Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs (Gluten Free)

This gluten free Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs is full of Italian flavors! It's made with spiced ground turkey, mushrooms, and tomato sauce.

Spaghetti and Meatballs is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. This version is made with ground turkey meatballs that are simmered in marinara sauce on the stove top along with sauteed mushrooms.

Meatballs are one of the most quintessential comfort foods out there and this version is no exception. This version, however, is lightened up with the use of ground turkey instead of ground beef and pork, which are standard when making Italian meatballs.

Ground turkey is great because it is leaner and lower and fat than many ground meats and it tends to absorb the flavors of whatever is added to it. These turkey meatballs are flavored with Italian spices like garlic, onion, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes.

The meatballs are seared in a skillet and then simmered along with a jar of marinara sauce on the stove top. Sauteed mushrooms are added toward the end of the cooking process and the whole thing is heaped onto a bed of spaghetti noodles.

This dish is garnished with grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese and fresh herbs like basil or parsley for extra color and flavor.

Jump to:

• Which Mushrooms Are Best For Spaghetti Sauce?
• Ingredients For Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs
• Do I Need To Add The Mushrooms?
• How To Make Ground Turkey Meatballs
• How To Keep Turkey Meatballs From Falling Apart
• How To Sauté The Mushrooms
• How To Sauté Turkey Meatballs In Skillet
• How Long Do Turkey Meatballs Take To Cook In Sauce?
• Which Spaghetti Noodles Are Best?
• What To Serve With Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs
• How Long Do Spaghetti and Meatballs Last In The Fridge?
• Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs (Gluten Free)

Which Mushrooms Are Best For Spaghetti Sauce?

Spaghetti and meatballs are delicious as-is, but I love the earthy, umami flavor that mushrooms add to pasta. It only takes a few minutes to sauté the mushrooms and adds another level of flavor and texture to this dish.

White button and cremini (also known as Baby Bella) mushrooms are the varieties most commonly found in grocery stores. I used white button mushrooms when making this recipe, but either variety is great.

Here are some more mushroom varieties that go great in with pasta:

• Portobello
• Oyster
• Shiitake
• Chanterelle
• Porcini

Ingredients For Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 1 - 1 ½ lbs. Ground Turkey
• 4 Tbsp. Olive Oil (split)
• 8 oz. package White Button or Cremini Mushrooms (or mushrooms of choice)
• 1 large Egg
• ½ cup Gluten Free Panko Breadcrumbs (plain, unseasoned) (or regular Panko breadcrumbs if not gluten free)
• 1 ½ tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 ½ tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 ½ tsp. Italian Seasoning
• ¼ tsp. Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
• ¾ tsp. Kosher Salt (split)
• ½ tsp. Pepper (split)
• 24 oz. jar Marinara Sauce
• 1 package Gluten Free Spaghetti Noodles (or regular spaghetti noodles if not gluten free)
• ½ cup Parmesan or Asiago Cheese (grated)
• Fresh Basil or Parsley for garnish (optional)

Do I Need To Add The Mushrooms?

It is not necessary to add mushrooms to this dish. Simply omit the mushrooms if you do not care for them.

How To Make Ground Turkey Meatballs

These ground turkey meatballs are super easy to make. All that's needed is to combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and then to form the meatballs and set aside.

1. Start by placing 1 - 1 ½ lbs. of ground turkey into a large mixing bowl. Add 1 large egg and ½ cup of gluten free Panko breadcrumbs (plain, unseasoned) (or regular Panko breadcrumbs if not gluten free) to the bowl.
2. Add 1 ½ tsp. each of garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning to the bowl along with ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes (optional) ½ tsp. of kosher salt and ¼ tsp. of pepper.
3. Mix all of these ingredients just until combined.
4. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out each meatball (this ensures that all of the meatballs are relatively the same size and helps them to cook evenly) and roll the meatball in your hands just until formed.
5. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and set aside (yields 10-12 meatballs).

How To Keep Turkey Meatballs From Falling Apart

Ground turkey does not contain nearly as much fat as ground pork or ground beef, which means that it is healthier, but the lack of fat causes the meatballs to fall apart more easily.

Here are some tips to help bind the meatballs and prevent them from falling apart or drying out:

• Using a binder like eggs and breadcrumbs helps the meatballs to hold their shape and keeps them from falling apart.
• Mix the ingredients just until combined and don't overwork the meat with your hands. Overmixing the ingredients will cause the meatballs to become tough.
• Sauté the meatballs in a skillet and don't move them around any more than necessary. This will sear the outside of the meatballs and form a crust and keep them together as they simmer in the tomato sauce.
• Simmer the meatballs just until cooked. Overcooking the meatballs will cause them to become tough and dry out.

How To Sauté The Mushrooms

The first step is to dice the mushrooms and then to sauté them in a skillet along with some olive oil, kosher salt and pepper.

Sautéing the mushrooms deepens their flavor and creates a more optimal texture.

The mushrooms are sauteed in the skillet and then removed after cooking. They are then added to the spaghetti sauce near the end of the cooking time.

1. Start by wiping 1 8 oz. package of white button or cremini mushrooms (or mushrooms of choice) clean with a damp towel to remove any dirt.
2. Remove the woody stems from the mushrooms and discard.
3. Dice the mushrooms into small chunks.
4. Place a large skillet (I recommend a 12 inch skillet) on the stove top and heat to medium.
5. Add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet.
6. Once heated, add the diced mushrooms along with ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
7. Sauté the mushrooms for 7-8 minutes on medium-low to medium heat, stirring often. The mushrooms will become darker and more fragrant.
8. Remove the mushrooms from the skillet and set aside.

How To Sauté Turkey Meatballs In Skillet

After the mushrooms have sauteed in the skillet, it's time to add the meatballs and brown them in the skillet.

The marinara sauce is added to the skillet once the meatballs have browned and they'll simmer in the sauce until cooked through.

1. Once the mushrooms are removed from the skillet, add another 2 Tbsp. of olive oil and increase the heat to medium-high.
2. Carefully add the meatballs one at a time (they should sizzle as they hit the surface of the skillet).
3. Once all of the meatballs have been added, sauté them for 2-3 minutes per side. A golden crust should form on the outside of the meatballs.
4. Carefully turn the meatballs with tongs so that they do not fall apart.
5. Once the meatballs are seared on all sides, pour 1 24 oz. jar of marinara sauce over the meatballs. Make sure that all of the meatballs are coated in the sauce.

Alternately, you can make a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce and use it in place of jarred marinara sauce if you're feeling ambitious.

How Long Do Turkey Meatballs Take To Cook In Sauce?

Cooking times may vary, but it should take 20-25 minutes for the turkey meatballs to cook in the sauce.

This may vary depending on the size of the meatballs and the heat of the stove top.

It's best to cook the meatballs and sauce on a low simmer and cover the skillet so that the sauce doesn't splatter as they cook.

1. Once all the meatballs are sufficiently covered in sauce, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
2. The meatballs may be flipped over after they have cooked for 10 minutes or so and have solidified.
3. Continue to simmer until the meatballs are cooked through. The best way to check this is to stick a food thermometer into the middle of the meatballs. The safe internal temperature for ground turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Once the meatballs are fully cooked, add the sauteed mushrooms back into the skillet and stir carefully until combined.
5. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Which Spaghetti Noodles Are Best?

You can't have Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs without the spaghetti. This recipe is gluten free and calls for gluten free spaghetti noodles, but regular spaghetti noodles may be used if gluten is not an issue for you.

I recommend opting for a high quality brand of spaghetti noodles such as Jovial Brown Rice Spaghetti Noodles. Tinkyada also makes great gluten free noodles.

It's important to choose a high quality brand of gluten free pasta so that it holds up to the cooking process and doesn't become mushy or fall apart.

I recommend cooking the pasta just until al dente and then rinsing it under cold water to stop the cooking process. This helps to prevent a mushy texture.

1. To make the pasta, start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Prepare 1 package of gluten free spaghetti noodles (or regular spaghetti noodles if not gluten free) according to the package directions.
3. Cook the noodles just until al dente and then pour into a strainer.
4. Rinse the cooked noodles under cold water to stop the cooking process (this step is not necessary if using regular noodles).

What To Serve With Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs

Spaghetti and meatballs are hearty and great served on their own, but this dish can also be paired with a side dish.

Serve this dish with a generous amount of grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese and some fresh basil or parsley for extra color and flavor.

I find that hearty Italian dishes go great with a bright and tangy green salad or Caesar salad.

This Italian green bean salad, marinated tomato salad, fresh pea salad, or garlic roasted green beans are flavorful pairings.

For an appetizer, this mushroom tapenade, Kalamata olive tapenade, or Italian white bean dip are great choices.

How Long Do Spaghetti and Meatballs Last In The Fridge?

These spaghetti and meatballs should last 2-3 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Make sure to allow the dish to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Love Italian flavors? Check out these recipes!

• Chicken Sausage Spaghetti
• Skillet Chicken Parmesan
• Baked Eggplant Parmesan
• Garden Vegetable Lasagna
• Sausage Broccoli Pasta
• Skillet Veggie Lasagna
• Pesto Vegetable Pasta

Love meatballs? Check out these recipes!

• Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs
• Crockpot Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs

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