Meatballs: compare the 3 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest Baked TurkeyReady in 45 min; the others take 55 min.
- Easiest Baked TurkeyEasy like the others, but 7 steps against 9 or more.
- Lightest Baked TurkeyAbout 350 calories a serving, against 480 calories or more for the others (an estimate).
- Kid helper Baked TurkeyA child can do 3 of the 7 steps: no knife, no heat.
- Least cleanup Baked Turkey2 things to wash: sheet pan, mixing bowl.
- Make it ahead Classic Beef and PorkBake the meatballs, cool and refrigerate up to 2 days, then finish in the sauce.
Side by side
| Baked Turkey | Classic Beef and Pork | Swedish-Style | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 45 min | 55 min | 55 min |
| Prep | 20 min | 20 min | 25 min |
| Level | Easy | Easy | Medium |
| Steps | 7 | 9 | 12 |
| Serves | about 20 meatballs | about 24 meatballs | about 30 small meatballs |
| Key ingredients | whole milk, parmesan and ground turkey | ground beef, ground pork and marinara sauce | ground beef, ground pork and beef broth |
| Only in this one | italian seasoning and ground turkey | dried oregano and marinara sauce | onion, ground allspice, ground nutmeg and unsalted butter |
| Dietary | |||
| Calories | 350 | 480 | 660 |
| Protein | 35 g | 29 g | 30 g |
| Carbs | 9 g | 18 g | 12 g |
| Fat | 20 g | 31 g | 54 g |
| Cleanup | 4/5 2 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash |
| Kid helper | Yes, 3 of 7 steps | Yes, 3 of 9 steps | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.