef for a changr. Do you think they would be good? Thank you for this awesome recipe!
    Reply
  45. Kate J. says

    January 2, 2020 at 5:30 pm

    Love this recipe! My son just turned one and this was perfect for the transition to table foods. He now prefers these meatballs over his mashed/pureed food! Thank you for sharing! Everyone in the house thought they were tasty.
    Reply
  46. April says

    August 23, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Thanks for this! My 13-month-old would never eat turkey. After a few introductions, he is now eating these meatballs. Since texture is still an issue and turkey is a little dry, I soak chopped-up pieces in water to make them easier on the gums. Finally, he’s eating a meaty finger food!! I also made your cheesy spinach pasta with whole wheat macaroni and it’s delicious! Still working on getting baby to try it and admit he likes it...!
    Reply
  47. Kana says

    September 10, 2020 at 9:37 pm

    My 14-months old loved it!! He's so picky but he kept feeding himself. Hooray! I made a couple of burgers for myself and hubby, which was delicious as well. Thank you so much!
    Reply
  48. Julie says

    January 12, 2021 at 5:58 pm

    Making this for my little boy tonight! Since we cut up his food anyway I just spread it out in a baking dish and cut it up into little cubes. No need to spend the time making meat balls if he isn't eating them like that. Saving this working full time mom some time but still waiting my little to eat healthy. Thank you for the great inspiration of this meal.
    Reply
  49. Kaity says

    April 24, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    Made these for my toddler but unfortunately this recipe has way too much onion for the palate of a toddler. She wouldn’t eat. I didn’t think they were very flavorful either and definitely needed some salt.
    Reply

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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.
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