Light Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs (Printable)

Lean turkey meatballs glazed in teriyaki sauce served with pineapple and colorful veggie skewers.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Turkey Meatballs

01 - 1 pound lean ground turkey
02 - 1 large egg
03 - 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
04 - 2 tablespoons green onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 garlic clove, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Teriyaki Sauce

10 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
11 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
14 - 1/4 cup water
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
16 - 1 garlic clove, minced

→ Pineapple Veggie Skewers

17 - 1 small fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks
18 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
19 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
20 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
21 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced into thick rounds
22 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
23 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water for 20 minutes to prevent charring.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, gently combine ground turkey, egg, panko breadcrumbs, green onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and black pepper until just blended. Shape mixture into 16-20 evenly sized meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Bake meatballs for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F.
04 - While meatballs bake, thread pineapple chunks, bell pepper pieces, red onion wedges, and zucchini rounds alternately onto skewers. Drizzle with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
05 - Grill or broil skewers for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until vegetables are caramelized and tender-crisp.
06 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, cornstarch, water, ginger, and garlic. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens (2-3 minutes). Remove from heat.
07 - Transfer baked meatballs to the warm teriyaki sauce and toss gently until evenly coated.
08 - Arrange glazed meatballs on a serving platter alongside pineapple veggie skewers. Garnish with additional chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Lean protein that doesn't taste like sacrifice, thanks to ginger and sesame oil keeping everything moist and flavorful.
  • Those pineapple chunks caramelize into little pockets of sweetness that balance the savory meatballs perfectly.
  • The whole meal comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you can actually make this on a Tuesday without stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cornstarch in the teriyaki sauce; without it, you'll have a thin liquid instead of a proper glaze that clings to the meatballs.
  • The pineapple juice will run off the skewers as they cook, which is why you char them under high heat quickly rather than slowly braising them.
03 -
  • Don't let the meatballs rest in the sauce too long before serving; they absorb it and can become overly wet if you're not eating immediately.
  • If your pineapple is very tart, add an extra half teaspoon of honey to the sauce; you're looking for balanced sweet and savory, not one dominating the other.
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