Macro Friendly Thai Turkey Meatballs Over Brown Rice

Incorporating lean meats into your diet is a great idea, but it can get somewhat tiresome after a while! Are you wondering what else you can do with your ground turkey meat? Then this Thai turkey meatballs over brown rice recipe is for you!

3 Reasons Why You Will Love This Macro Friendly Thai Turkey Meatballs Recipe

1. It’s packed with nutrients, and is a good balance of macros! I incorporated whole wheat bread and rice for healthy sources of carbohydrates; eggs and ground turkey for good sources of protein. I also included lots of herbs and spices for added nutrition and flavor.
2. It’s flexible! This recipe allows for substituting several ingredients in or leaving some out, so you don’t have to skip this recipe if you don’t prefer something or don’t have it.
3. It’s a great option for meal prep! The meatballs, rice, and sauce reheat very well, and taste just as good as when it came out of the oven.

You may also love: High Protein Spicy Shrimp Pad Thai

Ingredients for Thai Turkey Meatballs

• 1 lb ground turkey (I use 93% lean)
• ½ onion, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp freshly grated ginger
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 slices whole wheat bread, cut into small pieces
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp dried chives
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Thai Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce (store bought; I use Blue Dragon Brand)
• 2 cups of brown rice
• Yield: 24 meatballs

Kitchen Tools Required

For this recipe, you'll need a mixing bowl, large spoon, large baking dish or baking sheet, measuring spoons, measuring cups, cutting board, knife, cooking spray, 1-inch cookie scoop (optional), pot, and strainer.

How to Make Sweet & Spicy Thai Turkey Meatballs Over Brown Rice

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare your baking sheet by spraying well with cooking spray.
3. Combine all ingredients (turkey, minced onion, garlic, ginger, egg, bread pieces, milk, red pepper flakes, chives, green onion, cilantro, sriracha, and soy sauce) in a mixing bowl. Add a few grinds of black pepper and salt. Mix well, until combined.
4. Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, portion out your meatballs. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, use a spoon to form roughly 1-inch balls. Place meatballs on your prepared baking sheet. 
5. Bake meatballs for 23-25 minutes, or until meatballs are browned and have reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
6. While the meatballs are baking, prepare your brown rice. Rinse the rice in a strainer under cold water to remove the excess scratch. Cook 2 cups of brown rice in a pot according to the package directions.
7. To prepare your dish, scoop rice into a bowl. Spoon the cooked meatballs over the rice. Lastly, drizzle the Thai Sweet Chili sauce over the meatballs and rice. Garnish with green onion and cilantro. Enjoy!

Swaps or Alternatives

1. The ground turkey in this recipe can easily be swapped out for ground chicken, if preferred.
2. Fresh onion can easily be swapped out for 2 tsp dried onion flakes. Fresh garlic may also be swapped out for 1/2 tsp garlic powder, if you do not have fresh items on hand.
3. If you prefer your meatballs a little sweeter and less spicy, you may omit the sriracha and/or red pepper flakes! Feel free to add additional spice if you prefer more heat.

Quick Tip(s)

1. Although this recipe is quick to prepare, it is helpful to chop your veggies and herbs ahead of time! You can also prepare the meatballs the day before, cover and refrigerate overnight, and bake and serve the next day.
2. To cut down on cooking time, you can use par-cooked rice (minute rice), if desired.

Macros & Nutrition Information

Sweet & Spicy Thai Turkey Meatballs Over Brown Rice

Meagan Maritato

A little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, this Thai Turkey Meatball recipe is the perfect meal to add to your dinner lineup! Served over brown rice, this scrumptious meal is healthy, filling, and easy to meal prep.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Thai

Servings 6

Calories 346 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Mixing bowl
• 1 large spoon
• 1 large baking dish or sheet
• measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• 1 Cutting Board
• 1 Knife
• 1 cooking spray
• 1 1-inch cookie scoop (optional)
• 1 Pot
• 1 Strainer

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 lb ground turkey (I use 93% lean)
• ½ onion, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp freshly grated ginger
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 slices whole wheat bread, cut into small pieces
• 2 tbsp milk
• 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp dried chives
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Thai Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce (store bought; I use Blue Dragon Brand)
• 2 cups brown rice

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Spraying a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Combine all ingredients except the chili sauce and brown rice in a mixing bowl. Add a few grinds of black pepper and salt to taste. Mix well, until combined.
• Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, portion out your meatballs. Place meatballs on your prepared baking sheet.
• Bake meatballs for 23-25 minutes, or until meatballs are browned and have reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
• Rinse the brown rice in a strainer under cold water. Cook 2 cups of brown rice in a pot according to the package directions.
• Scoop the cooked rice into a bowl. Spoon the cooked meatballs over the rice. Lastly, drizzle the Thai Sweet Chili sauce over the meatballs and rice. Garnish with green onion and cilantro. Enjoy!

Notes

There are many types of sweet Thai chili sauce! I have tried several different brands, and have determined the store brand works just as well, and may be a good way to save a few dollars.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 25gFat: 10g

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!