I thought I’d share this simple yet versatile, nutritious turkey meatballs, burgers and sausage rolls recipe which are perfect for meals and snacks. I often make these for my kids parties – they go down really well with kids and adults alike.
These are a high-protein meal or snack and a really tasty way to ‘hide’ extra nourishment in the form of vegetables. They can be pre-prepared, frozen and leftovers are fabulous for school lunch boxes too.
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Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.
Turkey, lemon and feta mini meatballs, baby burgers or sausage rolls
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 45 minutes
Serves: 4
This delicious Turkey, lemon and feta combination can be made into meatballs, sausage rolls or hamburgers. Both adults and kids love this recipe - its my go to for parties and celebrations.
Ingredients
- 500 g turkey mince (you can substitute chicken mince)
- 1 clove garlic -finely chopped or crushed
- 1 small red onion -peeled and finely diced
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves (finely diced) or parsley leaves
- 1 carrot -finely grated
- 1 small zucchini -finely grated
- 1 free-range or organic egg -lightly beaten
- 1 lemon -zest
- 30 g fresh breadcrumbs (¼ cup) see below for gluten-free
- 100 g feta cheese -crumbled or cubed (see below for dairy free)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
- In a large mixing bowl or food processor, simply mix all of the ingredients together until they are combined well.
- Then choose your preferred dish from the options below.
- Sometimes, I'll use half of the mix for sausage rolls and the other half, is made into meatballs for the next day's lunch boxes.
Thermomix Method
- If you need to, make your breadcrumbs from a frozen slice of bread, 10 seconds, speed 6. Set aside.
- Add your garlic, onion (halved), mint or parsley, carrot and zucchini (chunks) and chop, 10 seconds, speed 5.
- Add the mince, breadcrumbs, egg, lemon zest, feta and seasoning and combine on reverse, 20-30 seconds, speed 3 (you may need to scrape the sides to help it along).
Mini-meatballs
- Preheat your oven to 180℃/350°F.
- With damp hands, roll small balls and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until cooked through and browning on top. Serve warm or cold.
- I love these for the kids lunch box; either with a salad or vegetable sticks or as a wrap or fresh spring roll filler.
- Alternatively, you could add a lovely tomato puree and serve over pasta - spaghetti and meatballs!
Baby Burgers
- With damp hands, roll small balls and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper, then flatten with the back of a fork.
- Place on a preheated BBQ or grill pan to cook.
- Serve in little dinner rolls with the salad and sauce of your choice. They can be held together by running a toothpick through the centre if need be.
- For a grain-free option, serve in lettuce cups, san chou bow style.
- These make a delicious, healthy party food or a fast weekend lunch.
Sausage rolls
- Preheat your oven to 180℃/350°F.
- Beat one egg in a cup with a tablespoon of milk.
- Take a sheet of all-butter puff or short crust pastry and cut it in half (or better still make your own pastry). Careme brand have a fabulous wholemeal spelt puff pastry that is my personal favourite.
- Place the mince mixture along the centre of each half. Brush one edge of the pastry with the egg wash and fold the pastry over the mince.
- Place on a baking tray (seam side down). Top with a little more egg wash and sprinkle over sesame seeds.
- Cut into approximately 5cm long rolls and bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Serve warm.
- Perfect party food or for a picnic or weekend lunch.
Tip
- For green phobic kids, peel the zucchini and omit the parsley/mint (or just process it very finely so it can't be detected).
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. All can be frozen either raw or cooked. Allow to defrost fully before re-heating/ cooking
Variations
Gluten-free
Use gluten-free breadcrumbs, rice crumbs or quinoa flakes to bind. Use a gluten-free pastry for the sausage rolls and gluten free buns or lettuce cups for the baby burgers.Dairy-free
Omit the feta or replace with chopped cashew nuts and/or a tablespoon of nutritional yeast.Egg-free
Omit the egg altogether (they just aren't as firm).Sesame-free
Omit the sesame seeds in the sausage rolls (you can sprinkle with poppy seeds instead)Onion and garlic-free
Replace the onion and garlic with finely diced fennel (from half a small bulb) and a pinch of chilli flakes.Chicken or pork
Also delicious with chicken or pork mince.Like these? Why not post a comment below or rate this recipe.
Ali says
We made the mini balls, rather the kids did, last night and.. yummo!! We used organic free range chicken mince, the mint and buzzed up oats to bind. Served with a garlic, lemon juice and mint greek yoghurt dip. Delicious! Thanks for another fantastic recipies Georgia, we are loving our test kitchen at the moment with them 🙂 Keep up the great work!
Georgia Harding says
Thanks for your very lovely feedback Ali. So pleased they were a hit and I love that your kids made them too! Thanks also for your awesome variations/dipping sauce, G x
Edina says
Hi Georgia, what kind of dip/sauce do you suggest to serve with the meatballs? Thanks, Edina x
Georgia Harding says
Pesto, hummus, I also mix a tablespoon of tahini, sea salt and pepper into 1/2 cup natural yoghurt for a quick dipping sauce. You can also mix pesto or hummus with yogurt to make it more dip like. Also home made mayo with lemon zest mixed through is yum. Home made tomato sauce or sweet chilli (I’ll get my recipes up eventually). Hope this helps. G x
Kymelle says
Thanks for another fab recipe – I used chicken mince and made the meatballs. They were fab! The kids loved them. I used some mashed sweet potato in place of the breadcrumbs and they worked beautifully. We ate them with a roasted beetroot and pumpkin salad. Thank you 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Fantastic, thanks for your feedback Kymelle, sounds like a perfect meal G x
Timm says
Just made this with chicken and double the carrot because I had run out of zuchinni, loved it.
Turned it into sausage rolls and spaghetti & meatballs!
Georgia Harding says
Awesome, glad you enjoyed them, and they are great to double aren’t they? G x
Claire says
These were delicious!
Georgia Harding says
Glad you enjoyed them, G x
Mahité says
What is turkey mince? English is not my first language so I have trouble figuring out. Is is ground turkey? They sound delicious and the perfect thing to keep in my freezer for the days I run out of leftovers from previous dinner for lunches.
Georgia Harding says
Hi Mahite, yes it is ground turkey. Most supermarkets stock it and I agree, they are perfect for freezing. Hope you enjoy them,G x
Mahité says
thanks Georgia! I’m looking forward to try them. I love you recipes, and the focus you put on family and kids – not always easy to cook for a family. thank you!
Linda Robinson says
5 yr old insisted on helping makes these and then scoffed many!! seriously good with your grilled brussel sprouts which 8yr old loved – more winning recipes Georgia!!
Georgia Harding says
Wonderful -thanks so much for your feedback Linda, G x
Linda Robinson says
so glad I made double the quantity as my boys had 11 meatballs each and declared they will be wanting them in their lunch tomorrow 🙂
kelly seach says
I am yet to find any turkey available that is not ‘barn raised’ at best, no free range except the frozen giant whole one they stock pre-xmas in the supermarket, and definitely no organic. Is there a special nutritional quality to the turkey meat or is it more for the flavour side of it?
Georgia Harding says
I have used it here just for a bit of variety and I do like the flavour too Kelly. If you don’t have free-range or organic available to you, you can sub chicken or pork mince also. G x
Olivia Statters says
These sausage rolls are very yummy indeed! Will definitely be making again
Georgia Harding says
Glad you liked them Olivia. Thanks for the feedback G x
Jodie says
These are so tasty! I was so surprised, as I had never cooked with turkey mince before and often find mint over powering. Georgia, you certainly have a talent in getting the perfect balance of flavours!!
Georgia Harding says
Yes Jodie, it’s a bit of a passion, finding that perfect balance of flavour. Glad you liked them, a nice change from regular hamburgers too G x
Katie says
The sausage rolls are a big hit! I usually make them out of chicken mince as easier to find. Out of feta this time so substituted a couple of tablespoons of grated parmesan instead. Half the mix made sausage rolls, and the rest meatballs. Today with a few meatballs leftover, I popped them into some bone broth heated up with slices of ginger, garlic, chilli, and then coriander to garnish – yum! And 3 meals out of one recipe – thanks Georgia!
Georgia Harding says
All sounds fantastic Katie – so glad you liked them. It is a really versatile recipe and a real favorited in our house too. Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated G x
Maddie Whitehead says
These were devine Georgia! Made into mini meatballs served with steam veggies one night and salad the next night. I couldn’t decide between the parsley or mint so I used both! So flavoursome, this recipe is 100% a keeper 🙂 Thank you!
Georgia Harding says
Glad you enjoyed them Maddie. This has been so popular, we love it too G x
Elisa James says
Yet again a total winner in our house!! Thank you Georgia, you are a rockstar in our home
Meagan Jones says
Are the meatballs ok to freeze? If ok would I just take some out the night before and defrost in the fridge, then put in the kids lunchboxes? Thanks!
Georgia Harding says
Yep, spot on Meagan x
Meagan Jones says
Thanks for quick response!
Natalia Hordern says
Hi, I was just wondering where on the coast do you get either organic or free range Turkey? thanks
Georgia Harding says
I get it from my local farmers market (Palm Beach) and I know Wray Organic stock it too. GreenAg is the brand (QLD company). Gold Coast Meats is another option too. Have seen whole birds at Ferry Road Market, not sure if they have mince G x
Rhonda says
Hi Georgia, I can only find frozen organic turkey breast which the butcher would mince up for me, therefore I would need to cook the burgers or meatballs prior to freezing ( normally make burgers & freeze before cooking) , would they retain the flavour etc this way or are you better to make & cook at time of using?
Also wondering if you have any suggestions to replace the onion & maintain the flavour? Thanks
Georgia Harding says
Hi Rhonda. Like you I generally freeze before cooking. I think they will be fine to cook, freeze and then reheat, I’m just not a fan of freezing cooked meatballs and eating cold (they are bit wet for my liking). You could up the garlic to two cloves to replace the onion or add spring onions if they suit. Enjoy G x
Heather Esplin says
These are one of our favourites. They’re so delicious and versatile.
Georgia Harding says
Thrilled you love them Heather – they are a firm favourite with my family too Gx
Nicola says
Just wondering if I were to make these ahead of a party, would I make them and freeze them raw? Or part cook them and then freeze? Thanks so much!
Georgia Harding says
Hi Nicola. Yes you could. Either is fine, I would probably freeze raw though. Enjoy G x
Deb Dunt says
Hi Georgia. How could I make these sausage rolls into a vegetarian version please?
Georgia Harding says
Deb this isn’t a recipe to convert easily to vegetarian. You could try the falafel as a filling if you wanted to give a vegetarian recipe a try https://wellnourished.com.au/nut-falafel/ G x
Deb Dunt says
Could you maybe help me with a vegetarian sausage roll recipe please?
Georgia Harding says
I’ll definitely add it to my request list Deb Gx
Deb Dunt says
Great. I look forward to it.
Heather Humphries says
Hi Georgia,
Its a brilliant recipe that I use all the time, I use the same ingredients for vegetarians omit the mince of course. I add a tin of drained and well rinsed chickpeas, and a 1/2 cup quiona flakes..
Same goes for the egg free I just omit, they still turn out a treat and the kids love them.
That’s what I really love about your recipes I can adapt them so easily for all the allergy kids (and there are a lot of them ) and then they don’t have to feel different or left out..
Georgia Harding says
So great to know Heather, thanks for sharing your variation. Yes I try to share versatile recipes that cope with variations – so everyone can enjoy eating delicious food! Appreciate your 5* rating too G x
Michelle says
Hi Georgia, going to give the sausage rolls a crack for a cocktail party I’m hosting. I would like to cook ahead of time and freeze if possible. Would you suggest cooking then freezing or just freeze raw? Also, I would like about 50 pieces, would you suggest doubling/tripling your recipe? Thanks a million 🙂 Michelle x
Georgia Harding says
I think freezing raw and baking fresh is always safest. I just made a batch for my sons school party and it made approx. 30 small rolls (about 4-5cm). So yes double or triple to be safe. Enjoy G x
Michelle says
Thanks G x
Alena says
Hi Georgia, These sausage rolls are delicious and the kids loved them! I used the all butter puff you recommended but they didn’t look like yours, I’m wondering if you used the short crust in the pic or all butter puff? Thanks A
Georgia Harding says
Hi Alena. So glad you all enjoyed them. I always use Careme puff pastry, but I think maybe in this pic I used their new wholemeal spelt pastry (which I’ve decided I actually prefer to the regular wheat puff). It has a nuttier flavour which I love. So maybe try that next time. Also make sure your oven is hot and well pre-heated to get a nice puff. G x
Mel says
Would these work if I prepared in advance and froze them before cooking and then baked on the day I was planning to serve? Thanks
Georgia Harding says
Hi Mel, yes, just I would think that would be fine G x
Melinda says
Hi, I made this for the first time last week. I used lean chicken mince (no turkey available), and opted for the mini meatballs. They turned out delicious and froze really well. My daughter loves them in a wrap for her school lunch, or simply by themselves.
Thank you!
Georgia Harding says
Yay – so glad she enjoyed them Melinda – thanks so much for your feedback and for rating the recipe, Georgia x
Kathy says
Made them tonight but swapped breadcrumbs for 2/3 cup of almond meal, so the meatballs could be gluten free and low carb. Used half the mince for sausage rolls and half as meatballs. Both were delicious! Liked by my husband and two boys. Thanks for a great flavoursome recipe!!
Georgia Harding says
Perfect Kathy, so thrilled the family enjoyed them. Cheers for your feedback and for rating the recipe too, Georgia x
Amy says
Fabulous! Thanks so much for this recipe. I have finally found something that my daughter will eat at school other than cheese & cucumber sandwiches! I made ‘sausage’ rolls. Big bonus that my 11m old also eats the meatball version.