Description
Juicy and tender chicken meatballs baked in a rich marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. This recipe is a healthier twist on classic chicken parmesan, perfect for a comforting and flavorful main course.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 500 g ground chicken
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Topping
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) to ensure it’s ready to bake the meatballs evenly.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, grated parmesan cheese, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated, creating a uniform mixture.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into evenly sized meatballs, approximately 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter, and arrange them in a single layer in a baking dish.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Pour 2 cups of marinara sauce evenly over the arranged meatballs, ensuring they are covered to keep them moist and flavorful during baking.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes. This allows the meatballs to cook through and absorb the delicious sauce.
- Add Cheese Topping: Remove the dish from the oven carefully and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs.
- Finish Baking: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the mozzarella cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve Warm: Once cooked, serve the chicken parmesan meatballs warm, ideal alongside pasta, vegetables, or a crisp salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Serve with your favorite pasta, steamed vegetables, or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- Cooked meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months; reheat thoroughly before serving.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Use low-sodium marinara sauce to reduce salt content.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
