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Cooking with Conks
Cooking with ConksVerified

February 2, 2026

These Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs combine our favorite flavors of the holiday! Turkey can often be dry, but these babies are super moist because of the panade in the mixture. They’re also full of fresh herbs, onions, and celery, giving them turkey and stuffing vibes.

Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs cover
From the Cook
From the Cook
From the Cook
From the Cook
1/5

Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients

Milk and 5 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

1
|
Preheat the oven to 400F.
2
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Melt the butter in a pan set over medium heat.
3
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Add the onions and celery, a pinch of salt, and cracked black pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until slightly softened. Set aside to cool.
4
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Make a panade by mixing together breadcrumbs and milk and let sit until the breadcrumbs soak up the liquid.
5
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In a large bowl, add the turkey, cooled vegetables, spices, remaining salt, and herbs.
6
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Add the panade, parmesan cheese, eggs, and oil.
7
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Mix the meatballs together until just combined. Overmixing will make the meatballs tough.
8
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Using a 1 ½ tablespoon size scoop for small meatballs (or a 3 tbsp scoop for large ones), scoop and roll them into meatballs and distribute them onto two baking sheets lined with parchment. Tip: spray the scoop and your hands with non-stick spray to keep the mixture from sticking.
9
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Bake for 12-15 minutes, then swap the trays and flip each meatball over.
10
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Bake for another 10 minutes until slightly golden and the internal temperature measures 165F with an instant read thermometer.
11
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Serve with your favorite gravy and mashed potatoes.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

  • Panade Magic 💦
    Create a moisture-rich panade by soaking breadcrumbs in milk before mixing with turkey, which prevents dry meatballs and ensures a tender, juicy texture.
  • Herb Chopping Pro 🔪
    Finely chop fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage to release maximum flavor and ensure even distribution throughout the meatballs.
  • Gentle Mixing Technique 🥄
    Use a light hand when mixing meatball ingredients to prevent overworking the meat, which can lead to tough, dense meatballs.
  • Flavor Layering 🧄
    Sauté celery and onions before adding to the meatball mixture to develop deeper, more complex flavor profiles reminiscent of traditional stuffing.
  • Perfect Meatball Size 📏
    Use a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon to create uniform meatballs that cook evenly and look professionally prepared.

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About the Cook

Cooking with Conks

We’re Rachel & Emily Conklin (“Conks” for short), sisters, lifelong foodies, and the voices behind Cooking with Conks. We grew up in Southern California, surrounded by bold flavors, big family meals, and the kind of kitchen chaos that turns into inside jokes

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