Recipe: Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs

This recipe came together completely by accident.  Scott and I were trying to figure out dinner with what whatever we had left in the house.  We happened to have some ground turkey and really good teriyaki sauce I brought home from Newport.  Some of these measurements are a bit of a guess, I tend not to measure too carefully when cooking - whoops!  That being said, this recipe is very easy to adjust.  If the mixture is too wet and the meatballs won't stick together, add more bread crumbs. 

Here's what we came up with:

 

Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs

Total time: Approximately 30 minutes 
Yields: 15 meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped celery
• 1/4 cup grated carrot
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (adjust to your taste)
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 4 tablespoons Worchestire sauce
• 1/2 cup of Teriyaki sauce + 1/2 cup to brush meatballs (we've used all different kinds for this recipe)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper or grease with vegetable oil.
• Combine all ingredients (except for the extra 1/2 cup of teriyaki sauce) in a large bowl.
• Mix everything together - with your hands!
• Roll 15 golf ball sized meatballs and place them on a baking sheet about an inch apart.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
• Brush the meatballs with remaining 1/2 cup of teriyaki sauce and return them to the oven for another 5-7 minutes of baking.
• Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before serving, or allow to cool completely before storing in the refrigerator.

I've made these with a bunch of different options for sides.  We usually always have a veggie (broccoli or asparagus are popular at our house) and sometimes egg noodles or couscous.  These are so quick, easy and really delicious!  Try them out if you're looking for a quick dish and let me know what you think :).

PS - On a fun note... check out this list for a quick trip back to your childhood!