This is a variation of our simple turkey meatballs base recipe. Chef V grew up eating seekh kebabs – a Pakistani ground beef skewer. She wanted to create a lighter, simplified version to share with her kids, and this recipe is the result. Make these Indian meatballs with raita yogurt sauce that feature ground turkey instead of beef. Decrease the saturated fat, but not the flavor!

Learn How to Make the Base Recipe

Three Must-Know Cooking Skills

For recipe success, learn how to:

Learn how to slice and dice like a pro in our knife skills 101 course!

Culinary Tips for the Best Indian Spiced Meatballs

If you have picky eaters, dice the onions finely so that they don’t notice them. 

When mixing the ingredients, don’t overwork the meat. Otherwise, the meatballs will turn out tough.

A portion scoop makes forming the meatballs fast and easy and keeps your hands from getting messy.

Cook the meatballs directly on the pan. Don’t use parchment paper; it prevents browning.

Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Cook turkey meatballs to 165ºF for food safety.

You will notice that the meatballs and sauce share some ingredients. Be sure to look at the total amount of each ingredient you need so that you can do all of your dicing and chopping at once! There are still only 10 ingredients (to keep our recipe promises), not counting salt, pepper, and oil.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Oil for the Pan: substitute cooking spray.
• Ground Turkey: substitute ground chicken, ground salmon, or a mixture of ground beef and mushrooms or beans. We don’t recommend fully substituting red meat as it is higher in saturated fat and might require recipe modifications.
• Red Onion: substitute white, yellow, or green onion, or shallot
• Panko Bread Crumbs: substitute plain, whole wheat, or seasoned bread crumbs, but cut back on the added salt if you do. Panko is typically very low in sodium. If you want turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs, leave them out!
• Cilantro: substitute Italian parsley or chives, but note the flavor will be different.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: substitute canola oil or avocado oil. 
• Garam Masala: use a store-bought blend or make your own. You can also substitute tikka masala seasoning, chaat masala, or a curry powder.
• Lemon Zest: substitute 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Plain Yogurt: use a fat percentage that fits within your diet. You can substitute plain Greek Yogurt, although it’s not traditional for raita. Greek yogurt is tangier and thicker, so you might add a splash of milk to thin it out.
• Cucumber: use any kind of cucumber or leave out.

Indian Meatball Variations

You can change up these meatballs by changing the meat. Make Indian chicken meatballs with ground chicken or a mixture of grass-fed ground beef and mushrooms for other lightened up versions.

If you want spicy Indian meatballs, add a diced green jalapeño or serrano to the mix. You can also add some fresh chopped mint, minced garlic, and/or minced ginger for a more authentic Indian flavor.

Want some turkey meatball flavor inspiration?

Use our turkey meatballs base recipe as a guide, or try out these other tasty variations!

Equipment Recommendations

Use these kitchen tools for recipe success!

• Cutting Board
• Chef’s Knife
• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Portion Scoop
• Baking Sheet
• Pastry Brush
• Cookie Spatula
• Thermometer

Find all of our favorite kitchen tools here!

Are these Indian meatballs healthy?

Not all meatballs are healthy on their own, but they can definitely be included in a well-balanced diet. These Indian turkey meatballs are a much healthier choice than their greasy counterparts; they are full of nutritious ingredients, including lean turkey, spices, and plain yogurt.

Turkey

Turkey is a lean source of protein and is rich in B vitamins, and minerals such as iron. 

Spices

Using spices decreases the need for salt, which may help reduce hypertension risk and therefore promote heart health. Additionally, the garam masala contains powerful antioxidants which may help reduce inflammation in the body. Learn more about the health benefits of spices in this article.

Plain Yogurt

Plain yogurt is a great source of B vitamins, calcium, protein, and probiotics. Select a fat content that works with your overall diet. If you tend to consume a lot of foods high in saturated fat, a low-fat or fat-free variety is your best choice. If you limit saturated fat in your diet, full-fat varieties are okay.

Learn more about health benefits of different foods in our book, To Your Taste!

Serving Suggestions

Serve these Indian meatballs with yogurt sauce as an appetizer or build a wrap using a piece of naan. 

These meatballs are an easy finger food for kids. Pair with roasted vegetables and a side salad to make a beautiful Whole Life Plate! 

How to Store and Reheat Indian Style Meatballs

Cool leftover meatballs completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Leftover meatballs can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, place on a baking sheet and freeze. Once the meatballs are completely frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating.

Leftover raita can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, place meatballs on a pan and place in a cold oven. Turn oven to heat to 350ºF. Once it hits 350°F, your meatballs should be warmed and ready!

Looking for more healthy dinner recipes?

Try out these flavorful recipes!

Healthy Beef Tacos with Mushrooms

One Pan Mexican Quinoa Skillet

Moroccan Salmon with Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce

Easy Coconut Curry Base Recipe