When warmer weather sets in, we’re here for sheet-pan dinners that can go in and out of the oven in less than 30 minutes. Enter these turkey meatballs jam-packed with fresh herbs and some chile for a kick of spice. These aren’t your low-and-slow, Sunday-supper-style meatballs. Rather, they’re bouncy with a bite, but still juicy and succulent thanks to the combo of ground dark-meat turkey and grated zucchini, which lends moisture and extends the meat. The meatballs are roasted on a sheet pan with green beans, then quickly finished under the broiler until the beans start to blister and char. If ground turkey isn’t your thing, these meatballs are equally delicious with ground pork, lamb, or beef.
And what would a sheet-pan meal be without a sauce? Here, turmeric is bloomed in olive oil and whisked with Greek yogurt, tahini, and a little lemon juice for a sunny yellow sauce that’s tangy, nutty, and a little earthy with a whisper of citrusy goodness. Since the sauce relies on turmeric for its main flavoring, invest in some good-quality turmeric like Diaspora Co. Pragati Turmeric. —Asha Loupy
Editor’s note: Asha Loupy is a recipe editor for Diaspora Co.
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What you’ll need
Spice Mill
$60 $50 At Kitchen Aid
Mortar and Pestle
$24 At Amazon
Small Skillet
$23 At Amazon
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
$26 At Amazon
Whisk
$10 At Amazon
Ingredients
2
2
1
¼
1
1
1
1
1¼
¾
4
1
¼
1
½
1
¼
2
Special Equipment
Preparation
Step 1
Place a rack in middle of oven and set a rimmed baking sheet on rack. Preheat oven to 450°. Toast 2 tsp. cumin seeds, 2 tsp. fennel seeds, 1 tsp. coriander seeds, and ¼ tsp. black peppercorns in a dry small skillet over medium-high, stirring constantly, until fragrant and seeds are a shade darker, about 1 minute. Transfer to spice mill or mortar and pestle and let cool slightly; reserve skillet. Grind spices to a fine powder.
Step 2
Transfer spice mix to a large bowl. Add 1 lb. ground turkey, preferably dark meat, 1 medium zucchini, coarsely grated (about 2 cups), zest of 1 lemon, 1 large egg, beaten to blend, 1 serrano chile, seeds and ribs removed if desired, finely chopped, 1¼ cups finely chopped tender herbs, ¾ cup panko, 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 1 tsp. garlic powder. Mix with clean hands until blended (do not overmix). Lightly oil your hands with extra-virgin olive oil and divide meatball mixture into 16 portions, then roll into balls and place on a large plate.
Step 3
Toss 1 lb. green beans, trimmed, with ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in another large bowl to coat. Carefully remove baking sheet from oven; spread out green beans on baking sheet. Nestle meatballs among green beans, spacing evenly apart and ensuring good contact with pan (it's okay if the beans and meatballs touch). Return baking sheet to oven and bake until green beans are bright green and meatballs have lost their pink color, 8–10 minutes. Heat broiler. Broil, rotating baking sheet halfway through, until green beans are beginning to char in spots and meatballs are browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Step 4
While the meatballs are cooking, heat 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in reserved skillet over medium until hot but not smoking. Remove from heat, add ½ tsp. ground turmeric, and swirl pan to combine. Scrape turmeric oil into a small bowl and add 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, ¼ cup tahini, stirred well, 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt; whisk until smooth. Taste yogurt sauce and add more salt and/or lemon juice if needed. Drizzle with more oil and top with toasted sesame seeds (if using).
Step 5
Serve meatballs and green beans straight from baking sheet or transfer to a platter. Serve with yogurt sauce alongside.
Do Ahead: Meatballs can be formed 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Sauce can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill.
How would you rate Herby Sheet-Pan Meatballs With Green Beans?
Leave a Review
Reviews (33)
Back to TopToo much salt is called for on the green beans, and the sauce could stand to slightly reduce too (and I am not typically salt-avoidant). Otherwise I thought everything was tasty. Curious if the zucchini could be grated more finely in order to be more "hidden" in the final meatballs or if the texture would suffer (maybe the "oddly fluffy" problem another reviewer mentioned?)
Kristin
NY
7/6/2024
Not easy or fast and made a ton of dishes. But totally worth it! So delicious and healthy. Will make again
Danielle
Colorado
4/1/2024
Made the meatballs using ground bison. Liked the flavor and texture of meatballs. Great with the green beans, but would rather they were roasted more. The sauce was okay, but very thick and one note with the turmeric. Used it as a base to put the meatballs and beans on top rather than a sauce. Think more lemon juice and less yogurt would have been better.
LMWM
New Hampshire
8/23/2023
The sauce was AWFUL.
Emily G
Coronado,
4/13/2023
I don’t think I’d make these again. Used the higher fat content ground turkey. Spices and stringbeans were good but just not a great mouth-feel and kind of dry tasting (potentially due to turkey).
Amy S.
Santa Monica CA
3/27/2023
I love these meatballs - easy and flavorful. The yogurt dressing pairs well.
Anonymous
Durham, NC
3/9/2023
The meatballs were very tasty although I might wring out the zucchini next time. My complaint was the sauce. I’m not a yogurt person normally but it sounded good so thought I would try. Unable to find a small container of plain Greek whole milk yogurt I had to purchase a 2 lb container. After I mixed all its ingredients I was not thrilled. I used it the first time I made a meal of the beans and meatballs and was not impressed. I expected it to be tangy and thought it was just blah. A waste of money and food to my mind. I took the comment to use good turmeric to heart and purchased a new jar - Morton & Bassett organic good until 10/2025.
Ctmom
Connecticut
11/8/2022