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Healthy Clean Eating BBQ Turkey Meatball Skewers

Healthy Clean Eating BBQ Turkey Meatball Skewers - featured image
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These juicy and flavorful BBQ turkey meatball skewers are quick, easy, and perfect for healthy summer grilling. Made with lean ground turkey and a tangy, sweet BBQ glaze, they are a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) lean ground turkey (preferably 93% lean)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/3 cup finely diced bell pepper (optional)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried parsley)
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (or gluten-free alternative like almond flour)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup no-sugar-added BBQ sauce
  • 1 tbsp raw honey or pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder (optional)
  • Wooden or metal skewers (soaked if wooden)
  • Fresh lemon wedges for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Finely chop the onion, bell pepper, garlic, and parsley.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, onion, bell pepper, garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs, egg, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
  3. Shape the mixture into 1½-inch (about 4 cm) meatballs, about 16 total. Keep a small bowl of water nearby to wet your hands to prevent sticking.
  4. Thread 3-4 meatballs onto each skewer, leaving space between each meatball.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, and chili powder until smooth. Set aside.
  6. Preheat grill to medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C) and lightly oil the grates.
  7. Place meatball skewers on the grill and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, turning carefully.
  8. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, brush skewers generously with BBQ glaze every couple of minutes.
  9. Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Meatballs should be golden brown with slight char.
  10. Remove skewers from grill and let rest for 3-4 minutes.
  11. Serve hot with lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Avoid overmixing the meatball mixture to keep them tender. Start glazing halfway through cooking to prevent burning the BBQ sauce. Use a meat thermometer to ensure safe internal temperature. If no grill is available, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-18 minutes and broil for 2 minutes for charred effect.

Nutrition

Keywords: BBQ turkey meatballs, healthy grilling, summer skewers, clean eating, lean turkey recipe, easy meatballs, gluten-free BBQ, low fat BBQ

Find it online: https://sagestirs.com/healthy-clean-eating-bbq-turkey-meatball-skewers-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-summer-grilling/