Transform your next family dinner into a scrumptious meal with this delicious and simple recipe for ground chicken meatballs! Perfect for a main course or appetizer, these flavorful meatballs are sure to make an impression.
Healthy Ground Chicken Meatballs
Prep time – 10 minutes – Cook time – 10 minutes – Roasting time – 30 minutes – Servings – 3-4
These ground chicken meatballs come together quickly and easily for the perfect weeknight meal. While the meatballs are in the oven cooking you can whip up this Tossed Salad With Fruits and Nuts or this Deconstructed Waldorf Salad or go a little wild with yummy crack green beans!
Serve these savory meatballs with these Mashed Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon or Air Fryer Potato Wedges or serve over a plate of spaghetti and tomato sauce for a filling and kid-friendly meal.
Make chicken meatballs in advance. You can easily make these meatballs ahead of time and keep them in the fridge for a few days. Or make a double batch and freeze half so you have a meal ready to go in the freezer.
These meatballs would also make the perfect appetizer at your next dinner party. Prepare them half the size and watch the cooking time so they don’t overbake. Stick a toothpick in them to serve and line up your favorite dipping sauces.
Why You’ll Love Ground Chicken Meatballs
This super easy meatball recipe comes together with a few basic ingredients to make a hearty and filling family meal.
Though they are baked in the oven the tops get nice and crispy while the inside is soft and moist. The perfect combination for the perfect meatball.
Recipe Ingredients To Make Ground Chicken Meatballs
Ground chicken – You’ll need one pound of ground chicken.
Parmesan cheese – Use freshly grated Parmesan and not the shelf-stable variety for the best flavor.
Breadcrumbs – Use panko breadcrumbs for a nice flavor and texture. Regular breadcrumbs will also work if you don’t have panko breadcrumbs on hand.
Parsley – Add freshly chopped parsley for the best flavor. Dried parsley is an option if you don’t have any fresh.
Tomato paste – Use a tablespoon of tomato paste to help bind the ground chicken and add some flavor.
Broth – Any kind of broth can be used to cook the meatballs; chicken, beef, or even vegetable broth. You can use the liquid broth sold in the tetra paks, cans or mix powdered broth with water.
Egg – You’ll need one large egg.
Olive oil – Olive helps the meatballs get crispy on top.
Salt – We like to use sea salt in my cooking.
Paprika – Paprika adds a nice color and flavor.
Garlic – You’ll need ½ teaspoon of granulated garlic.
Dried herbs – Use a combination of thyme, basil or oregano.
Coriander – You’ll need ½ teaspoon of dried coriander.
Helpful Tools To Make Chicken Meatballs
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Pyrex baking dish
How To Make Ground Chicken Meatballs
Prep time: 10 minutes
Roasting time: 25 minutes
STEP 1. Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Put the minced chicken in a bowl, and add the beaten egg, salt, and spices.
STEP 2. Add grated Parmesan, panko, chopped parsley, and tomato paste.
STEP 3. Thoroughly mix all the ingredients with a spoon, spatula, or your hands.
STEP 4. With wet hands, form balls 2-3 inches in diameter and place them in the baking dish.
STEP 5. Pour the broth (chicken, vegetable) into the baking dish. Brush the tops of the meatballs with olive oil. Roast them in the oven for 30 minutes or until cooked through.
STEP 6. Let the hot meatballs cool slightly, then serve using the broth as well.
Variations of Chicken Meatballs
Use ground turkey, beef or lamb or a combination of different meat.
Change up the spices for a different flavor profile – try chili powder, smoked paprika or rosemary and thyme.
Try flavored breadcrumbs to enhance the overall flavor of the meatballs. Or make your own fresh breadcrumbs using freshly toasted bread. Process the toasted bread in the food processor to get nice fresh, homemade breadcrumbs.
Your Family will LOVE these Meatballs made with ground chicken and spices
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 4 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the ground chicken in a bowl, add the beaten egg, salt and spices.
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Add grated parmesan, panko, chopped parsley and tomato paste.
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Thoroughly mix all the ingredients with a spoon, spatula or hands.
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With wet hands, form balls 2-3 inches in diameter, put in a baking dish.
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Pour the broth (chicken, vegetable) into the baking dish. Brush the tops of the meatballs with olive oil. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes.
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Let the hot meatballs cool slightly, then serve using the broth as well.
Tips & Tricks
- Spray the Pyrex dish with olive oil or cooking spray so the meatballs don’t stick.
- Use an ice cream scoop to portion out the meatballs so they are all the same size. This will ensure they cook up at the same pace.
- Sprinkle more Parmesan cheese over the meatballs when they come out of the oven for even more cheesy goodness.
- If using fresh parsley chop it in the food processor so you get it nice and finely chopped.
How to Store Chicken Meatballs
Chicken meatballs can be kept for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftovers can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
FAQs
Do I need to use an egg to make meatballs?
Eggs help keep the meat mixture together in meatballs but if there is an egg allergy you can add more tomato sauce and see if the meatballs stay together. If not adding some more cheese will also help.
Can I make these meatballs gluten-free?
Yes, you can make these meatballs gluten-free if you use gluten-free breadcrumbs. You can easily make your own by toasting a few slices of gluten-free bread and then processing them in the food processor until they form crumbs.
Why are my chicken meatballs tough?
If your meatballs are tough, it could be because you overworked the meat while you were mixing the ingredients together. Using your hands will help eliminate this.
The chicken meatballs may also be tough because you over-baked them. Keep an eye on the oven to make sure they don’t overcook. Set the oven timer for 5 minutes less than the suggested cook time and check for doneness to ensure they don’t overcook.
Check out Some of Our Other Ground Chicken and Turkey Recipes:
Chicken Swedish Meatballs made with Ground Chicken
Healthy Chicken Meatballs
Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Ground Turkey Bolognese Recipe
