This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
It’s that time of year when my husband and I are trying to lose a few pounds. We both tend to be in the habit of walking in the door famished and grabbing the first thing in sight, which is usually chips.
To help us make smarter choices, I try to have quick and easy vegetable and protein options available—ready to just grab and eat—like these easy, healthy, Low Calorie Lemon Pepper Meatballs made with ground turkey. With just 5 ingredients they come together in a snap.
And I’ve moved the chips to a cabinet in the garage! Out of sight, out of mind is proving to be very effective, just link Brian Wansink teaches in his sensational book – Mindless Eating.
Now when we open the refrigerator, we can easily find washed and chopped vegetables, hard boiled eggs, deviled eggs, or some type of protein like these low calorie meatballs. All they need is a quick warming in the microwave (affiliate link) or you can even eat them cold.
How Many Calories and WW Points in these Lemon Pepper Meatballs?
According to my calculations, each 4-meatball serving has 194 calories.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
5 SmartPoints (Green plan)
4 SmartPoints (Blue plan)
4 SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)
How to Make 5-Ingredient Lemon Pepper Meatballs, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, breadcrumbs and lemon pepper seasoning.
Step 3: In a separate small bowl (affiliate link), whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest (if using) and eggs.
Step 4: Add lemon juice mixture to turkey and gently fold all ingredients together until blended. Using a small cookie scoop (affiliate link) (about 1 tablespoon), shape turkey into meatballs. Place about 22 meatballs on each prepared sheet pan and baked for 17 to 22 minutes, until fully cooked and golden brown.
Recipe Notes
I used a small cookie scoop (affiliate link) (approximately a tablespoon size) to form the meatballs which really speeds up the process and eliminates the need to roll them.
I like this low calorie ground turkey recipe, but if you prefer you could use any type of ground meat – chicken, pork or beef.
To make these meatballs gluten-free or Paleo friendly, just use shredded zucchini or any other type of squash or ground nuts in place of the bread crumbs.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve meatballs with a baked sweet potato and roasted Brussels sprouts.
- Add to a pita along with lettuce, tomato, and a pickle. Top with tzatziki.
- Serve turkey meatballs alongside rice and a greek salad.
- Keep a serving (4 meatballs) in a small ziplock baggie for a “grab and go” healthy snack.
Leftover Ideas
- Make a delicious low calorie soup by adding them to chicken broth, lemon juice, orzo and fresh spinach.
- Sauté several diced meatballs along with chopped red pepper and potato, add 4-6 beaten eggs to make a delicious frittata.
- Freeze them to use later.
If you’ve made this Low Carb Lemon Pepper Meatballs, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
5-Ingredient Lemon Pepper Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs, plain (gluten-free or regular)
- 1/2 lemon, juiced (optional to add the zest of lemon)
- 4 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 2 eggs beaten
Instructions
- Preheat over to 350F degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease pans and set aside.
- Add ground turkey to a large mixing bowl (affiliate link). Add breadcrumbs and lemon pepper seasoning over turkey.
- In a separate small bowl (affiliate link) add lemon juice (and zest, if using) and eggs. Whisk until well combined.
- Add lemon juice mixture to the turkey bowl. Use your hands to gently fold all ingredients until blended.
- Use a small cookie scoop or shape a tablespoon of turkey into meatballs. Place approximately 22 meatballs per prepared sheet pan.
- Cook for 17-20 minutes until meatballs are golden brown.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 5 SmartPoints (Green plan) 4 SmartPoints (Blue plan) 4 SmartPoints (Purple plan) 5 PointsPlus (Old plan) I used a small cookie scooper (approximately a tablespoon size) to form the meatballs, which really speeds up the process and eliminates the need to roll them. I like this low calorie ground turkey recipe, but if you prefer you could use any type of ground meat. To make it gluten-free or Paleo friendly, just use shredded zucchini or any other type of squash or ground nuts in place of the bread crumbs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Loved these! Easy to put together. I used one lb of turkey and one lb. Of ground beef. Served with marinara sauce.
Could I also cook these on a broiler pan? Is that even necessary?
Hi Erica, you can cook them on whatever kind of baking sheet/broiler pan you prefer. ~Martha
Fantastic recipe! I made it with ground turkey breast and Panko bread crumbs. 3 freestyle points in the whole recipe. Really tasty!
Wow this looks delicious and isn’t unhealthy like people would think! I would love to try it with a nice cup of tea as a late snack. But Im not sure if thats good for most people since tea has caffeine.