Raspberry Glazed Meatballs

Raspberry glazed meatballs are a fun variation on the ever popular grape jelly meatball. Turkey meatballs with oats instead of breadcrumbs are baked in a fresh raspberry sauce and make a fantastic appetizer or entree.

This summer is all about fresh summer fruit. Seasonal eating has always kept our menu at home delicious and varied and I’m letting the fruits I crave all winter inspire a menu this year. But most often, delicious fruits, especially the berries lend themselves to desserts and baked goods. Instead I set out to create a savory berry entree, and these raspberry glazed meatballs were the delicious, oh so scrumptious result.

Raspberry Sauce for Meatballs

Raspberries are easily one of my favorite berries when it comes to sauces, they’re tart, sweet, and the color is gorgeous. They’re also super delicate, which means they break down when cooked, making them ideal for whipping up a raspberry sauce for meatballs.. (Learn more about raspberries in Summer Berries: A Complete Guide).

Glaze Ingredients

• Raspberries – The key component obviously in raspberry glazed meatballs, fresh raspberries are ideal.
• Brown sugar – In addition to making berries delicious, as it dissolves into the liquid it makes it syrupy, and as it reduces, that syrup thickens.
• Soy sauce – Salt and umami, soy sauce was the perfect choice to bring the sugar and berries from sweet sauce to savory glaze.
• Lemon juice – Just like sugar amplifies and smooths the sweetness of berries, lemon juice helps intensify the tartness of the berries, and helps cut through the intensity of the soy sauce.
• Dijon mustard – Mustard provides that tang without the sourness of lemon.
• Sriracha – A teeny tiny bit of pepper sauce goes a long way in boosting this glaze to the next level. Peppers are complex, far beyond spicy, and compliment the natural sweetness in the sauce in a rich way. Sriracha is my ideal choice here, but you can use your favorite.

Meatballs with Oatmeal

Meatballs are a discovery of my adult life. They weren’t something we ate growing up but I always wanted that iconic plate of spaghetti and meatballs, and it’s led to many experiments as an adult. What I love about them is that they actually are way more diverse than just a topping for pasta!

Meatball Ingredients

• Ground Turkey – Ground turkey is a healthy, blank canvas for tons of different flavor combinations and I felt that it would let the more delicate notes of raspberry shine through. I used 93% lean – 7% fat ground turkey.
• Quick Cook Oats – Maybe an unpopular opinion, but the texture breadcrumbs give meatballs has always been unpleasant to me. So instead quick cook oats help bind, but virtually disappear into the meatball without getting spongy.
• Egg – one lightly beaten egg plays the same role here as it does in your baked goods, it helps all the ingredients stick together, then retain structure when baked.
• Butter – Possibly the strangest ingredient for you, this is the ‘ace’ up my sleeve so to speak. It keeps the low-fat turkey moist, rich, and juicy. Plus when the butter is cold, it helps bind the meatballs. By the time it melts, the meatballs have baked long enough to retain their shape.
• Ground mustard – I chose seasonings here I felt would truly compliment the sauce. This helps highlight the mild tang in the glaze.
• Garlic powder – I don’t think there are many things I make that don’t have either garlic or onion, or both. It really makes the meatball, glazed or not, delicious.
• Salt – I’m gonna keep saying it and saying it, salt is essential in literally everything you make. When used appropriately, salt enhances food without making things ‘salty’.
• Pepper – I like the bite! Fresh cracked pepper is a mild spicy addition that’s delicious here.

Process – Making Glazed Meatballs

While making raspberry glazed meatballs isn’t particularly difficult, there are several different steps and stages for the both the meatballs and the glaze to go through.

Meatballs

1. Place the turkey in a wide bowl, sprinkle over the salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard powder, and oats. Beat the egg and pour over everything.
2. Grate the COLD butter over the top of everything, spreading it out as you grate so it covers the surface of the meat.
3. Gently mix the meat together by folding and pressing your fingers through the meat, trying to avoid pressing the butter into clumps. When everything feels well mixed, cover the bowl and refrigerate.

the Glaze

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then in a medium saucepan, add all your glaze ingredients and place over medium heat.
2. As it heats use the back of your spoon to crush the raspberries. Let the mixture come to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened. About 20 minutes.

Combine and Bake

1. While your sauce is simmering, pull the meatballs from the fridge and form them. I use a cookie scoop to keep a consistent size.
2. Place meatballs into a shallow rimmed 8 x 12 baking dish.
3. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, finishing up your sauce as they bake.
4. When the sauce is thickened (coats a spoon), strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds.
5. When the meatballs have baked for 15 minutes, pour strained sauce over the top and return to the oven for another 10 to 15 more minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 170°F.
6. Remove from the oven and spoon the sauce that’s on the bottom of the pan over the meatballs again.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Serve & Enjoy Raspberry Glazed Meatballs

That’s it! Now it’s up to you how to eat them. Here are a few of my personal faves…

• Spooned over a grain like farro, barley, or rice.
• As an appetizer (I usually make them half sized for this!).
• Over a salad dressed with lemon and olive oil.
• As a slider with goat cheese and spinach.

FAQ’s

I sincerely hope you enjoy this savory take on raspberries. Glazed meatballs are a delicious, sweet but savory meal that I’m sure you’ll enjoy. I’d love to hear what you think, and don’t forget to pin or save the recipe for later! Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask! If not, until next time, happy eating!

Other Recipes you Might Enjoy

• Tequila Lime Citrus Wings
• Bacon Jam Crostini
• Goat Cheese and Roasted Grape Bites

Originally published 5/26/2019, Updated 2/24/2020