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If ever I want to feel like a culinary genius in my kitchen, I whip up a batch of Greek Meatballs with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. Baked turkey meatballs get a HUGE upgrade with some greek flavors, and the addition of the most glorious roasted red pepper sauce! This dinner is sure to be devoured and loved by all! Paleo, Keto, and Whole30 compliant.
Heck yes, this recipe is as delicious as it sounds. And in other breaking news, my bell pepper hating child gobbled up this sauce as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
As a nutritionist, I am always looking for more ways to incorporate vegetables into our meals. Especially in ways you won’t recognize! These meatballs are a perfect example. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C from the Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. It’s something different from a classic marinara, but still looks pretty and creamy to be appetizing.
Greek Meatballs = Healthy Comfort Food!
While keeping with my approach of lightening up meals without skimping on flavor, I turn to meatballs. I have several meatballs on my site that my family devours: Thai Curry Meatballs, Chicken Satay Meatballs, Moroccan Meatballs, and my famous appetizer: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs.
This recipe stands out with it’s bold tangy flavor, and creamy decadent sauce. We roast red peppers in the oven for some smoky flavor, add red wine vinegar for a bit of tang, and some avocado oil for some extra healthy fat that is unbelievably satisfying!
Simple steps to make Greek Meatballs with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce:
- Make the sauce by roasting several red peppers in the oven with stems and seeds removed. Toss the roasted peppers in a blender or food processor with red wine vinegar, oil, and garlic.
- Make the meatballs by using a combination of ground turkey and turkey sausage.
- Mix the meat with fresh herbs, onion, almond flour, egg, and coconut aminos. Create balls with the meat, and place on a sheet pan to bake.
- After baking, toss with the sauce. Serve over potatoes or cauliflower rice with fresh feta or herbs as an option.
Variations and Adaptations:
Meat: Mix up the type of meat you use if you prefer. I chose the ground turkey and turkey sausage route, but these would also taste delicious with beef or even lamb. You could also use all pork.
Cheese: Feel free to top with parmesan or feta cheese.
Noodles/Pasta: For serving, you can also use any type of pasta. Spiralized veggies (my personal favorite is butternut squash), also taste delicious with these meatballs on top.
Serving and Storing:
Fresh herbs for garnish are a must! And to serve? These can easily be a main dish on their own, or as an appetizer. As a main dish, you can serve over cauliflower rice or rice, noodles or veggie noodles as mentioned above, or even over potatoes.
Store in the fridge for up to 1 week. This dish also freezes really well! Bring to room temperature and simmer over medium low heat to warm up.
Is this dish Keto and Whole30 compliant?
As written, this dish is Paleo, Keto, and Whole30 compliant. To keep it Paleo and Whole30, omit the feta cheese.
Be sure to rate the recipe below and comment if you make it! Also, tag me on Instagram @wholesomelicious with your creations. I love to see them!
Greek Turkey Meatballs with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Ingredients
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce:
- 6 red bell peppers
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp sea salt
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 lb ground turkey sausage
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1 tsp salt + more to taste
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
- 3 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp freshly chopped mint
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare your peppers: Cut each pepper in half or thirds, strip membrane, de-seed, and brush the tops with olive oil.
- Place peppers on a baking sheet and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the peppers are nice and soft, and slightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool. Reduce the heat of the oven to 375 degrees.
- Meanwhile, make the meatballs. Combine the ground turkey and sausage with a whisked egg, almond flour, salt, red onion, coconut aminos, parsley, and mint. Mix well with your hands.
- Using your hands or a cookie scoop, form balls approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Transfer pan to the oven, and bake for about 20 minutes.
- While meatballs are baking finish the sauce. Combine the peppers, oil, vinegar, salt, and garlic into the blender. Pulse until smooth.
- Remove meatballs and serve warm drizzled with red pepper sauce over cauliflower rice, rice, or vegetable noodles. Garnish with feta cheese and additional fresh herbs (thyme, or basil), if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious and easy. My store was out of turkey sausage so I subbed Italian sausage(pork) to combine with the ground turkey. Although I am Greek I don’t care for mint so I subbed oregano. I baked them a bit longer than 20 minutes .
I did not want to cut and seed peppers and take time to roast so I used the large jar of roasted red peppers I had on hand.
I saw butternut squash “noodles” at the store so I decided to try them. Very good . Topped off with feta.
Healthy, easy, fresh and filling. Served mine up with quinoa and added red pepper flakes to the meatball mix. Turned out supreme! Recommend roasting just a wee bit longer in the oven.
love this recipe! I always have a batch frozen. Quick question, can we use only ground pork? and please visit us: https://www.beckandbulow.com
Yes, of course!
Literally a staple in my dinner repertoire! Tonight, I replaced with Worcestershire sauce because I accidentally (like a newbie) was out of soy sauce, and it worked! Not quite as light as the soy sauce, but just as tasty!
This recipe is a WINNER! I made it last night, and my whole family loved it. I did substitute organic ground beef instead of turkey. The one recipe made enough for my family of 6 to have 2 nights in a row :)! Every recipe I have tried of yours Amy, is delicious! Thank you for creating such flavorful and healthy recipes :)! You are gifted!
This was absolutely delicious over riced cauliflower! Only thing I was not clear on was the turkey sausage. I couldnt find turkey sausage in a roll (is there such a thing) and was hesitant to use the turkey italian. Can you clarify? Perhaps I just needed to look at a few more stores…. I’m sure it wasnt as healthy but it sure was good!