Healthy Lunch Box Recipes: Easy Mini Turkey Meatballs Recipe for Work or School Lunches (20 Minutes) High Protein Recipes Budget Recipes Turkey Recipes Lunch Dinner Meal Prep Recipes Low Carb Recipes Gluten-free

Already stressing about what to pack in your child's school lunch box? Don't! "A huge request this back-to-school (back to the office) season is cold lunchbox ideas to tuck into backpacks or purses that’ll stay good for a few hours until lunchtime and do not require heating," says Rachel Maser, mom of four and founder/creator of the clean eating blog, Clean Food Crush®.

Here's an easy gluten-free recipe for mini ground turkey meatballs that kids and adults will enjoy. Here is your shopping list for this budget-friendly high-protein recipe: ground turkey (read about the health benefits of protein like lean turkey), onion, fresh garlic, an egg, oat flour, ketchup, fresh parsley, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper and either olive oil or avocado oil. The meatball recipe is ready in about 20 minutes.

Add toothpicks (if age appropriate) to the lunch box for serving along with berries and melon. You can also just make these meatballs for a quick weeknight family dinner. 

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8 (makes about 40 meatballs)

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 small onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup oat flour
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 3 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil

Here's how to make it: 

1. In a large mixing bowl add all of the meatball ingredients except for the oil. Stir to combine. With clean hands, take about 2 to 3 teaspoons of turkey mixture and form it into a mini meatball. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the meatballs for 5 to 6 minutes, gently stirring, until golden brown on all sides and cooked through. Allow meatballs to cool completely before assembling the lunch boxes. These turkey meatballs stay good in the fridge for up to three days.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Clean Food Crush®.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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