• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

Join my free recipe email club!
Free eBook
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • ABOUT JO
  • Contact
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • One Pot
  • Desserts
Home / Recipes
35 minutes
4.64 from 49 votes
49 Comments

Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs

Jump to RecipePrint RecipeJump to Video
  • 822
by: Joanna Cismaru
10.01.20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs feature an interesting combination of ingredients that gives you the most superb, soft and delicious meatballs served with a creamy maple dipping sauce. Perfect for an appetizer and a total crowd pleaser!

Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs in a white and blue bowl

It’s that time of year again, when images of roast turkey and stuffing dances in our heads. After so many years of holiday dinners I find myself wanting to experiment with creating new and delicious ways to combine these seasonal flavors. So if you’re like me and want a new twist on some old favorites, keep on scrolling!

Turkey meatballs have a tendency of being a little dry – this I’ve learned first hand. Luckily cooked and mashed sweet potato packs tons of moisture, flavor, and fiber into our little meaty morsels! Served alongside some Creamy Maple Dipping Sauce these are about to be your new favorite appetizer.

Today’s meatball recipe is perfect for this time of the year. Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs! I have to say that these are the softest and most tender meatballs ever and the flavors are divine! Maple syrup and sweet potatoes? You know that’s a combination made in heaven!

Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs process shots

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • Meat – We’re using ground turkey today for super lean meatballs. Don’t worry about them drying out, our next ingredients gives tons of moisture.
  • Sweet potato – Cooked and mashed up, turkey and sweet potato were made to be served together!
  • Breadcrumbs – I used panko but you can substitute it for any breadcrumbs you have on hand.
  • Hot sauce – We want a little bit of heat in our meatballs as well as acidity, feel free to use whichever brand you prefer.
  • Garlic – Use as much or little as you like.
  • Onion – Either white or yellow chopped up fine.
  • Egg – The binder in our meatballs. If you’re egg free you can use 1/4 cup of ricotta per egg.
  • Herbs – Fresh parsley chopped up. If dried is all you have on hand just keep in mind that 1 teaspoon dried equals 1 tablespoon fresh.
  • Maple syrup – To give our meatballs a bit of sweetness which will perk up the sweet potato nicely.
  • Seasoning – Salt and pepper.
  • Olive oil – For frying up our meatballs.

Creamy maple dipping sauce

  • Maple syrup – The main flavor component of our dipping sauce! Try to get your hands on the real stuff if it’s available to you!
  • Mayo – Whichever brand is your favorite works just fine, this will add creaminess to our dip.
  • Dairy – Feel free to use either sour cream or Greek yogurt, this will give us some more creaminess and some needed tang and acidity.
  • Seasoning – Salt and pepper.
Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs

How To Make Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs

  1. Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the meatballs except for the oil. Make sure the mixture is combined well. Form the meatballs into small 1 inch balls.
  2. Fry the balls: Heat about 2 tbsp of the oil in a large skillet. Add the meatballs and fry until golden all around, about 7 minutes. You will have to do this in 2 batches, so do not overcrowd the meatballs. Fry the meatballs in the skillet, a few at a time, turning them around so that they fully brown on all sides about 7 minutes. Transfer onto a plate and repeat with all meatballs.
  3. Create the dipping sauce: In a small bowl whisk together all the dipping sauce ingredients and serve with meatballs.

How To Cook Sweet Potatoes

There are multiple ways to cook your sweet potatoes. First of all you should clean the sweet potatoes, scrub them then pat them dry.

  1. Microwave: Pierce the potatoes with a fork 5 or 6 times then place them on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 5 to 10 min per potato. Add 2 minutes for each additional potato. Make sure to rotate them halfway through. Sweet potatoes are cooked when a fork spears into them easily. If you feel they are too firm, continue cooking them in one-minute increments.
  2. Boil: Peel and cut up the sweet potatoes in cubes and add them to a large pot of boiling water. Cook them over medium-high heat for about 20 minutes.
  3. Bake: Preheat your oven to 375 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil then rub each potato with some vegetable oil. Prick the potatoes 5 or 6 times with a fork, then place them on the baking sheet. Depending on the size of your sweet potatoes it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour until they’re done.

How To Serve

I like to serve these all on their own as little appetizers, with a toothpick speared into each. But these also make a perfectly filling meal!

  • Serve them with mashed potatoes
  • Alongside some veggies
  • Serve them over rice
  • Your favorite bread
Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs with maple dipping sauce

Some Tips

  • Make sure you don’t over cook the meatballs because this can also result in tough meatballs
  • Don’t be afraid to use a blend of different kinds of ground meat, for great flavor and lots of moisture
  • Grate your onion up with a cheese grater before incorporating it into your meatballs to get a super moist and flavorful morsel
  • When forming meatballs, it’s easier to form them if your hands are wet. Better yet, use a small ice cream scoop, this way all your meatballs will be uniformly-sized and no dirty hands.

Storing Leftovers

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days. Make the dipping sauce before serving.

Freezing

To freeze the meatballs, let them cool completely at room temperature. Transfer them to a freezer safe container and place them in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Craving More Meatballs?

  • Pomegranate Cocktail Meatballs 
  • Salisbury Steak Meatballs
  • Porcupine Meatballs
  • Stout Meatballs
  • Chimichurri Meatballs
  • Sweet and Spicy Korean Meatballs
  • Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs
  • Crockpot Sweet and  Tangy Asian Meatballs
  • Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
  • Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup
  • Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
  • Turkey Meatballs

Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

overhead shot of sweet potato turkey meatballs in a bowl

Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs

4.64 from 49 votes
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 30
Print Pin Rate
These Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs feature an interesting combination of ingredients that gives you the most superb, soft and delicious meatballs served with a creamy maple dipping sauce. Perfect for an appetizer and a total crowd pleaser!

Equipment

  • 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 small onion finely chopped or grated
  • 1 pound ground turkey lean
  • 2 cups sweet potatoes cooked and mashed
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs I used Panko, but regular breadcrumbs would work just as well
  • 1/2 cup parsley fresh or dried, chopped is using fresh
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper or to taste
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil

Creamy Maple Dipping Sauce

  • 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the meatballs except for the oil. Make sure the mixture is combined well.
  • Form the meatballs into small 1 inch balls.
  • Heat about 2 tbsp of the oil in a large skillet. Add the meatballs and fry until golden all around, about 7 minutes. You will have to do this in 2 batches, so do not overcrowd the meatballs.
  • Fry the meatballs in the skillet, a few at a time, turning them around so that they fully brown on all sides about 7 minutes. Transfer onto a plate and repeat with all meatballs. 
  • In a small bowl whisk together all the dipping sauce ingredients and serve with meatballs.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. This recipe yields approximately 30 meatballs.
  2. Sweet potatoes: I have used both white sweet potatoes or the red skinned sweet potatoes for this recipe and they both yield the same result. You will need about 3 to 4 sweet potatoes to yield 2 cups mashed.
  3. How to cook sweet potatoes: I cooked mine in the microwave. Before placing them in the microwave, wash them then pierce them 5 to 6 times with a fork. Wrap each sweet potato in a paper towel then place them in a microwave safe plate. Cook for about 20 minutes in the microwave at full power. To check for doneness, stick a fork in the center of the potatoes, and if the fork goes in easily , but the center is still a bit firm, the potato is ready. 
  4. Baking directions: Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray, or use a baking rack. Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes until golden brown.
  5. Freezing: To freeze the meatballs, let them cool completely at room temperature. Transfer them to a freezer safe container and place them in the freezer for up to 2 months. 
  6. Leftovers: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days. Make the dipping sauce before serving.
  7. Nutrition: Nutrition information is based per meatball plus dipping sauce. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
 
Originally shared May 2013.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 79kcal (4%)Carbohydrates: 5g (2%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 4g (6%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 17mg (6%)Sodium: 152mg (7%)Potassium: 101mg (3%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 1380IU (28%)Vitamin C: 2.1mg (3%)Calcium: 17mg (2%)Iron: 0.4mg (2%)
Course:Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine:American
Keyword:meatball recipe, meatballs, sweet potato turkey meatballs, turkey meatballs
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
  • 822
  • 2

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

30 recipes from around the world cover.

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

side view shot of stuffing in a bowl
Previous Post
Sage Sausage Stuffing
side view shot of a stack of pecan squares
Next Post
Best Ever Pecan Pie Bars

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rate Recipe Cancel reply

Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. María says

    October 26, 2021 at 2:13 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I roasted my sweet potatoes st 425 for an hour. Then mashed them

    Reply
  2. Ana says

    October 2, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    5 stars
    I made this as an appetizer for a party and got rave reviews. I used a bit more sweet potato than called for (I am bad at measuring), but it just ended up extra tasty. I also ended up adding a touch of hot sauce to the dip

    Reply
  3. Shannon says

    January 2, 2019 at 5:30 pm

    I’m wondering if the recipe is not supposed to include the 4 tbsp. in the meatballs… it says to mix all ingredients together which is what I did… but later states to use 2 tbsp. of the oil for the pan. It ended up in slimy meatballs.

    Reply
    • Nicole Beaulieu says

      January 3, 2019 at 10:23 am

      Hi Shannon, I’ve just updated the recipe. Thank you for catching that! The oil is meant only for frying, and not to be mixed into the meatballs.

      Reply
  4. Judy says

    November 21, 2018 at 1:14 pm

    4 stars
    The bad news: the meatballs would not hold together I ended up just baking it as a meatloaf.

    The good news: this was so tasty. I would make it again and use it as a filling for stuffed peppers or for a meat pie.

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 21, 2018 at 3:32 pm

      Oh that’s interesting. The sweet potato should help with holding the meatballs together. Next time maybe try adding a bit more breadcrumbs, that might help a bit. Glad you liked the taste though.

      Reply
  5. Daniel H says

    March 25, 2018 at 10:15 am

    What would be the temp and time if you decided to bake these?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      March 26, 2018 at 8:18 am

      I’d bake them at 375 F degrees for about 30 minutes.

      Reply
  6. Cat says

    November 21, 2017 at 6:25 pm

    5 stars
    Any thoughts on what i child pair as a dipping sauce?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 22, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      Perhaps a spicy yogurt dip would be nice.

      Reply
  7. Nayely says

    June 27, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    Hello,

    Because of the hot saucn, are these spicy at all? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Fenne Kieken says

      June 28, 2017 at 10:13 am

      They are not really spicy – you need a bit of spice in turkey meatballs as they can be bland. Give it a try as we didnt find them spicy

      Reply
  8. Shayna says

    February 12, 2017 at 2:30 pm

    5 stars
    This came out so tasty! Mine made 30 large meatballs! I did use a little over 1lb of ground turkey and a little less sweet potato. None the less it was delicious and my boyfriend approves too!

    Reply
  9. Judy S says

    November 30, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    How about canned pumpkin instead of sweet potato?

    Reply
    • Fenne Kieken says

      December 1, 2016 at 4:18 pm

      You could try that if you prefer.

      Reply
  10. Kait says

    October 25, 2016 at 6:15 am

    Hi I was wondering if anyone tried to freeze them?

    Reply
  11. Lauren says

    May 21, 2016 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    These are amazing! Truly
    Obsessed and have made the twice this month!

    Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More…
cover for the big book of jo's quick and easy meals.

My Cookbook

Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

Sign me up

Dinner Favorites

black pepper chicken on a bed of rice on a black plate.

Black Pepper Chicken

a slice of pastitsio on a black plate.

Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)

side view shot of a piece of eggplant parmesan with marinara sauce in a white plate garnished with parsley and a piece cut out and held by a fork

Eggplant Parmesan

side view shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate

Chicken Souvlaki

yakisoba noodles with chicken and vegetables in a large serving platter.

Yakisoba

pouring lemon sauce over fried chicken.

Chinese Lemon Chicken

a chicken gyro wrapped in paper and topped with lots of tzatziki sauce with another gyro in the background

Chicken Gyros

homemade hamburger helper lasagna from scratch in a skillet.

One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna

Air Fryer Recipes

a roasted chicken on a serving platter along some roasted root veggies.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

apple pie bombs on a white plate with the top one cut in half.

Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs

3 cooked chicken breasts on a cutting board.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

air fried chicken drumsticks in a basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

cooked chicken thighs in the basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

eggs inside an air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

lobster tails on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Lobster Tails

hands pulling apart a mozzarella stick with the rest in the background

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

freshly made bread in air fryer on a cutting board cut into slices.

Air Fryer No Knead Bread

bacon wrapped water chestnuts on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Jo Cooks...

Flavors from around the world

No matter what household we have all grown up in, there is something that has brought us all together here and that is a love and appreciation of food. Food that is from cultures and cuisines across the world has always been a staple of the blog. I'm excited to bring you all a taste of each corner of the earth, every last bite seasoned to perfection and served up with love - from my kitchen to yours.
asian green beans in a wok.

Asian

overhead shot of a spoon taking a bite of italian meatball soup

Italian

freshly made pozole rojo in a dutch oven.

Mexican

mititei on a plate with mustard and french fries.

Romanian

a stack of roti wrapped in a clean kitchen towel.

Indian

freshly made hummus drizzled with olive oil and garnished with tomatoes cucumbers and olives.

Middle Eastern

Trending Now

overhead shot of oven baked chicken breasts in a baking dish

Baked Chicken Breast

overhead shot of oven baked chicken thighs in a pan

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

roast chicken with roast potatoes on a roaster.

Roast Chicken

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

Browse All
  • Easy Dinners
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index

Featured On

today logo.
huffpost logo.
the washington post logo.
jezebel logo.
countryliving logo.
good housekeeping logo.
lifehack logo.
buzzfeed logo.
mashable logo.
woman's day logo.
health logo.
better homes & gardens logo.
delish logo.
healthline logo.
nbc news logo.
blogloving logo.
university of washington logo.
shape logo.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About Jo
  • Contact
  • visit my other site: Craving Home Cooked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2022 · All Rights Reserved · Back to Top
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and get a free dinner recipes ebook!