Beef Free Sheet Pan Turkey Meatballs with Pesto, Walnuts, Zucchini & Tomatoes
Ground turkey does all the heavy lifting here, delivering juicy, satisfying meatballs without a trace of beef in sight. What makes these especially craveable is the homemade walnut-basil pesto folded right into the meat mixture — it keeps every bite fragrant and moist while pulling double duty as a finishing sauce spooned over the top. Almond flour and finely chopped walnuts replace traditional breadcrumbs, giving the meatballs a tender, slightly nutty texture that holds together beautifully on the pan. The zucchini and cherry tomatoes roast alongside everything at 425°F, so by the time the meatballs hit 165°F, the vegetables are caramelized at the edges and the tomatoes have burst into a jammy, glossy coating. It all comes together on a single sheet pan, which means minimal cleanup and maximum flavor payoff. A squeeze of lemon and a few fresh basil leaves at the end brighten the whole dish and make it feel genuinely restaurant-worthy.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pesto
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ¼ tsp salt
For the meatballs
- 1 ¼ lb ground turkey (93% lean)
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup raw walnuts, finely chopped
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the sheet pan
- 2 medium zucchini (about 1 lb total), cut into 1-inch half-moons
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For serving
- fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large 18×13-inch sheet pan with parchment paper or lightly coat with olive oil.
- 2
Make the pesto: combine the raw walnuts, basil, 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and 1/4 tsp salt in a small food processor or blender and pulse until a coarse, spreadable paste forms, scraping down the sides as needed. Set aside.
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