Lisa Makeeva, Registered Dietitian 
Master of Applied Nutrition

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Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs

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These Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs are delicious and feature nutrient dense and gut-friendly ingredients!
Servings 16 meatballs

Equipment

  • 1 baking tray

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 cup sweet potato grated
  • 1 small onion grated
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 TSP paprika
  • 1 TSP dried thyme
  • 1/2 TSP salt
  • 1/4 TSP garlic powder
  • 1/4 TSP black pepper, ground

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper
  • In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix together with your hands until mixture looks relatively uniform
  • Use a ice-cream scoop or a tablespoon to scoop the meatball mixture and drop it onto the lined baking sheet. Repeat the remaining mix, creating about 16 balls
  • Coat your hands in a bit of olive oil, then shape the balls. (Coating your hands in oil will prevent sticking.)
  • Bake the meatballs at 400ºF for 18-20 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Serve warm with your favourite sauce

Notes

Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs – Soft, Juicy & Toddler-Approved The hidden-veggie dinner that kids devour and parents feel great about.
These bite-sized turkey meatballs are naturally sweet, incredibly moist, and packed with nutrition that little ones (and grown-ups) love. Finely grated sweet potato melts into the lean ground turkey, keeping every meatball tender while sneaking in an extra serving of vegetables – no fights at the table required.
Why they’re secretly amazing for growing bodies & guts:
✨ Prebiotic fiber from sweet potato feeds healthy gut bacteria, supporting strong digestion and a balanced microbiome (essential for immunity and mood in toddlers!)
✨ Lean turkey provides high-quality protein for growth without heaviness
✨ Anti-inflammatory beta-carotene and antioxidants from sweet potato help protect little immune systems
✨ Just simple, whole-food ingredients
Perfectly soft texture for beginners (6–8 months+) yet flavorful enough for older kids and adults. They’re gentle on tiny tummies, easy to chew or gum, and small enough for self-feeding practice. Batch-cook them on Sunday and watch them disappear from lunchboxes, high-chair trays, and dinner plates all week.
Serve with a simple marinara dipping sauce, hidden in pasta, or straight from the pan – these meatballs turn “eat your veggies” into “can I have more, please?”
One meal, happy kids, happier guts, and zero mealtime battles. Win-win-win.
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© 2024 Lisa Makeeva, RD. All rights reserved.
College of Dietitians of Ontario Registration #14884