Flavorful Chicken Meatballs: A Quick, Healthy, and Irresistible Recipe for Every Meal

Flavorful Chicken Meatballs Recipe

Introduction

Chicken meatballs are a universally loved dish, celebrated for their juicy tenderness and versatility. This Flavorful Chicken Meatballs Recipe stands out thanks to a bold blend of herbs, spices, and a touch of garlic, making every bite irresistibly savory. Whether tossed in your favorite sauce, tucked into subs, or served over zoodles, this recipe delivers crowd-pleasing results that everyone at the table will enjoy.

The Secret to Flavorful Chicken Meatballs

The key to truly flavorful chicken meatballs lies in the combination of fresh herbs, Italian seasoning, and aromatic garlic. The mildness of ground chicken is the perfect canvas for these complementary flavors, giving the meatballs a deeply savory and mouthwatering taste. Plus, the use of breadcrumbs delivers a tender, juicy texture that retains moisture even after baking.

Why You’ll Love These Chicken Meatballs

This recipe is quick, straightforward, and adaptable to different preferences and sauces. These meatballs pair beautifully with pasta, grain bowls, or salads, making them a reliable go-to for busy weeknights or meal prepping. You can even freeze extras for effortless future meals.

How to Serve Flavorful Chicken Meatballs

Serve these meatballs with homemade tomato sauce and spaghetti for a classic comfort meal, or try pairing them with a tangy yogurt sauce and warm pita for a Mediterranean twist. They can also be served on their own as a tasty, protein-packed appetizer for gatherings.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 20 medium-sized meatballs, enough for 4 servings. Each serving (approximately 5 meatballs) contains around 220-250 calories, depending on specific brands and ingredient choices. High in protein and lower in fat than traditional meatballs, these are a healthful addition to your meal plan.

Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped (or 1/2 tablespoon dried)
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons olive oil (for baking or frying)
Optional: 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by grocery section—perfect for efficient planning and streamlined grocery trips.

CookifyAI meal planning interface

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) or heat a large skillet over medium heat if pan-frying.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, fresh herbs, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, milk, and (if using) red pepper flakes. Mix gently until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.
  3. With damp hands, form the mixture into 20 evenly sized meatballs and arrange on a lined baking sheet or plate.
  4. If baking: Brush or spray the meatballs with olive oil. Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F/74°C).
  5. If pan-frying: Heat olive oil in a skillet. Cook meatballs in batches, turning occasionally, until nicely browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.
  6. Serve immediately with your choice of sauce, pasta, or side dish.

Weekly Meal Planning

This chicken meatballs recipe is a meal prep superstar. Save and schedule this recipe in your weekly plan to effortlessly generate smart shopping lists that consolidate all ingredients across every planned meal.

Planning Benefits:

  • Automatically calculates exact ingredient quantities across all chosen recipes
  • Organizes your shopping list by specific grocery store sections
  • Helps avoid forgotten ingredients and prevents duplicate purchases
  • Keeps your meal prep organized, efficient, and waste-free

Pro tip: Schedule your recipes for the whole week and let CookifyAI combine overlapping ingredients (like eggs or herbs). This saves you time, money, and pantry space every week.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Leave a Comment