Description
These Baked Ground Chicken Meatballs are a perfect blend of cheesy and saucy flavors, offering a deliciously healthy alternative to traditional beef meatballs. With a crispy breadcrumb coating and a flavorful Italian seasoning mix, these meatballs are baked to perfection and topped with marinara and melted Italian cheese for a comforting, family-friendly meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon no-salt added Italian seasoning
- 1 large egg
- 1 pound ground chicken
For Baking and Topping
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- ½ cup shredded Italian cheese blend
- Olive oil cooking spray (for baking dish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix thoroughly for even flavor distribution.
- Add Egg and Mix: Crack in the large egg and mix again until fully incorporated, binding the dry ingredients together.
- Incorporate Ground Chicken: Add the ground chicken to the bowl and gently mix until the breadcrumb mixture is evenly distributed. Avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Lightly spray a baking dish with olive oil cooking spray. Roll the chicken mixture into small meatballs about 2 tablespoons each and place them evenly spaced in the prepared dish.
- Bake First Side: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake the meatballs for 10 minutes, allowing them to set and start cooking through.
- Flip and Add Sauce & Cheese: Carefully remove the dish from the oven, flip each meatball to the opposite side, then pour the marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs. Sprinkle the shredded Italian cheese blend on top.
- Bake Again: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated thoroughly.
Notes
- Use panko breadcrumbs for a lighter, crispier texture in the meatballs.
- Be careful not to overmix the meat mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- Flipping the meatballs midway through baking ensures even cooking and better sauce coverage.
- For spicier variation, add red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix.
- Serve with pasta, on sub rolls for meatball sandwiches, or alongside steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
