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Chicken Meatballs Recipe

This chicken meatballs recipe is a familiar dish with the usual suspects of spaghetti, chicken meatballs, and a satisfying tomato sauce.
  • cook TIME 23 mins
  • prep TIME 12 mins
  • total TIME 35 mins
Course: MainCuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 488 kcal
Author: Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina

Ingredients (18)

  • 14 oz skinless boneless chicken thighs ground
  • 14 oz cooked spaghetti from 7 oz dry
  • 4 oz onion chopped
  • 1 medium egg whisked
  • 0.25 oz shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup plain Panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp Hunt’s tomato paste
  • 1 cup homemade tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp basil chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep:

1

Grind the chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into small chunks. Add the chunks to a food processor in separate batches. Pulse until finely chopped.

2

Cook the spaghetti: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti for 1 minute less than the package instructions. Drain the pasta when done.

3

Chop the onion: Half the onion and peel off the skin. Make a crosshatch pattern on the onion half while keeping the root intact. Chop the onion into small cubes.

4

Whisk the egg: Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk thoroughly.

5

Mince the garlic: Slice off the root and peel the skin of the cloves. Mince them with a knife or garlic mincer.

6

Chop the basil: Stack the basil leaves on top of each other and roll them tightly. Slice the roll thinly.

Cook:

1

Make the meatball mix: Prepare a large mixing bowl. Add 14 oz ground chicken thighs, 2 oz onion, 1 medium whisked egg, 1/4 cup plain Panko breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp garlic, 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder. Mix thoroughly until combined.

2

Form the meatballs: Use your hands and form the mixture into equal-sized meatballs.

3

Bake the meatballs: Place the meatballs on a lined baking tray. Cook in the oven for 10 minutes at 425 °F.

4

Caramelize the onion and add the tomato paste: Prepare a hot pan over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 oz onion. Stir for 2 minutes to caramelize. Then add 1 tbsp of Hunt’s tomato paste. Stir for 30 seconds.

5

Add the flour: Add 1 tbsp of all-purpose flour. Stir for 30 seconds.

6

Make the sauce: Add 1 cup Homemade tomato sauce, 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper. Stir for 1 minute.

7

Stir the meatballs in the sauce: Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and let them cook over low heat for 2 minutes.

8

Add the spaghetti: Add 14 oz cooked spaghetti and cook for another 3 minutes.

9

Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with 0.25 oz shredded parmesan cheese and 2 tbsp basil. Enjoy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 488kcal | Protein 30.3g | Fat 19.3g | Carbohydrate 48.6g | Fiber 5.3g | Calcium 69.2mg | Iron 2.4mg | Potassium 397.7mg | Sodium 602mg | Vitamin A 452.7IU | Vitamin C 3mg | Cholesterol 135.5mg | Saturated Fat 3.8g | Monounsaturated Fat 10.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat 2.9g | Sugar 6.4g