Print

Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 57 reviews

These easy baked chicken meatballs are tender, flavorful, and quick to prepare. Made with lean ground chicken, seasoned with garlic, herbs, and parmesan, then baked to perfection and glazed with a zesty lemon butter sauce, they make a delicious and healthy weeknight meal served over pasta or zucchini noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 2 pounds (907g) ground chicken (94% lean)
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 cup (84g) breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated parmesan cheese
  • 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Lemon Butter Sauce

  • 1/4 cup (56g; 4 Tbsp) unsalted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
  • Pinch of salt
  • Optional: crushed red pepper flakes for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray it with nonstick spray. This ensures the meatballs don’t stick during baking.
  2. Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, olive oil, worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs, parmesan, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, and chopped fresh parsley. Mix thoroughly with a large spoon or spatula until evenly combined.
  3. Form Meatballs: Using about 2 tablespoons (30–35g) of the mixture, scoop and roll into balls with your hands. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. You should get approximately 35 meatballs.
  4. Bake Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Check doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer; they are safe when it reads 165°F (74°C) internally.
  5. Prepare Lemon Butter Sauce: While the meatballs bake, combine the butter and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the butter is fully melted. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant (about 1 minute), taking care not to brown the garlic. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh parsley, thyme, oregano, and a pinch of salt.
  6. Glaze Meatballs: Once the meatballs come out of the oven, brush or spoon the lemon butter sauce over them. Reserve some sauce for serving. Optionally, sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
  7. Serve: Serve the warm meatballs topped with extra herb butter sauce alongside your choice of pasta or zucchini noodles for a complete meal.
  8. Store Leftovers: Place any leftover meatballs and sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 1 week.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free version, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
  • Use fresh herbs for the best flavor in the lemon butter sauce.
  • You can freeze baked meatballs for up to 3 months; thaw and reheat before serving.
  • Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) to confirm meatballs are fully cooked.
  • If you prefer, serve with marinara sauce instead of lemon butter sauce.

Keywords: baked chicken meatballs, easy chicken meatballs, lemon butter sauce, healthy meatballs, weeknight dinner, ground chicken recipes

Find it online: https://www.cheftara.com/easy-baked-chicken-meatballs-recipe/