Turkey & Chorizo Meatballs are infused with red chilli, chorizo and cheddar in a tangy tomato sauce and are perfect served with spaghetti.
Turkey meat can be a little bland if I’m honest so when my mother recently gave me a pack of reduced turkey breast mince (we love a bargain in my family), I thought I’d try something new with it.
I’ve recently got into Chorizo in a big way.
I thought I wasn’t keen on it but then realised I’d been put off by the cheaper sliced chorizo and have now discovered the whole sausage which isn’t in the chiller cabinet.
The difference in flavour is immense and they come in varying degrees of heat too!
This recipe divided opinion in our house.
My usually conservative daughter who isn’t that keen on spicy food loved my Turkey & Chorizo Meatballs as did I but the boys said they had too much flavour but loved the tomato sauce.
I usually go with the majority vote before any recipe gets posted on here and it’s usually my daughter who is the negative one due to her 10-year-old personal preferences (of which she has many) so I am bending my rule today.
For a dish to please my picky daughter, I do sit up and take note! She loves Ratatouille and my husband does not so I think sometimes it’s not the dish that is at fault but we just have our own taste.
Do you have a dish that divides opinion in your family? Do let me know in the comments below!
More Chorizo and Turkey Mince Recipes
I’m sure you’ll love my Turkey & Chorizo Meatballs, so once you’ve tried them, here are some more recipes using chorizo or turkey mince.
- Chorizo & Green Bean Ragu
- 5-a-Day Butter Bean & Chorizo Bake
- One Pot Butternut Squash & Chorizo Casserole
- Roasted Tomato, Red Pepper & Chorizo Soup
- Turkey Chilli with Baked Beans
- Turkey Bolognese
- Turkey Burgers with Bacon & Pineapple
- Turkey Meatloaf
Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.
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Turkey & Chorizo Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- For meatballs:
- 500 g Turkey Mince
- 50 g Chorizo finely chopped
- 50 g Grated cheddar
- 40 g Fresh white breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp Freshly chopped parsley
- 1 Red chilli deseeded & finely chopped
- 3 Garlic cloves crushed
- 1 Egg lightly beaten
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 tbsp Light olive oil
- 1 knob of butter
Tomato Sauce
- 680 g Jar of passata
- 1 Onion grated or blitzed in herb chopper
- 2 Garlic cloves crushed
- 3 Celery sticks finely diced
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dried basil
- Freshly ground salt & pepper
Spaghetti
- 300 – 375 g Spaghetti
Garnish
- Freshly chopped parsley
- 2 – 3 tbsp Grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Mix the meatball ingredients together (bar the oil and butter) thoroughly with your hands and shape into balls (I made 24).
- Chill for 30 minutes.
- Heat the oil and butter in a pan and fry the meatballs to seal all over.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- In the same pan heat up the remaining oil and gently fry the onion, garlic and celery for 8 minutes without colouring.
- Add passata, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Cook the spaghetti according to instructions.
- Return meatballs to the pan and simmer for 10 minutes until cooked.
- Serve on a bed of spaghetti with a sprinkling of parsley and grated parmesan cheese.
Paul Wilson
Soon be time to start looking around for interesting things to do with turkey – this looks a good one.
Camilla
Thanks Paul:-)
Lisa Williams
This is a great speedy dish loving the use of turkey I want to use it so much more than I do with it being so lean but I can never think of what to do 🙂
Paul Wilson
Mmmm, lovely.
Ursula Hunt
Chirizo adds a nice spicy kick
Camilla
Yes, you’ve just reminded me about some chorizo in my fridge:-)
Marion Weir
I Love making meatballs for my family, I will definitely be giving this one a go 😀
Camilla
Great Marion, do let me know what you think:-)
Paul Wilson
Looks very appetising.
Geoff Clark
Looks like a good way to use up some turkey
Anne Dalzell
I’ve never had turkey and chorizo together before but i am a big fan of the meatball. This is a meal i’d be very happy to eat
kayleigh white
I love meatballs!
Hazel Hulson
Interesting recipe my older son would like this loves meatballs and pasta and spicy food never thought of using turkey mince.
Maddy
I agree that turkey mince can be bland, so looking forward to trying this spiced up healthy recipe
Heather Haigh
I do like the sound of these flavour combinations and meatballs always go down well.
Felicity Kelly
I only have turkey ay christmas! My daughter hates even a hint of spice so we are limited on my house as I love spivey food!
Bev
Bookmarking for Boxing Day!
Camilla
Excellent:-)
Karen Hurse
This looks lush. gonna try it myself.
Camilla
Bril:-)
Ursula Hunt
meatballs for our tea tonight, great
Miss. Lucinda Fountain
I love the sound of Turkey & chorizo meatballs and so i shall be printing off your fantastic recipie!!
Thanks so much for a great idea to liven up my cooking. 🙂
Camilla
Thank you Lucinda, hope you enjoy them:-)
Sarah Maclean
Sounds delicious, will make this soon as I love chorizo!
Camilla
Fab:-)
Annie
These look gorgeous! We have the same problem too – half like spicy and half don’t – I’ll have to try this out!
Camilla
Yes so it was so strange the my youngest really approved and my son and husband found the flavour too intense but not too spicy – hence I ignored them and stuck with the girls’ opinion ie mine and my daughter’s LOL:-)
Maya Russell
I like the rich colour of the sauce. Makes me want to make some now!
Camilla
Thank you, do let me know if you do:-)
Janice
I don’t think any dish divides our family, we eat everything!
Camilla
That’s good to here Janice:-)
Javelin Warrior
I think generally spicy is what divides – I like a moderate amount of spice in food (whether spicy or just spiced with baking spices, etc), but my other half prefers everything punched up in flavor and spice. So I’m constantly having to evaluate if his tastes really reflect common tastes 😉 Love the addition of chorizo to these meatballs – and an excellent way to perk up the turkey…
Camilla
Well that is why this situation was so confusing as the people that love chilli and spice thought the dinner was too flavoursome and my daughter the conservative one really liked it. But it didn’t stop the boys having seconds so I take their comments with a pinch of salt LOL!
Ursula Hunt
Gorgeous dish
Camilla
Thank you:-)
Corina
I love adding chorizo to meatballs – It makes them so tasty. I’ve always made them with minced beef before though but I’m using turkey more often recently so I might give turkey meatballs a try.
Camilla
Great, I’m sure you’ll enjoy them then:-)
mellissa williams
This looks lovely. I may try this as my husband doesn’t eat a lot of red meat
Camilla
Thank you:-) Do let me know how you get on if you do decide to make it:-)