Juicy and delicious Marry Me Turkey Meatballs in a creamy sundried tomato sauce is one of my personal favorites. It's lighter than the traditional recipe, as I use yogurt in place of cream and ground turkey breast mince to make the meatballs. But don't be deceived; this dish is still super decadent in taste and texture.

The beauty of homemade turkey meatballs is that you can add herbs, spices, cheese, and more to really pack in the layers of flavor. These turkey meatballs and Marry Me sauce are super juicy and moist, as I have a particular way of making and baking them, so keep reading for all my tips! They reheat well, and you can freeze them, too, so it's possible to make them in advance. And, of course, everyone falls in love with them (hence the name).
Ingredients
For the turkey meatballs
- Ground turkey breast mince (I use 2% fat)
- Onion - this needs to be grated so that it's all juicy and adds moisture to the meatballs.
- Garlic
- Panko breadcrumbs - these are very airy, so they absorb more moisture. I also sometimes used crushed store-bought croutons.
- Egg - this is a binder and helps keep the baked Marry Me meatballs together.
- Basil
- Parsley
- Lemon juice
- Parmigiano Reggiano
For the Marry Me sauce
- Onion
- Red bell pepper
- Garlic
- Sundried tomatoes
- Chicken broth (or turkey broth)
- Plain yogurt (or cream)
- Basil
- Lemon juice
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Pine nuts
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for full quantities and step-by-step directions on how to make Marry Me turkey meatballs and sauce.
How to make Marry Me turkey meatballs
- Grate the onion and garlic into a mixing bowl. Stir in the egg, parmesan, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, lemon juice and fresh herbs. Then stir in the ground turkey mince and thoroughly combine.
- Chill the meatball mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes to make the meatballs easier to shape. Preheat the oven to 180°C/355°F (no fan).
- Roll the Marry Me meatballs into balls and place them into a greased oven dish.
- Bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F.
Top tip
To keep baked meatballs moist, toss half a mug of water onto the base of the oven when you put them in. It creates steam in the baking environment and helps stop them from drying out.
How to make Marry Me sauce
You can make Marry Me sauce while the baked turkey meatballs are cooking, or do this in advance.
Dice the onion, red bell pepper, and garlic. It doesn't have to be neat, as we are blending the sauce anyway.
Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat, and when it shimmers, add the onion and bell pepper. Once translucent, add the garlic.
Now stir in the chicken or turkey broth and bring to a simmer. Add the sundried tomatoes and grated parmesan cheese, and then use a stick blender/immersion blender to blend the sauce to a smooth consistency. Stir in the yogurt and add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
How to serve
Pour the sauce over the baked Marry Me turkey meatballs and sprinkle over fresh basil, pine nuts, and more grated parmesan cheese.
Place the dish under the grill/broiler to melt the cheese and bring everything to temperature so it is bubbling hot.
Serve baked Turkey Meatballs and Marry Me sauce with rice, pasta, a warmed baguette, or other sides like garlic rose potatoes.
Wine Pairing
Serve a crisp and dry white wine like a Reisling with this Marry Me turkey recipe, or a fruity red like a Chianti Classico.
Equipment
Combine the meatballs in a large mixing bowl and bake them in an oven-proof dish or a tray.
Make the sauce in a large saucepan and use an immersion blender to blend it up. You can also transfer it to a liquidizer, but wait for it to cool down a bit first!
Storage and Freezing
This recipe stores and freezes really well. Store leftover Marry Me turkey meatballs and sauce in an airtight container and reheat in the oven, stovetop, or microwave.
I often make a batch of meatballs and freeze half of them. If possible, freeze them raw. Cover in plastic food wrap to prevent freezer burn. Defrost overnight in the fridge. You can freeze Marry Me sauce, too. Place it in an airtight container. Use both within one month.
🙏🏻 If you try this recipe...
If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear how it went! Please leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment as well. Your feedback helps other readers and is greatly appreciated.
📖 Recipe
Marry Me Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
Ingredients
Marry Me turkey meatballs
- 500 grams (16 oz) Turkey mince
- ½ onion (grated)
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 egg
- ½ lemon (juice)
- 30 grams (½ cup) panko breadcrumbs
- 20 grams (¼ cup) parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon basil (chopped)
Marry Me sauce
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 clove garlic
- 300 ml (1¼ cups) chicken broth (or turkey)
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) sundried tomatoes
- 40 grams (½ cup) parmesan
- 150 grams (½ cup) plain yogurt
- ½ lemon (juice)
- 1 tablespoon pine nuts
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Make the meatballs
- Grate the onion and garlic into a mixing bowl and then stir in the egg, breadcrumbs, lemon juice, parmesan, and salt and pepper. Mix in the minced turkey. Place the meatball mix in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
- Preheat the oven to 180℃/355℉.
- Roll the meatballs into 16 balls and place them onto a greased oven-proof dish or tray.
- Bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes until their internal temperature reaches 74°C/165°F.
Make the Marry Me sauce
- Dice the onion, pepper, and garlic and saute in olive oil with a pinch of salt until translucent.
- Stir in the broth and bring to a simmer. Add the grated parmesan and sundried tomatoes and blend until smooth.
- Stir in the yogurt and season to taste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Assemble and serve
- Pour the sauce over the baked meatballs and sprinkle over some extra grated parmesan and pine nuts.
- Place the dish under the grill/broiler until the cheese and sauce is bubbling hot. Serve with fresh torn basil on top.
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