Description
Tender, juicy ground chicken meatballs baked to perfection and served in a rich, creamy garlic parmesan sauce. This affordable family meal is ready in 35 minutes and costs less than $15.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs ground chicken (breast or breast/thigh mix)
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup plain dried breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (for meatballs)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (for meatballs)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (for sauce)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (for sauce)
- Salt and pepper to finish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine milk and breadcrumbs. Let sit for 5 minutes until a paste forms.
- In a larger bowl, combine ground chicken, milk-breadcrumb mixture, ricotta cheese, egg, minced garlic, ¼ cup parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands until just combined; do not overmix.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll mixture into 1.5-inch balls (about 16-18 meatballs). Place on baking sheet with space between them.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and lightly browned. Optionally broil for 1-2 minutes for extra browning.
- While meatballs bake, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add 4 cloves minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir in garlic powder. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce heat to low. Gradually whisk in 1 cup grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Adjust consistency with broth or milk if needed.
- Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add baked meatballs to the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat and let sit for 2-3 minutes to absorb flavor.
- Serve immediately over pasta, mashed potatoes, or with crusty bread.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs. Use freshly grated parmesan for best melting results. For meal prep, freeze meatballs before baking or freeze cooked meatballs separately from the sauce. If using lean turkey, add extra fat like olive oil to prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 3 meat
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: ground chicken meatballs, garlic parmesan sauce, family dinner, budget meal, easy dinner, chicken meatballs, creamy sauce, weeknight dinner