Temple Hills Turkey Meatballs with Tomato-Basil Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-26 · Updated 2026-03-26

Lean turkey meatballs simmered in a vibrant tomato sauce with fresh basil, served over whole-grain pasta. This Italian-inspired chicken recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 70 minutes, pairs ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground turkey
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup, finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup, chopped fresh basil
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 12 oz whole-grain pasta

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, mix turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Form into 1.5-inch meatballs.
2. Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook for 5 minutes until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, sauté basil for 1 minute until fragrant. Add tomato sauce, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Return meatballs to skillet and cook for 5 minutes until heated through.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil. Serve meatballs and sauce over pasta.