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A Whole30 and Paleo ground turkey recipe – Turkey Meatballs Braised in Tomato Sauce. This amazing dinner is cooked in tomato sauce so the meatballs come out so delicious and not dry at all! 

Last week I showed you how to make sweet potato noodles. This week I give you a flavorful, moist turkey meatball and sauce to put on top of them!

Preventing Dry Turkey Meatballs

Ground turkey can often turn out very dry and blah, but by adding some moisture via eggs and then cooking the meatballs in a liquid they retain their moisture and intense flavor. This technique is called braising and can really produce some amazing, tender dinners.

Egg-free variation: You can also use applesauce as an egg-replacer if you are egg-free (the flavors of the sauce, etc overpower any apple-y taste).

No Need for Breadcrumbs

The use of almond flour instead of bread still gives the meatballs the texture you recognize and love in a typical Italian-style meatball, but in a gluten-free and Paleo way.

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Make Ahead these tasty meatballs

Store these meatballs with the sauce in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To freeze, first make sure everything has cooled down to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer the meatballs and sauce together into a freezer-safe container or bag, then place in the freezer. If you need to store them seperately, line the meatballs on a baking sheet and place in the freezer. Once the meatballs are frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Transfer the seperated sauce into a freezer-safe container or bag. Place both the seperated meatballs and sauce in the freezer. They will keep well for up to 6 months.

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If you find this recipe helpful, you may really enjoy the resources in my Paleo & AIP Freebie Library! There's a “dump” freezer meal plan, a list of AIP-compliant breakfast toppings, and so much more. Plus, you'll get even more ideas sent to your inbox! Get the password here.

Whole30 and Paleo Turkey Meatball Recipe

If you make these meatballs, I'd love to hear how they turned out! Either comment below or share a pic on Instagram and tag me @thrivingautoimmune!

Turkey Meatballs Braised in Tomato Sauce

Author: Michele Spring
Servings: 4
These super flavorful turkey meatballs are delicious served over sweet potato noodles. They're Paleo and Whole30-compliant.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 2 tbs Lard or other cooking fat
  • 1 small yellow Onion (grated)
  • 2 large Carrots (peeled and grated)
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 2 tsp Sea Salt
  • 2 lb Ground Turkey Thighs
  • 1 cup Almond Flour
  • 2 Eggs (or 1/2 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce)
  • 2 tsp Fresh Sage (chopped)
  • 1/2 tsp Freshly Ground Pepper

For the Sauce

  • 56 oz Diced Tomatoes (with their juices)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tsp Dried Basil
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt the lard. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from pot and put into a large bowl.
  • Add the ground turkey thighs, almond flour, eggs, sage, the remaining salt and approx 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper to the bowl and mix with your hands. Form the mixture into meatballs, about the size of golf balls.
  • In the same pot you cooked the onion/carrot mixture in, add the tomatoes, garlic, dried basil, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix and cook over medium-high heat until boiling.
  • Add the meatballs to the sauce and turn the heat down to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Serve over sweet potato noodles, spaghetti squash, or mashed cauliflower.
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: coconut free, dairy free, grain free, one hour meal, one pot, Paleo, Whole30
Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below or share a photo on Instagram and tag me @thrivingautoimmune !
Turkey Meatballs Braised in Tomato Sauce Recipe by Thriving On Paleo - gluten-free and Paleo

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