Turkey Meatballs For Babies (BLW) Toddlers +No Egg Option
Soft turkey meatballs for baby made with ground turkey, vegetables and seasonings, no bread or flour needed. These turkey meatballs are a great way to serve turkey for babies starting from 6-7 month and up. They are perfect for baby led weaning (BLW) as finger food, including toddlers and older kid’s school lunch box. They are naturally gluten free and dairy free and even GAPS friendly.
Since these baby turkey meatballs are freezer friendly you can make them ahead of time and serve them in under 20 minutes. Plus they are completely customizable, egg free option included.
If you’re looking for turkey baby food, this ground turkey meatball recipe makes a convenient meal prep solution for babies and toddlers. They can be mixed and matched with vegetables (roasted or mashed), grains, pasta, so you can create meals throughout the whole week.
You may also like these baby led weaning friendly soft beef meatballs or chicken meatballs for babies or these turkey avocado patties.
Turkey Meatballs For Babies (BWL), Toddlers & Kids
These baby turkey meatballs are SO EASY to make and meal prep friendly. Whether you’re doing baby led weaning or not, these turkey meatballs for babies are perfect as baby led weaning finger food – they’re soft enough for babies to gum even when they don’t have any teeth.
If you’re looking to reduce stovetop messes, then you’ll love how well these turkey meatballs can be browned in a hot oven rather than frying in a skillet. And then there’s the option to just simmer the turkey meatballs in sauce without pre-cooking at all.
Ingredients For The Recipe
- Ground turkey – you can use the store-bought version or make some ground turkey yourself. Just add some turkey meat in a food processor and mix until finely chopped. Dark turkey meat (from thighs) has more fat and helps the meat stay moist, and usually tastes better than the breast meat, so I prefer to use that.
- Garlic & Onion – finely chopped. Ground powder works well, but I prefer to use real food ingredients for baby’s recipes.
- Carrot and celery root (celeriac) – you can use any starchy vegetable you like, but these two are perfect in terms of texture and flavor they provide.
- Egg (or not) – is used to provide the turkey meatballs a more pliable texture. Since we’re not using breadcrumbs or cheese, this will also help with binding everything together. If you prefer to make egg free turkey meatballs, than substitute it with apple sauce.
- Seasonings – black pepper, rosemary and salt, but you can also try some fresh chopped basil, dried oregano or coriander. Use Himalayan pink salt for very small babies or omit it entirely.
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How To Make Baby Turkey Meatballs
Prepare & Mix The Ingredients:
- Prep the vegetables (onion, carrot, garlic and celery root): clean and peel and throw them in a food processor. Or you could grate them.
- Mix: pulse a few times until finely chopped, then add the egg, seasonings and the ground turkey, mix by hand or with a spatula. Don’t mix in the food processor it will make the texture very gummy.
Form The Turkey Meatballs
- Use a small cookie or ice cream scoop to evenly portion out the meatballs. Place one by one in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or without, if it’s non-stick ceramic). To help with stickiness when rolling the meatballs: lightly dampen hands with some oil when rolling each meatball.
Bake The Turkey Meatballs
- Place in a 420-degree F oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until slightly start to brown. They usually have a lighter color than those made with red meat. You can turn the broil function for the last minute or two of baking for a more golden surface. Baking the turkey meatballs is easier, healthier and mess free. But you can also fry them if you like or use an air fryer to make them oil free.
Don’t over bake the meatballs. Take them out of the oven when they are cooked through inside, sometimes they might not get browned but they tend to cook even after you take them out.
Making Ahead
Gather the ingredients and form the meatballs, place them on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Freeze them raw. Once frozen transfer the turkey meatballs in a plastic bag and keep frozen for up to 3-4 months. When you need a quick finger food or meal, you’ll have fresh tasting turkey meatballs for your baby in no time!
Turkey For Baby
Most pediatricians recommend that turkey meat (or meats in general) to be introduced to a baby when he/she is ready – usually around 6-7 months of age – when the baby is already accustomed with other vegetables as the first food.
In terms of nutrition, it is advised to choose dark turkey meat over white. The dark meat contains 1.4 mg. of iron per 100 grams compared to 0.7 mg per 100 grams in the white meat.
Egg Free Baby Turkey Meatballs Version
Keep everything the same, you just need to replace the egg with apple sauce. You’ll need about 1/2 cup for 1 pound of meat. Add it at the end with the meat and mix by hand.
You will not be able to tell it’s there, but the apple sauce will help keep the meatballs moist and juicy. If the mixture feels too wet you can add a few tablespoons of starchy flour.
How To Store The Meatballs
- Store leftovers for 4-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
- Freeze up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- Thaw / reheat – just pop them out of the freezer and place them on a backing sheet. Cover with foil and reheat at 170C /350F until heated through. Or thaw the turkey meatballs overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove: In a pot add a touch of water or stock and the meatballs, cover and let them steam inside at low temperature for 10-15 minutes.
Need more recipes for your baby or toddler? Check out the finger foods category for more ideas!
More Baby Food Recipes With Ground Meat
- Soft Beef Meatballs For Baby (BLW) Toddler, No Egg
- Salmon Meatballs (BLW)
- Soft Chicken Meatballs For Babies, Toddlers, Kids (BLW)
- Chicken Liver Muffins For Babies, Toddlers, Kids
- Turkey Avocado Patties For Baby (BLW) Toddlers, Kids
Have you tried this baby turkey meatball recipe? Your feedback is really helpful, please rate and leave a comment below recipe card!
Turkey Meatballs For Baby (BLW) No Egg Option
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey (from thigh meat)
- 1 medium carrot
- 1/2 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3/4 cup celery root /celeriac ((same size as the onion) grated)
- 1 large egg
Seasonings
- 1/3 tsp sea salt (or Himalayan pink salt (for small babies))
- 1/3 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp rosemary (powder)
- 1/4 tsp paprika (optional)
Instructions
Prepare & Mix The Ingredients
- Prep the vegetables (onion, carrot, garlic and celery root): clean and peel and throw them in a food processor. Or you could grate them.
- Mix: pulse a few times until finely chopped, then add the egg, seasonings and the ground turkey, mix by hand or with a spatula. Don’t mix in the food processor it will make the texture very gummy.
Form The Meatballs
- Use a small cookie or ice cream scoop to evenly portion out the meatballs. Place one by one in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or without if it’s non stick). To help with stickiness when rolling: lightly dampen hands with some oil when rolling each meatball.
Bake The Turkey Meatballs
- Place in a 420-degree F oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until slightly start to brown. They usually have a lighter color than those made with red meat. You can turn the broil function for the last minute or two of baking for a more golden surface. Baking the turkey meatballs is easier, healthier and mess free. But you can also fry them, or even air-fry them in an air-fryer if you like.
Notes
Baby Turkey Meatballs No Egg
Keep everything the same, you just need to replace the egg with apple sauce. You’ll need about 1/2 cup for 1 pound of meat. Add it at the end with the meat and mix by hand. Store leftovers for 4-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Freeze them raw or cooked. Once frozen, transfer the turkey meatballs in a plastic bag and keep frozen for up to 3-4 months.Nutrition
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My son loved these! Thanks for this awesome recipe. They also freeze great!
I haven’t made these yet but what time and temp for an air fryer? I have a Nuwave air fryer with racks & options for 1200/1500/1800 watts. I have made your Avocado Turkey Burger’s and my son loves them! Thank you!
Monica, I wish I could tell you, but I don’t own an air fryer and I don’t have an experience of using it.
Delicious and easy. My baby liked them, as did my husband. Just curious about a substitute for celeriac if we can’t find it in future or would prefer a different option?
That sounds great!
Well, potato is a good substitution for celeriac. Or you can omit it entirely.