Best Chicken Meatball Recipe
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Baked Chicken Meatballs are an easy weeknight dinner you’ll love! These Ground Chicken Meatballs aren’t dry at all and are secretly healthy!
This Chicken Meatball Recipe is healthy and hearty!
It’s no secret we love meatballs! From Buffalo Chicken Meatballs to Italian Meatballs, they are all amazing!
While ground chicken meatballs sometimes have a reputation for being dry, we make sure these are super moist and delicious. The blend of spices makes these meatballs incredibly flavorful!
Enjoy these as the star of your dinner or lunch or as a part of your weekly meal prep. Your family will love them!
Why we love Ground Chicken Meatballs
There is a lot to love about this meatball recipe. It’s one of our favorite proteins for a healthy dinner because it’s:
- High Protein: Chicken is a great source of protein and these meatballs are loaded with protein (24g per serving)!
- Perfect taste and texture: These meatballs are super flavorful and taste amazing. They have the perfect balance of flavor and are so tender!
- Versatile: These meatballs make for the perfect snack, lunch, or dinner addition! They are a great meal prep recipe!
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this recipe:
- ground chicken
- egg
- panko breadcrumbs
- parmesan cheese
- olive oil
- Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes
Substitutions
Olive Oil: You can substitute avocado oil, butter, or ghee.
Ground Chicken: You can also use ground turkey or ground beef this recipe. We also have Healthy Turkey Meatballs and Homemade Ground Beef Meatballs recipes!
Egg: I haven’t tried making this recipe without an egg. I’m not sure if substitutions will work. If you try it let us know.
Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs work best in this recipe, but you can also use gluten-free breadcrumbs or Italian breadcrumbs. You can use 1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs OR coconut flour to make this recipe gluten free/paleo/Whole30 friendly.
Parmesan Cheese: Grated asiago or any hard cheese would work. Cheese is optional in meatballs but it helps to make the meatballs super tender and flavorful. You could try nutritional yeast but I’m not sure how it would turn out.
Italian Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning sub in 1/4 teaspoon each: dried basil, dried parsley and dried oregano.
How to make Ground Chicken Meatballs in Oven
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Mix until evenly combined. (Using your hands will yield the best results for even and efficient mixing).
- Using a 2 tbsp cookie scoop, portion into balls and place on a lined baking sheet 1” apart.
- Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through. Serve with spaghetti + pasta sauce of choice.
How long to bake Chicken Meatballs
Bake Chicken Meatballs at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Should you sear meatballs before baking?
You don’t have to, but we love searing meatballs in a skillet with a bit of olive oil until they are lightly browned. This adds so much texture while keeping the insides tender and juicy.
How long does it take meatballs to bake at 350?
It depends on the size of your meatballs! 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch meatballs usually take 20 -25 minutes to bake. Meatballs closer to 2 inches in size take 30 – 35 minutes.
What temperature should meatballs be cooked to?
Meatballs should be fully cooked at 160 degrees!
How to serve this Healthy Chicken Meatballs Recipe
These Baked meatballs are perfect over orzo, in a pasta bake, or with our Nut Free Pesto Recipe
We also love them with our Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes or marinara sauce and noodles of choice (regular or zucchini noodles)! You can also serve them in the lemon sauce from this Healthy Chicken Piccata!
Storing Ground Chicken Meatballs
Storing: Store these meatballs in a Ziploc bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing: These meatballs can be frozen. Freeze separated on a baking sheet, then transfer to a container or plastic bag and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost frozen meatballs overnight in the fridge, or heat in the oven.
Reheating: I microwave these meatballs to reheat them, but you can also cook them on the stovetop until warm or put them in the toaster oven.
Best Chicken Meatball Recipe FAQs
Your meatballs will turn out tough if you roll them too tightly before baking. We recommend using an ice cream scoop or spoon instead.
Yes! Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees and cook them for 8 minutes. Shake them around and cook them for 2 more.
Other healthy meatball recipes:
Are you looking for other easy meatball recipes? Check out our other Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas, you will love them!
Healthy Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 large egg beaten
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix until evenly combined. (Using your hands will yield the best results for even and efficient mixing).
- Using a 2 tbsp cookie scoop, portion into balls and place on baking sheet 1” apart.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through.
- Serve with spaghetti + pasta sauce of choice.
The BEST chicken meatballs ever. The only recipe I’ll ever use. 10/10. Cannot recommend enough.
Loved them thank you
You add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the meat mixture?
yes! chicken is very low fat so the olive oil helps them not be dry!