Description
These Baked Chicken Meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and make the perfect kid-approved, quick and easy, nutritious and delicious weeknight dinner. Made with a blend of cheeses, aromatic herbs, and ground chicken, these meatballs bake to golden perfection in just 20 minutes, offering a wholesome meal option that can easily be served on its own or alongside pasta or in a meatball sub.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Ingredients
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Romano, Parmesan, and Asiago cheese blend
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound ground chicken
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, grated cheese blend, olive oil, egg, minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add Ground Chicken: Add the ground chicken to the bowl and gently mix using your hands until the mixture is just combined to avoid overworking the meat, which can toughen the meatballs.
- Scoop Meatballs: Using a large cookie scoop, portion the mixture into 24 evenly sized meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced slightly apart.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes until the outsides turn golden brown and the centers reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for safe consumption.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove from the oven and serve the meatballs as desired—perfect alongside pasta, in a meatball sub, or simply on their own for a quick nutritious meal.
Notes
- Storage: Refrigerate cooked meatballs for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Thaw frozen meatballs if necessary, then reheat by microwaving, baking, or warming on the stovetop until heated through.
- Do not overmix the meat to keep the meatballs tender and juicy.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the center reaches 165°F for food safety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Keywords: baked meatballs, ground chicken meatballs, ground chicken recipe, kid approved dinner, kid friendly dinner, meatball sub, pasta and meatballs, pasta recipe, quick dinner recipe
