Description
Savory chicken piccata meatballs combine zesty lemon, tangy capers, and rich butter for a delightful Italian-American fusion. You’ll love this easy, flavorful dish that brings classic piccata notes to a playful meatball format.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground chicken
- ⅔ cup (75 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (30 grams) parmesan cheese, grated
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ stick (113 grams) butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) chicken broth
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) capers
- 2 tbsps caper brine
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) lemon juice
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine ground chicken, parmesan, panko, salt, garlic, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl, blending ingredients thoroughly until well-incorporated.
- Shaping: Form compact meatballs using two tablespoons of mixture per portion, creating uniform spherical shapes.
- Searing: Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, carefully place meatballs, and rotate to achieve golden-brown exterior for approximately six minutes.
- Sauce Building: Remove meatballs and use the same pan to melt butter, sauté minced garlic, whisk in flour to create a roux, then gradually pour chicken broth while stirring continuously.
- Flavor Enhancement: Add capers, caper liquid, and lemon juice, allowing sauce to simmer and thicken for six to seven minutes.
- Final Cooking: Return meatballs to the zesty sauce, completing cooking and allowing them to absorb flavors for an additional five to six minutes.
- Serving: Plate the meatballs with preferred starch or independently, generously coating with vibrant lemony caper sauce.
Notes
- Meat Mixing Technique: Blend ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution of flavors and prevent dry meatballs.
- Portion Precision: Use two tablespoons consistently for uniform meatball size, promoting even cooking and professional presentation.
- Searing Secrets: Medium-high heat and periodic rotation create a golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture and develops rich flavor complexity.
- Sauce Synchronization: Allow sauce to simmer and reduce, enabling natural thickening and maximum flavor absorption by the meatballs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 408
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 553 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 88 mg