Turkey Nuggets

Update: The original recipe is at the bottom, but I've reworked the recipe for keto. That version is up first....

My mom made these up. Dear Husband calls them crowd pleasers...though, there isn't usually enough for a crowd after we get finished with them. These will go a long way for a large family or dinner party with the addition of a baked potato for each person, a green salad, and garlic bread or rolls. People will think they're getting more if you make the patties about 1/2 the size recommended here...so everyone can have a larger count on their plate.

Keto Turkey Nuggets or Burgers or Meatballs:
Note: The size and shape of your turkey product will change cooking times slightly. The patties in this recipe are 1/2" thick, and about the diameter of a McDonald's hamburger patty. If yours are smaller, thicker nuggets, or larger meatballs, increase cooking time by 5-10 minutes. 

Also note the oven is NOT preheated!
 
1 lb ground turkey
1 large or 2 medium eggs
1 tsp avocado oil
2 pinches sea salt
2 pinches ground black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Breading:
2 handfuls of pork rinds
1/8 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/8 cup sunflower seeds dry roasted, salted
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (I use the canned, powdered stuff for this)

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp onion powder
pinch sea salt
pinch pepper
2 Tbsp butter, melted


Put pork rinds and seeds into a blender. Pulse until mostly ground into a meal like texture. Mix the seed meal, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, and seasonings in a bowl. Set aside. Place the butter in a microwave safe bowl. Mix the turkey, eggs, oil, cheese, and spices well. Form 12 golf ball size meatballs. Melt the butter in the microwave. Roll meatballs in butter. Then place in the breading mixture, flatten into a small patty, about 1/2" thick, and coat both sides well. Set on a cookie sheet sprayed with pan spray. Place in cold oven, and set to 350 degrees.  Bake for 20 minutes. Flip patties over and bake 10 more minutes. Serve hot with sauce of your choice. Keeps well in the fridge or freezer.  1 serving = 1 patty. Each patty has less than 1/2 a net carb.



Original Turkey Nuggets
1 lb ground turkey
1 large or 2 medium eggs
4 Tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup, plus 1 or 2 Tbsp reserved, italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp parmesan cheese, grated (I use the canned,powdered stuff for this)
Add the egg(s) to the turkey and mix well. If the mixture seems too loose, add 1 to 2 Tbsp bread crumbs. The turkey mixture needs to hold together a little but will remain fragile. Not like the consistency of beef meatballs. Melt the butter in a dish. Mix the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese in a separate dish. Spray a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with pan spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Form balls with the turkey, roughly the size of golf balls. Roll the balls in the melted butter then lay in the bread crumb mixture. Sprinkle some of the bread crumbs over the top of the ball and gently pat down to form a small patty...about 1/4" or less thick. Place on the baking sheet about 1/8" apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 14 patties. Serve with honey bbq sauce....see recipe below.

Honey BBQ Sauce
1 cup BBQ sauce (I like the cheap kind.)
1/4 cup honey
Mix the two together in a glass jar or pan. Heat through and stir well.