Jalapeno Popper Turkey Meatballs

About

There are so many possibilities you can have with this jalapeno popper turkey meatball recipe. Ground turkey is mixed with a blend of spices similar to a taco seasoning. Mixed inside are freshly chopped jalapeno, crispy bacon bits, melted shredded cheddar, and tangy cream cheese. The recipe is simple enough that you can whip these up in an afternoon or include them in your meal prepping. Make these spicy meatballs part of your main dish and pick one or two of Carb Manager’s Keto side dishes to pair with it. If your kids like the fried jalapeno popper appetizers served at restaurants, they’ll like these too. They’re not too spicy but still have all the flavor you’d expect biting into a freshly-fried popper.

What Can I Use These Meatballs For?

Are you hosting a game day or small get together with friends? Serve these jalapeno popper meatballs as a Keto appetizer or snack with little toothpicks and a favorite Keto dipping sauce. Some dipping options are listed below in the next paragraph. Serve the meatballs over sauteed zucchini noodles as a “pasta” option. Do you have a favorite Keto bread recipe on Carb Manager? Make these meatballs part of a twist on a meatball sub sandwich! You can even chop up the meatballs and serve over a salad with your favorite low-carb vegetables.

How To Adjust The Spice In This Recipe

Maybe you like the flavors of jalapeno poppers but are not a fan of spicy foods. You can always reduce the heat by cutting down on some of the jalapeno or subbing in a green bell pepper instead. You can also omit the crushed red pepper in the ground turkey. If you want to turn the heat UP, you can increase the amount of jalapeno used or add in another spicy pepper you like. Swap the shredded cheddar with shredded pepper jack cheese as another spicy option. Some cooling dipping sauces for this meatball recipe are the Carb Manager Keto Guacamole, Keto Alabama White Sauce, Keto Cheese Sauce, or Keto Easy Teriyaki Sauce.

Ingredients

2 slice – 6" long bacon
1 large – approx 4" – 6" long jalapeno peppers
1 pound ground turkey
⅛ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon cumin, ground
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper by simply organic
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 ounce cream cheese
½ cup, shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Start by cooking the bacon to extra crispy over your stove. Once the cooked bacon has cooled, cut it into bacon bits. Additionally, deseed and mince your jalapeno. Don’t let the pieces become any larger than a small dice. Large pieces of jalapeno won’t mix well in a meatball. Make sure to wash your hands after handling any peppers.
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees and line a large sheet tray with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, use your hands to mix together the bacon bits and jalapeno with the ground turkey and all remaining ingredients. For the cream cheese, you can pull it out early to soften. However, just keep mixing with your hands until you see the meat mixture become streak-free.
Make approximately 28, 1-tablespoon-sized meatballs per pound of ground turkey. Arrange the meatballs on the lined tray and bake for 25 minutes. Use a pair of tongs to rotate the meatballs and bake for an additional 10 minutes before serving. A recommended serving would be 4 meatballs per person. Serv with toothpicks, your favorite Keto dipping sauce, or include in a main meal.