Name: Low Carb Turkey Meatballs & Gravy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground turkey; ½ onion (finely diced); 2 garlic cloves (finely minced); 1 egg; ½ cup parmesan cheese (finely grated); 2 oz pancetta (uncured, diced small); ½ cup almond flour; ½ cup fresh mint leaves (minced); 2 tablespoons ground cumin; 1 tablespoon ground mustard; 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg; sea salt; freshly ground pepper; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 onion (diced); 3 cups chicken stock; ¼ cup heavy cream; 1 cup parmesan cheese (shredded); 2 tbsp dijon mustard; 2 teaspoons ground mustard; 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1½ teaspoon coconut aminos; 1½ teaspoon salt (or to taste); ⅓ teaspoon cayene pepper (optional); olive oil; finely chopped fresh mint (optional)

These low carb turkey meatballs are so easy and satisfying. They are compliant to a low carb lifestyle with all the comfort food feeling you need.

Turkey meatballs and gravy in a skillet with a spoon.

Overview

I love a good meatball 🙂

Nothing beats the traditional greek meatball recipe, my keftedes are sublime, that is true. I wanted to create a version that would keep the flavors I love without the carbs. I decided to use ground turkey this time. I find that ground turkey has little difference in taste from ground beef if you cook it right and season well. In order to add more depth and richness, I added small diced uncured pancetta in the meatball mix.

No need for breadcrumbs

It is hard to make turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs. Ground turkey has a lot of liquid, and the meatball can easily fall apart or be too sticky to form into a ball. The use of fine almond flour, grated parmesan, and one egg create the bond that keeps the meatball together.

If the room temperature is too warm and the meatballs are too loose to handle, a great trick is to refrigerate them for 15-30 min. That will make them more solid and ready for frying.

Low carb turkey meatballs and gravy with a spoon.

The meatball gravy

Normally I would make a creamy mustard sauce for these meatballs using a lot of heavy cream, which risked being too rich. I chose to pair these meatballs with a gravy-like sauce.

To make this gravy you need:

Chicken stock.
Butter.
Heavy cream (only 1/4 cup).
Grated parmesan cheese.
Coconut aminos or Worcestershire sauce

Left: Grated cheese, an egg pancetta cubes, chopped mint, chopped onion, garlic powder, mustard powder in a bowl. Right, meatballs on parchment paper.

1. In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, almond flour, onion, mint, egg, cumin, mustard, garlic powder, pancetta, parmesan cheese, a generous pinch of salt, and a generous grind of fresh pepper. Mix with your hands (I usually wear plastic gloves when mixing poultry) or a spoon until all are well incorporated. Don’t overwork it.

2. Scoop some meatball mixture and form it into a ball. (I like to use a medium ice cream scooper, it creates the perfect size meatball). Place meatballs on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 15 min if the room temperature is hot and they are too loose to handle.

Left, four meatballs frying. Right, chopped onion in a skillet.

3. Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet at medium-high heat. Lightly fry the meatballs in batches and brown on all sides, about 2-3 minutes. Don’t worry about being fully cooked, they will finish cooking in the sauce. Place browned meatballs on paper towels to absorb any oil.

Prepare the sauce.

4. In a deep sauté pan, heat 2 tbsp butter. Add the onion, season with a pinch of salt and sauté for 1-2 min until translucent.

Left, gravy in a skillet. Right, meatballs and gravy in a skillet.

5. Add the chicken stock, and season with salt, cayenne, ground mustard, nutmeg, and coconut aminos. Stir well. Add the grated parmesan cheese and heavy cream. Stir and simmer in low heat for 5 min.

6. Place meatballs in the sauce and simmer for 10 in. Make sure meatballs are cooked through. Remove from heat and serve.

What to eat with these turkey meatballs

I love pairing these meatballs with a cheesy cauliflower mash. It keeps the whole meal low carb.

If you are more relaxed about carbs, they pair very well with buttery mashed potatoes or crispy roasted potatoes.

The gravy is ideal for bread dipping if you want to go that route 🙂

To mix it up, instead of the gravy, you can try the meatballs with this delicious creamy mushroom sauce and low-carb fettuccine.

Low carb turkey meatballs and gravy in a skillet with a spoon.

Tips & Tricks

Ground chicken can substitute for ground turkey.
Try adding Greek kefalotyri or pecorino instead of parmesan. You need a hard cheese for these meatballs, so cheddar, gouda, etc., are not ideal.
You can use chopped basil for mint anytime.
You can instantly have keto meatballs if you omit the almond flour and use keto-friendly chicken bone stock like Kettle & Fire. Chill the meatballs for 15-30 min to help hold their shape before frying.
You can freeze them for up to 1 month. After cooking, allow them to cool. Transfer to a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for 1 hour. Place them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer.