Chicken Florentine Meatballs

Name: Chicken Florentine Meatballs
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Cuisine: Asian Dinners, Asian Recipes, Indian Recipes
Ingredients: 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry; 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 tablespoon dried minced onion; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 1 pound ground chicken; 1 medium spaghetti squash; SAUCE:; 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms; 2 teaspoons olive oil; 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce; 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried basil

Served over squash and a chunky, mushroom-tomato sauce, these tender meatballs are tops when it comes to great flavor. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan

Ingredients

2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 pound ground chicken
1 medium spaghetti squash
SAUCE:
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble chicken over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls.
Place meatballs on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until no longer pink. Meanwhile, cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Place squash cut side down on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 15-18 minutes or until tender.
For sauce, in a large nonstick skillet, saute mushrooms in oil until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add meatballs and heat through.
When squash is cool enough to handle, use a fork to separate strands. Serve with meatballs and sauce.
Freeze option: Place individual portions of cooled meatballs and squash in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish until heated through, gently stirring and adding a little water if necessary.

Editor's Note

This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 303 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 123mg cholesterol, 617mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 7g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1/2 fat.

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Reviews

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Average Rating:

Kamie

Nov 7, 2019

So good??. Some reviews said that the meatballs were bland and needed seasoning so I omitted the salt (and dried onions) and added an envelope of onion soup mix. Also I put the raw meatballs in my slow cooker covered byba jar of my favorite spaghetti sauce. Moist and flavorful. A keeper!
cindiak

Jul 22, 2019

Very delicious and simple to make. They freeze well. I do double the spices, and only cook the meatballs in the microwave for 10 minutes. Since ground chicken is very lean, I like to finish cooking the meatballs in the sauce.
Hal

Mar 21, 2019

These are an easy win. I've done some variations as well (cooking meatballs in slow cooker with sauce after pre-bake in oven, serving over zucchini noodles, etc...). A staple in my recipe box!
Shawn

Feb 7, 2019

Really tasty dish. I gave it 4 stars because the meatballs were a tad dry for our tastes. Next time I will shorten the baking time, and cook them longer in the sauce. Hubby said this one is a keeper! VFE
LPHJKitchen

Oct 11, 2018

One of our favorite recipes! We liked the chicken meatballs - it was a nice change from traditional beef. I thought the sauce mixture was great - simple yet tasty! Always looking for ways to spruce up some spaghetti squash!
Darlene Olson

Feb 9, 2016

We loved this recipe! It will be a favorite from now on and I have already shared the recipe with several friends. The only thing I added to the sauce was a zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut in 1/2" slices since my hubby doesn't care for mushrooms. I reduced the amount of mushrooms and used whole button mushrooms so he could pick them out - and give them to me! Also, to keep the meatballs from sticking to the baking rack, I would suggest spraying the baking rack before baking the meatballs. Loved the spaghetti squash instead of pasta!
IseNanao

Mar 24, 2015

Very very dry and almost tasteless- add a lot more spices
namayna

Mar 13, 2014

These were really good, not dry, just perfect. I actually broke up a couple of hot italian sausages in with the ground chicken because we like spice! I will make these again.
bakergirl00

Feb 21, 2014

Have made these for years, ever since the recipe was first published. Just had them again the other night. I freeze leftovers and they are just as great the next time. I make them exactly as recipe says but I add a small piece of fresh mozzarella in the middle when forming into meatballs. It puts them over the top!!
glassynina

Dec 24, 2013

I have made this recipe several times, and every time it's a winner. I even used it as one of the dishes for a catered wedding reception. I had a hard time finding ground chicken, so used turkey instead. I also doubled the recipe and put the meatballs with sauce in the crock pot and let them cook all day. I plan to do it again tomorrow for Christmas dinner for my mom and me. Thanks. This is a terrific recipe.