Baked Chicken Meatballs

Craving meatballs, but looking to eat less red meat? The simple solution: baked chicken meatballs. Our recipe yields tender, juicy, filling meatballs that you can serve however you like. Plus, they’re perfect for meal-prepping. Double or triple the batch, then store them in the freezer for up to six months. Easy-peasy dinner-winner!

Baked Chicken Meatballs Ingredients

• Ground chicken: If you can’t find ground chicken at the store, another lean meat, like ground turkey, will work, too.
• Bread crumbs: You can use homemade bread crumbs or the store-bought version. If you don’t have either on hand, you could replace dry bread crumbs with panko. Just know that the meatballs will have a slightly different texture, since panko bread crumbs are bigger and crunchier than the regular version.
• Egg: Egg is a very common binder used in plenty of other meatball recipes. It binds the ground meat to the bread crumbs and other dry ingredients.
• Olive oil: Olive oil is not always necessary in beef meatball recipes, but for chicken meatballs—which tend to be a bit drier than beef—a splash of olive oil adds just enough moisture when combined with the egg.
• Parmesan cheese: You can never go wrong with adding a little Parmesan to meatballs.
• Seasonings: The mix of garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley and pepper makes each meatball a flavor bomb.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, combine the shredded Parmesan cheese, dry bread crumbs, egg, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, parsley and pepper.

Step 2: Add the chicken

Add the ground chicken. Mix lightly but thoroughly.

Step 3: Shape the meatballs

Shape the chicken mixture into 1-1/2-inch balls. Place the meatballs on a greased rack in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

Editor’s Tip: Use a cookie scoop to portion out the meat. This way, you’ll have evenly sized meatballs every time.

Step 4: Bake the chicken meatballs

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Bake until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. If desired, top with additional chopped fresh parsley.

Editor’s Tip: The food-safe cooking temp for chicken is 165°, so make sure you use a food thermometer to confirm when your chicken is cooked through.

Baked Chicken Meatballs Variations

• Swap out the meat: Use another ground meat, or even ground veggie crumbles, in place of the chicken.
• Experiment with seasonings: To add even more layers of flavor, oregano and dried basil would naturally complement the garlic and parsley. If you don’t have garlic powder or parsley, replace with Italian seasoning. Instead of paprika, try a few dashes of crushed red pepper flakes for some heat.

How to Store Baked Chicken Meatballs

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Before serving, reheat the meatballs in the microwave or oven.

Can you freeze baked chicken meatballs?

Chicken meatballs freeze beautifully. All you have to do is place the cooled baked meatballs on a baking sheet, and place them in the freezer for one hour. Transfer the partially frozen meatballs to an airtight freezer container, and store in the freezer for up to six months.

Can you make chicken meatballs ahead of time?

Feel free to prep the chicken meatballs a day or two in advance, and save the baking for dinnertime. Simply keep them in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to start prepping the rest of the meal. Pop them into the oven, and bake as the recipe directs.

Baked Chicken Meatballs Tips

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Why are the meatballs tough?

No matter the type of meat, ground meat that’s handled too much or overmixed can result in tough meatballs. Try to have a gentle hand when combining the ingredients and shaping the meatballs.

How else can you cook chicken meatballs?

There are lots of ways to cook chicken meatballs. If you have an air fryer, go ahead and grab that. Drop in the chicken meatballs, and cook at 375° for about 15 minutes, until cooked through. You can also cook them in a skillet over medium-high heat. A fun idea that will give you a slightly smoky flavor is to grill them. Pop them on a greased grill rack over medium-high heat until cooked through.

What can you serve with chicken meatballs?

These baked chicken meatballs are very versatile. Serve them in all the same ways that you would regular beef meatballs. They’ll make a delicious pairing with marinara sauce served over pasta, zucchini noodles or baked spaghetti squash. Or skip the red sauce, and serve the meatballs with gravy and mashed potatoes, rice or cauliflower rice. For a fun lunch idea, put the meatballs in hoagie buns, top with marinara and mozzarella, and broil until the cheese is melted. And, if you’re still looking for meatball recipes, try a family-favorite meatball casserole!