Packed with flavor, these easy Za’atar Turkey Meatballs are made in one pot in less than 20 minutes. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and are delicious in a bowl or salad.

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Juicy and delicious za'atar turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs or eggs.

Why should you make these Za’atar Turkey Meatballs?

These Za’atar Turkey Meatballs are so incredibly juicy and delicious. The oven doesn’t need to be turned on to make these; instead, they are cooked quickly in a well-oiled skillet over the stovetop.

This quick, easy, clean-eating recipe is made with 6 main ingredients. The total time to make these, including prep time, is about 20 minutes.

These Za’atar Turkey Meatballs are made without breadcrumbs and are a high-protein side dish, perfect for meal prepping for the busy week.

By the way, za’atar or zaatar is a highly aromatic and flavorful Middle Eastern Spice blend consisting of sumac, sesame seeds, and herbs like oregano, thyme, and marjoram. I get it from either The Dekalb Farmer’s Market, Trader Joe’s, or online on Amazon.

What are the ingredients needed to make these Easy Za’atar Turkey meatballs?

You will need the following 6 main ingredients, as well as salt and black pepper.

Ground Turkey
Za’atar
Crushed Red Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Olive Oil

And, salt & pepper

Instructions for making these turkey meatballs

Add the ground turkey, za’atar, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl and mix them well with a spatula or your hands. I prefer using my hands.

Then, using your fingers, squeeze off a bite-sized piece of this meatball mixture and roll it into a small ball. Repeat until all the turkey is made into balls.

Step 1 and step 2 in making these easy turkeyballs

Add the olive oil to a skillet set over a stovetop set to medium heat.

Add the turkey meatballs to the skillet, place a cover on top, and let them pan-saute for about 3 minutes.

Step 3 and step 4 in making these easy turkeyballs

Then, flip the turkey meatballs over, cover the pan again, and let them sauté for another 3 minutes.

Remove the cover and stir the Za’atar Turkey meatballs. Then, turn the stovetop up to medium-high heat and let these sauté for another 2 minutes or so. The juices should evaporate in this time. Then, stir the turkeyballs around so they gather up all the flavorful brown bits left in the pan.

These turkey meatballs are now ready to enjoy!

Recipe tip

I used 85% lean ground turkey. The 15% fat content helped these turkey meatballs stay juicy. If these turkeyballs are made with a leaner ground turkey, they might not be as juicy.
If you want extra juicy meatballs, add in a tablespoon of breadcrumbs that have been soaked in a tablespoon of milk.

Serving suggestions:

These Za’atar Turkey meatballs can be enjoyed as an appetizer, with a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs like fresh parsley or cilantro.

They can also be served on a sub sandwich or pita pocket with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and topped with some chopped fresh basil and tzatziki sauce.

These turkey meatballs are also delicious in a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, carrot, black olives, and feta cheese. And, even in a bowl with fresh vegetables or sheet pan roasted veggies, and some chutney (as seen in the pictures here).

Easy 6-ingredient za'atar turkey meatballs

They are the perfect accompaniment to a meal consisting of couscous, quinoa, or even this yellow rice, served with some black bean curry and some rhubarb chutney.

I have even had these Za’atar Turkey meatballs with a bagel and an egg for breakfast!

How do you store leftovers of these Za’atar Turkey meatballs?

Leftover Za’atar Turkey meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat these turkeyballs by placing them in a well-oiled skillet over a stovetop set to medium heat so they stay juicy!

What is a good substitute for za’atar?

In my humble opinion, I would say a combination of coriander, oregano (or Italian Seasoning), marjoram (if you can find it), and thyme. However, za’atar can be found online on Amazon and Thrive Market, and I would urge you to use za’atar in this recipe.

Can these Za’atar Turkey meatballs be made with chicken or beef?

Yes! The same spices and cooking method can be used if the ground turkey is substituted with ground chicken or ground beef.

Easy za'atar turkeyballs IN A BOWL with fresh vegetables and rhubarb chutney.

Love Za’atar? Then, make sure to check out these other recipes:

Za’atar Ras-el-hanout Chicken Spinach Dish,
Easy Lemon Za’atar Quinoa,
Roasted Cauliflower and Grapes (4 ingredients),
Za’atar Cacio e Pepe Recipe, and
Roasted Za’atar Eggplant.

Thanks so much for stopping by. If you make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think of it, or tag your creation on social media with @savoryspin or #savoryspin. For more fusion, spice-filled, recipe ideas, please subscribe and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest!