Description
Juicy turkey meatballs simmered in a rich, creamy pumpkin sage sauce a cozy and flavorful fall-inspired dish perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil (for searing)
For the pumpkin sage sauce:
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
1 cup pumpkin purée
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh Parmesan and sage leaves for garnish
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix together ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper until just combined.
2. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and sage; sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Whisk in pumpkin purée, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
6. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, then return the meatballs to the skillet.
7. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and the sauce thickens.
8. Serve warm, garnished with Parmesan and fresh sage leaves.
Notes
Serve over mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice for a hearty meal.
Use ground chicken or pork as a variation.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat beautifully in a skillet with a splash of broth.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs with sauce
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 570mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: turkey meatballs, pumpkin sauce, sage cream sauce, fall dinner, healthy comfort food