Description
Tender ground chicken meatballs are baked in a rich marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella cheese, making them a perfect choice for a comforting dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably Italian seasoned)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, egg, minced garlic, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
- Take a small amount of the mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste for seasoning. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. You should get around 20 meatballs from this mixture.
- In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the meatballs to the skillet, making sure not to overcrowd the pan; you may need to do this in batches.
- Cook the meatballs for about 5-7 minutes, turning them occasionally until they are browned on all sides. They don’t need to be fully cooked through at this point since they will finish cooking in the oven.
- Once browned, remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, pour in the marinara sauce. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for added flavor.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Return the meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce, ensuring they are mostly submerged for even cooking.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Once preheated, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the meatballs and sauce.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C) and the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Once out of the oven, let the meatballs sit for a few minutes to cool slightly, allowing the cheese to set.
- Using a large spoon, carefully scoop out the meatballs along with some marinara sauce and place them on a serving platter or individual plates.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves for a pop of color and added flavor.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- These meatballs can be served over pasta, in a sub sandwich, or on their own as an appetizer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes