Trader Joe's Turkey Meatballs Air Fryer Recipe
Trader Joe's Turkey Meatballs Air Fryer Recipe
If you’re like me—juggling work, raising a little one, and trying not to rely on takeout five nights a week—this recipe is for you. These Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Turkey Meatballs with Paleo Teriyaki Sauce are my secret weapon. They're fast, packed with flavor, and come together with little effort, which makes them perfect for those busy weeknights when the mental load is already sky high.
Why I'm All About This Recipe
After returning to work full-time post-baby, dinner became one of those things I needed to streamline. My husband works full-time too, so anything that saves us time while still keeping our daily diet on track is a win.
We’re huge fans of semi-homemade meals—they help us avoid eating out as much, keep our food budget in check, and I still feel like I’m feeding my body something nourishing. This one in particular? It’s an easy meal that hits the spot every single time.
Why You’ll Like This Recipe
It’s quick and easy — minimal effort, maximum flavor.
Fusion flavors! The savory Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs pair perfectly with the sweet + salty teriyaki sauce made from coconut aminos.
Efficiency matters — I plan things so everything cooks at once: air fryer for the meatballs, microwave for the rice, stovetop for the sauce.
Minimal dishes. I keep cleanup easy by using parchment paper and just a few tools.
Adapt it to your dietary needs — serve it on a bed of quinoa, jasmine rice, or even swap in your favorite pasta sauce or marinara sauce.
Works for the whole family, or just meal prep for yourself and stash leftovers in an airtight container.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
For the Meatballs & Rice:
1 bag Trader Joe’s Turkey Meatballs (frozen)
2 packets Trader Joe’s microwavable jasmine or brown rice
2 scallions or green onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
For the Paleo Teriyaki Sauce:
1/3 cup coconut aminos
2/3 cup water
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon ground ginger (or ½ tsp fresh grated)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 minced garlic cloves)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
Slurry: 1½ tbsp arrowroot powder + 1½ tbsp water
½ tsp sesame seeds
My Go-To Kitchen Tools for This Recipe!
I’ve been using the Wonder Oven and recently added the Large Wonder Oven to my kitchen lineup and I love them both. The standard size is perfect for smaller meals, but the extended one comes in clutch when I’m cooking for the whole family or want leftovers.
For the sauce, I always reach for my Always Pan. It’s the one pan I use almost daily—it heats evenly, cleans up super easily, and honestly just makes cooking feel a little more fun. If you’re thinking about upgrading your kitchen tools, these are the ones I swear by.
Instructions:
Meatballs:
Preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 2 minutes.
Place frozen turkey meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until heated through and slightly browned.
Sauce:
While the meatballs cook, make the sauce:
In a small saucepan, combine the coconut aminos, 2/3 cup water, maple syrup, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and black pepper.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat while mixing.
In a small bowl, mix the arrowroot powder with 1 1/2 tablespoons of water to form a slurry. Slowly whisk the slurry into the saucepan once the mixture begins to simmer.
Continue simmering and whisking until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and set aside.
When the meatballs are out of the air fryer, add the meatballs into the sauce and mix to incorporate the sauce.
Rice:
Microwave the Trader Joe’s rice packet according to package instructions (about 3 minutes). Fluff with a fork once cooked.
Assembly:
Divide the rice into bowls. Top with the glazed turkey meatballs. Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
Storing Leftovers
Store everything in an airtight container. You can reheat it in the microwave or pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes to revive the texture.
Substitutions & Customizations
Don’t have the exact ingredients? No worries—this recipe is easy to tweak:
Trader Joe’s Turkey Meatballs: Substitute with any frozen meatballs (chicken, beef, or vegetarian).
Coconut Aminos: swap for soy sauce or tamari (use low-sodium to keep it less salty).
Maple Syrup: Swap with honey, agave syrup, or brown sugar.
Rice Vinegar: Substitute with apple cider vinegar, lemon or lime juice!
Arrowroot Powder: swap with cornstarch or tapioca starch.
Ground Ginger: Substitute with fresh grated ginger (about 1/2 tsp for 1 tsp ground).
Garlic: Use 1/4 tsp garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
Rice: use any microwaveable rice or make your own. Can also serve on quinoa!
Swap the Asparagus for any of these veggie variations!
What to Serve with These Meatballs
These Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs are super versatile, which makes them perfect for busy weeknights and creative, no-stress meals.
Serve them on quinoa for a protein-packed base — here’s how I make mine nice and fluffy.
Or go with my tried-and-true method for perfectly fluffy rice.
Not in the mood for teriyaki flavors? Swap the sauce and go Italian-style with marinara sauce or your favorite pasta sauce.
You could even throw the meatballs on a roll for a quick meatball sub situation.
There are so many varieties of ways to stretch this one bag of frozen turkey meatballs — it’s one of those freezer staples that always finds its way into my weekly food diary.
FAQs
-
Yes! Any frozen turkey, chicken, beef, or even vegetarian meatballs will work. Just adjust the cooking time as needed and make sure they reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
-
Nope — toss them in the air fryer straight from the freezer. That’s part of what makes this recipe such an easy meal!
-
Yes! You can prep the sauce and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4–5 days. Just warm it up before tossing with the meatballs.
-
They’re great with noodles, on a salad, over steamed veggies, or even in a meatball sub with marinara sauce or your favorite pasta sauce.
-
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep for about 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or a baking sheet in the oven until warmed through.
This one’s become a regular in our dinner rotation — it’s easy, it tastes amazing, and it saves my brain on those nights when I’m just done. If you’re looking for a no-fuss meal that still feels a little special, I think you’ll love this as much as we do.
Trader Joe's Turkey Meatballs Air Fryer Recipe
Quick and easy Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Turkey Meatballs with a homemade paleo teriyaki sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights and full of flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 1 bag Trader Joe’s Turkey Meatballs (frozen)
- 2 packets Trader Joe’s microwavable jasmine or brown rice
- 2 scallions or green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 2/3 cup water
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or ½ tsp fresh grated)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 minced garlic cloves)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Slurry: 1½ tbsp arrowroot powder + 1½ tbsp water
- ½ tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 2 minutes.
- Place frozen turkey meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until heated through and slightly browned.
- While the meatballs cook, make the sauce:
- In a small saucepan, combine the coconut aminos, 2/3 cup water, maple syrup, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and black pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat while mixing.
- In a small bowl, mix the arrowroot powder with 1 1/2 tablespoons of water to form a slurry. Slowly whisk the slurry into the saucepan once the mixture begins to simmer.
- Continue simmering and whisking until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and set aside.
- When the meatballs are out of the air fryer, add the meatballs into the sauce and mix to incorporate the sauce.
- Microwave the Trader Joe’s rice packet according to package instructions (about 3 minutes). Fluff with a fork once cooked.
- Divide the rice into bowls. Top with the glazed turkey meatballs. Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
Hey, I’m Jazz
I’m a nutritional therapist practitioner and spent 3 years as a personal chef to NBA athletes. Follow along for easy, attainable and healthy recipes in under 30 minutes!
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