Turkey Meatballs with Orange and Cashews

**Please Note – The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making turkey meatballs with orange and cashews is available near the end of this post. 

The ingredient list;

• Ground Turkey
• Quick Cooking Oats
• Cream Cheese
• Cashews
• Red Onion
• Navel Orange
• Cilantro
• Salt and Pepper
• All-Purpose Flour
• Butter
• Chicken Stock
• Brown Sugar

At first glance, you might think this is an unusual recipe list, and I wouldn’t blame you in the least.

It’s certainly not your conventional meatball recipe, but that’s what I love so much about these delectably delicious turkey meatballs with orange and cashews.

The oatmeal gives the meatballs their lightness in texture, and the cream cheese keeps the turkey from being dry and flavorless, as turkey sometimes can be.

The fresh and vibrant taste supplied by the orange and cilantro adds the perfect accompaniment to this turkey meatball’s unique flavor. 

Don’t like cilantro?

Try substituting fresh parsley or even chopped mint. I think the mint flavor would be a lovely compliment to the orange flavor in these meatballs.

However, if you can give cilantro another chance and focus on its citrusy notes I think you’ll be well pleased with the addition of the cilantro in this recipe! Come on…you can do it!!

**This post is being updated from the original publication in 2013. The recipe has remained completely unchanged from the original post with only the photos being updated. This article now also includes a video presentation along with a printable recipe card including nutritional information.

I’ve made these turkey meatballs before as a hearty main course, and also as an appetizer.  When I make them as appetizers, I make them a little smaller in size than I do when making them for a family dinner.

I’ve written today’s printable recipe card with the meatball size being approximately that of a golf ball, with the yield being between 20-24 meatballs. 

These turkey meatballs with orange and cashews are always a hit! Whenever I serve them I have people asking me for the recipe, and now it’s your opportunity to have people ask you for it too!

For additional meatball recipes from around the web, and around the world, please click on the following titles for;

• Asian Meatballs with Pork and Beef from Masala Herb
• Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Cajun Chicken Meatballs in Creamy Sauce from Lemon Blossoms
• Easy Sweedish Meatballs from Like Mother Like Daughter
• German Meatballs with Caraway Mushroom Cream Sauce (pictured below) from (yours truly) Kudos Kitchen

Below is the printable recipe card for today’s Turkey Meatballs with Orange and Cashews. 

If you’ve enjoyed this recipe and look forward to making it (or have already made it), I’d appreciate if you’d take a moment to give it some feedback by way of stars near the comment section at the end of this post. Thank you so much!

5 from 2 votes

Print

Turkey Meatballs with Orange and Cashews

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

If you've made turkey meatballs in the past and they've been dry and flavorless, then I urge you to make this recipe for turkey meatballs with orange and cashews. They're light, moist, and incredibly flavorful!

Course: Appetizer, Main Course - Poultry

Cuisine: American

Keyword: turkey meatballs, turkey meatballs with orange and cashews

Servings: 24 meatballs

Calories: 102 kcal

Ingredients

For the meatballs;

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1½ cups quick cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• ½ teaspoon pepper or to taste
• ½ cup grated onion
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro plus additional for garnish
• ½ cup chopped cashews cut back on the salt if using salted cashews
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 4 ounces cream cheese softened
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper for dredging
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

To make the sauce;

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons finely minced onion
• ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

To make the meatballs;

1. In a shallow dish, mix the 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the turkey, oats, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, grated onion, chopped cilantro, cashews, orange zest, and the cream cheese until well combined.

3. Roll the turkey mixture into golf ball sized balls and roll them each into the seasoned flour.

4. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium/high heat, working in batches, fry the meatballs in the oil until browned on all sides. 

5. Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and place in a baking dish.

6. Bake the meatballs in a preheated oven for 15 minutes while preparing the sauce.

To make the sauce;

1. Reduce the heat in the skillet to medium. Melt the butter and add the flour. Stir well to make the roux.

2. Add the finely minced onions to the roux and cook, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add the orange juice, chicken broth, brown sugar, orange zest, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well and simmer on low for 7-10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly

4. Spoon the sauce over the meatballs and garnish with additional chopped cilantro (if desired). Serve as a main course or appetizer.

Nutrition Facts

Turkey Meatballs with Orange and Cashews

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 102 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 18mg 6%

Sodium 149mg 6%

Potassium 111mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%

Sugars 1g

Protein 6g 12%

Vitamin A 2.3%

Vitamin C 3.2%

Calcium 1%

Iron 3.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed today’s recipe for Turkey Meatballs with Orange and Cashews as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to you!

More from my original post from 2013 –

Speaking or oranges…Here’s a coordinating blog trivet tile and wine glass that I painted a while back for my friend Angie of Big Bear’s Wife of her then blog design (at that time).  

It just seemed like a natural choice to go along with this particular recipe, don’t you think?  

Should you have any questions regarding this recipe or anything else you’ve seen on my site, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly or leave me a comment in the comment section below. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back to you with a reply just as soon as I possibly can!

For additional information regarding my Kudos Kitchen recipes, and/or my hand painted glassware or fabric items, please follow me on;

FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, and YOUTUBE 

Kudos Kitchen by Renée ~ Cooking up artistically delicious family-friendly dishes from my Kudos Kitchen to yours!

Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!