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These easy Lemon Pepper Turkey Meatballs are one of my favorite healthy meal prep recipes for busy weeks.
Made with just 5 simple ingredients, they come together quickly and are perfect to keep on hand for quick lunches, easy dinners, or protein-packed snacks. They’re flavorful, low in calories, and incredibly versatile.
I first started making these healthy turkey meatballs during one of those “we need to get back on track” seasons after realizing my husband and I were walking in the door every evening starving and immediately reaching for chips and snack foods.
To make healthier choices easier, I started stocking the refrigerator with ready-to-eat options like chopped vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, and batches of these low calorie meatballs. They reheat beautifully in the microwave (affiliate link) and are even tasty eaten cold straight from the fridge.
Sometimes the simplest recipes really are the most useful.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground turkey – Lean ground turkey keeps these meatballs high in protein and low in fat. Ground chicken or lean ground pork also works well.
- Plain breadcrumbs – Regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs both work. Crushed pork rinds, almond flour, ground oats, or shredded zucchini can also be substituted.
- Fresh lemon juice – Adds bright fresh flavor. Lemon zest is optional but highly recommended for even more lemon flavor.
- Lemon pepper seasoning – The main flavor booster in this recipe.
- Eggs, beaten – Help bind everything together.
Optional additions:
- Lemon zest
- Fresh parsley
- Garlic powder
- Crushed red pepper flakes
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each 4-meatball serving has 194 calories and 1 WW Point.
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 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, Variations & Tips
- A small cookie scoop (affiliate link) makes shaping the meatballs much faster and keeps them evenly sized.
- Ground chicken works well in place of turkey.
- To make these gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or substitute almond flour or crushed pork rinds.
- Adding shredded zucchini is another great way to boost moisture while reducing calories.
- These meatballs are intentionally lightly seasoned so they pair well with lots of different meals and sauces.
Serving Suggestions
These lemon pepper meatballs are incredibly versatile. Try serving them:
- With roasted vegetables and a baked sweet potato
- Over rice or cauliflower rice
- Stuffed into pita bread with lettuce, tomato, and tzatziki
- Alongside a Greek salad
- Tossed with orzo and spinach
- As a high-protein snack or meal prep lunch
Leftover Ideas
Leftovers store beautifully in the refrigerator or freezer.
Try using extras to make:
- Lemon chicken-style soup with broth, spinach, and orzo
- Breakfast hash or frittata
- Grain bowls
- Wraps and sandwiches
- Quick pasta dishes
You can also freeze cooked meatballs for future quick meals.
If you’ve made this Easy Lemon Pepper Turkey 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 Turkey Meatballs
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 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Recipe Notes, Variations & Tips
- A small cookie scoop makes shaping the meatballs much faster and keeps them evenly sized.
- Ground chicken works well in place of turkey.
- To make these gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or substitute almond flour or crushed pork rinds.
- Adding shredded zucchini is another great way to boost moisture while reducing calories.
- These meatballs are intentionally lightly seasoned so they pair well with lots of different meals and sauces.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More WW-Friendly Meatball Recipes
If you enjoy these Lemon Pepper Turkey Meatballs, you may also like:
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.