Description
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken meatballs baked to perfection and tossed in a rich, garlicky Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in about 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs ground chicken (93% lean or higher)
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (or regular Italian-style breadcrumbs)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, minced garlic, egg, milk, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined; do not overmix.
- Roll the mixture into 16-18 meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F) and lightly browned.
- While meatballs bake, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 1 minute to deglaze the pan.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and remaining Parmesan cheese. Whisk until smooth and simmer gently for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove meatballs from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Toss the meatballs in the skillet with the sauce to coat evenly, or pour sauce over meatballs on the baking sheet and return to oven for 2 minutes to warm through.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best melting results. Keep heat low when adding cheese to the sauce to prevent separation. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs per serv
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: chicken meatballs, creamy garlic sauce, parmesan chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meals, gluten-free option, kid-friendly