Go Back
+ servings
A bowl filled with creamy orzo surrounded with several meatballs

Easy Turkey Meatballs with Creamy Orzo

This is a quick weeknight recipe that will have a satisfying dinner on the table in under an hour using affordable ground dark turkey and day old bread.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: turkey meatballs with orzo
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 426kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dark turkey meat
  • 3 slices day old bread
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ¼ cup flat leaf parsley chopped
  • 8-9 sage leaves chopped
  • 4-5 sage for garnish
  • 2 shallots chopped and divided
  • 3 cloves garlic minced fine and divided
  • ¼ tsp old bay seasoning
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo
  • 1 tsp Better than bouillon chicken flavor
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 4 cups fresh spinach stems removed
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Place bread in a small bowl with milk. Let rest for 10 minutes.
  • In a large skillet, melt butter, sauté on medium high heat 1 of the shallots, sage, 1 clove of garlic, flat leaf parsley, old bay, salt & pepper for 1 minute until shallots are softened. Do not clean pan. Set aside. Place shallot mixture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade. Add milk soaked bread, egg and turkey to the food processor. Pulse until ingredients just come together. Using a medium size scoop, shape mixture in balls and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with 1 TBSP of olive oil. Roast at 400 degrees for 15 minutes until just browned. (The inside may still be undercooked. )
  • While the meatballs are roasting, heat remaining olive oil in the skillet. Add remaining garlic and 1 cup orzo and sauté for 1 minute on low heat until the garlic is fragrant. Stir in the bouillon & coat the orzo well. Stir in the wine & water. Bring to a simmer stirring constantly so the orzo does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • Stir in the cream, spinach and Parmesan. Nestle the meatballs in the orzo, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add more water if needed.

Notes

  • Be sure not to overcook your meatballs in the oven. They will cook through while covered in the pan.
  • If you do not have a food processor, you can mix this by hand in a large bowl.
  • Most savory herbs will work in this recipe- I just love thyme, sage and flat leaf parsley because they compliment poultry. Avoid cilantro or coriander or dill. They will overpower the cream sauce.
  • Try mixing in other veggies like sun dried tomatoes, artichokes or even green olives.
  • Nutrition

    Calories: 426kcal