Description
Succulent chicken parmesan meatballs combine classic Italian flavors with comforting textures. Cheese-laden morsels promise a delightful meal that satisfies hunger and brings Mediterranean warmth to dinner tables you will savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground chicken
- 2 cups (480 ml) marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (85 g) grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free if needed)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (about ½ cup), optional
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Mixture Preparation: Combine ground chicken with finely diced onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix gently until ingredients are evenly distributed without overworking the mixture.
- Sauce Setup: Heat marinara sauce in a skillet over low heat, creating a warm cooking environment for the meatballs.
- Meatball Formation and Cooking: Shape the meat mixture into uniform spheres using a cookie scoop or hand-rolling method. Moisten hands to prevent sticking. Carefully place meatballs into the simmering sauce, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Rotate meatballs midway to ensure even cooking and verify internal temperature reaches 165°F with a meat thermometer.
- Cheese Topping and Broiling: Activate broiler function. Sprinkle meatballs generously with additional parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Position skillet under the broiler and cook for 3-5 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden brown with bubbly edges.
- Serving: Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve over pasta, rice, or toasted garlic bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Handle meat mixture with light touch to prevent dense, tough meatballs – overmixing causes tough texture.
- Moisture Prevention: Wet hands before shaping to stop chicken from sticking and create smooth, perfectly round meatballs.
- Temperature Precision: Always verify internal meat temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption using a reliable meat thermometer.
- Cheese Monitoring: Watch closely under broiler as cheese can quickly transition from golden to burnt within seconds – stay attentive during final caramelization stage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg