Name: Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1.5 lb ground chicken; 2 tbsp olive oil; ½ yellow onion (thinly minced); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped); 1 tsp salt; 1 egg; ½ cup breadcrumbs; ¾ cup shredded parmesan; 1 tsp smoked paprika; ½ tsp red pepper flakes; ½ tsp ground black pepper

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Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs are a healthier alternative to traditional meatballs. Perfect for a main course alongside your favorite sides, or as a delicious appetizer. Easy to make and a crowd pleaser, they are freezer friendly and a great meal prep food!

Table of Contents

This meatball chicken recipe is a total winner, yet it’s for more than just the incredible taste. It checks so many boxes that it’s up there as a weekly staple.

Whether you’re looking for a protein for your next spaghetti dinner, or want to stock your freezer for some salad and sub additions – this chicken meatball recipe is a game changer.

Making this recipe will make you feel like a culinary superstar, for the ease and all the meals you can make with it.

These best chicken meatballs are made with lean ground chicken, seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, and baked instead of fried for a lighter dish.

The parmesan cheese adds a savory touch, while the breadcrumbs help bind the mixture together.

A great mix and cook recipe, it has a bake time of just 20 minutes. In no time, you’ll have bite-sized bursts of flavor that suit so many dining needs.

Also check out our other favorite meatballs recipes such as Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, French Onion Meatballs, and Slow Cooker Tangy Hawaiian Meatballs.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Healthier Alternative – When compared to beef meatballs, chicken meatballs are lower in fat and calories, yet with just as much protein. They are also baked and not fried.
Easy to Make – Simply mix, form and bake – if you have everything out and ready already – this would be considered a great 30 minute meal. You only need one mixing bowl, and there’s no searing required for this easy dinner.
Make-ahead – Prepare the meatballs ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 3 days before cooking.
Freezer-friendly – You’ll want to make a double batch and freeze a portion of the cooked or uncooked meatballs for easy meals to go – anytime you need them.
Versatile – These go with ANYTHING, and are great as meals or appetizers.

Total Time: 40 Minutes

Makes 25 meatballs

For another stovetop chicken recipe, try this delicious yet easy Marry Me Chicken recipe.

I love these baked chicken meatballs for their remarkable versatility to be used in so many ways.

While I usually go into serving ideas later in my recipe posts, I feel like this needs to be highlighted sooner because it really is one of the best things about this recipe.

How to Use Chicken Meatballs

With Pasta – Alfredo, marinara or pasta sauce. Regular pasta noodles or even zucchini noodles. You can even make your own homemade Easy Alfredo Sauce Recipe without cream cheese!
On their Own – Instead of a main dish, serve with toothpicks as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauces.
Make a Meatball Sub – Stuff a bun with meatballs, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese or provolone cheese.
In a Salad – Toss into green salad or even a pasta salad for some tasty protein.
In a Soup – Add to chicken noodle soup, or any soup for that matter!
With your Favorite Sides – Serve as a protein with mashed potatoes, or rice. Add any vegetable and you could cover with gravy or serve with Air Fryer Garlic Bread. The sky is the limit!
Make Burgers – Use this recipe to make the best chicken burgers instead of meatballs. You can bake or grill them!
Make Chicken Taquitos – Using leftover chicken meatballs.

Ingredients Required

As always, the full recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Ground Chicken – You can also use ground turkey if you wish, to make turkey meatballs.
Olive Oil – For moisture and flavor – yet also helps to get a golden, crispy crust.
Yellow Onion – Adds flavor.
Garlic Cloves – Adds flavor. Use fresh or jarred mince garlic if you want.
Egg – Used to bind the ingredients together
Breadcrumbs – Used for binding. I use Panko breadcrumbs, yet you can use any variety you want.
Shredded Parmesan Cheese – Adds that cheesy delicious flavor.
Seasonings – I use a simple seasoning inside the meatballs for ultimate flavor: salt, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley.

ingredients on a table, with chicken meatballs

Do I Need to Pre-Cook these Chicken Meatballs?

– No, there is no searing or pre-cooking involved. Simply mix, shape into balls, and bake in the oven.

How to Make Chicken Meatballs

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking pan (rimmed baking sheet) with olive oil.
In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients. Use a spoon or even your hands to mix until everything is well incorporated.
Shape the meat mixture into 1-inch thick meatballs. Arrange the meatballs in the prepared baking sheet (sheet pan) and drizzle them with extra olive oil on top.
Bake the meatballs in the oven for 20 minutes, or until cooked through and browned. To ensure the meatballs are cooked through, insert a meat thermometer into the center. The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C).
Serve the meatballs warm alongside your favorite side dish or dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Recipe Substitutions

Swap the ground chicken for any ground meat such as as ground pork, ground turkey or ground beef. you can also use a combination of meats.
Make these into gluten free meatballs by using gluten-free bread crumbs.
You can also use crushed crackers, quick oats or cooked rice instead of the breadcrumbs.
Shape these into patties instead of meatballs to make chicken burgers.

Storage

Leftover Meatballs:

Store the ground chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To Freeze Meatballs:

Uncooked meatballs – Mould into balls and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flash freeze until solid (about 1 hour). Transfer into a freezer-safe bag or container and store them for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before and cook as directed.
Cooked Meatballs – Allow cooked meatballs to cool and flash freeze for an hour to prevent sticking Place frozen cooked meatballs into a freezer bag or container and store them for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat until heated through.

To Reheat Cooked Meatballs:

If thawed – use the oven or air fryer until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. This should take about 10-15 minutes.

If frozen – use the same process yet it will take about 20-25 minutes.

FAQs about chicken meatballs

The egg and breadcrumbs are binding agents to prevent this. Also, forming your meatballs too loosely will cause this.

The two main causes of this are overbaking and forming the meatballs too tight. Instead, form into balls so they are neither too loose nor too much. When the mixture comes together into a ball, it’s formed.

They are done when an instant-read thermometer reads the internal temperature as 165°F. As long as they aren’t too big, baking should only take 20 minutes.

More Recipes to Try:

Also, be sure to check out our other Chicken Recipes.

Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs

Discover the simple and delicious recipe for Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs. Perfect for a main course alongside your favorite sides, or as a delicious appetizer. Easy to make and a crowd pleaser, they are freezer friendly and a great meal prep food!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 40

Servings: meatballs

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Author: Tammi

Ingredients

1.5 lb ground chicken
2 tbsp olive oil
½ yellow onion (thinly minced)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 tsp salt
1 egg
½ cup breadcrumbs
¾ cup shredded parmesan
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp red pepper flakes
½ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking pan with olive oil.
In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients. Use a spoon or even your hands to mix until everything is well incorporated.
Shape the meat mixture into 1-inch thick meatballs. Arrange the meatballs in the prepared baking pan and drizzle them with extra olive oil on top.
Bake the meatballs in the oven for 20 minutes, or until cooked through and browned.
Serve the meatballs warm alongside your favorite side dish or dipping sauce.

Video

Notes

Leftover meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To freeze meatballs, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe bag or container and store them for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

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