Description
A healthy twist on classic meatballs, made with ground chicken and ricotta cheese for a lighter, protein-packed option.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground chicken
- 3/4 cup ricotta cheese (whole milk recommended)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (Italian-style or plain)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 small onion, grated (or 2 tablespoons finely minced)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly coat it with oil spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ground chicken, ricotta cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, onion, herbs, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix gently until just combined—don’t overwork the mixture.
- Use a spoon or cookie scoop to portion the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs. Roll them gently and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18–22 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and lightly golden (the internal temperature should reach 165°F / 74°C).
- Serve warm with marinara sauce, over pasta, in subs, or as a protein-rich appetizer.
Notes
Do not overmix the meatball mixture, add herbs or spices to customize flavor, consider using garlic or onion powder for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken meatballs, ricotta meatballs, healthy meatballs