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Marry Me Chicken Meatballs Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 431 reviews

These Marry Me Chicken Meatballs are tender, flavorful ground chicken meatballs coated in a creamy, garlicky Parmesan sun-dried tomato sauce. Perfectly seasoned and quickly cooked on the stovetop, they make a comforting and elegant meal that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground chicken (or turkey)
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional – makes meatballs more moist)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil (minced)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Black pepper to taste

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ⅓ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream (at room temperature)
  • ⅓ cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese (at room temperature)
  • ¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes (sliced)
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Fresh basil (chiffonaded, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Make the meatball mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pound ground chicken, 1 egg, ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
  2. Shape the meatballs: Roll the mixture into approximately 30 small, evenly sized balls and place them spaced out on a baking sheet.
  3. Brown the meatballs: Heat a layer of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned evenly on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate and set aside.
  4. Prepare the skillet for sauce: Move the skillet to a cool burner to let it cool slightly. Wipe out any excess oil and food bits to prevent burning.
  5. Sauté garlic: Return the skillet to the stovetop on medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. Let the butter melt, then add 2 to 3 minced garlic cloves. Stir constantly and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  6. Deglaze the pan: Pour in ⅓ cup chicken broth to deglaze the skillet, scraping up any brown bits. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and let the broth reduce slightly for 1 to 2 minutes.
  7. Add heavy cream and cheese: Remove skillet from heat. Stir in ½ cup room temperature heavy cream gently until incorporated. Next, sprinkle ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce and stir gently until melted and smooth.
  8. Incorporate sun-dried tomatoes and seasonings: Return skillet to medium heat and stir the sauce for about a minute as it warms back up. Add ¾ cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, and ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes. Stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes as needed.
  9. Simmer meatballs in sauce: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Return the browned meatballs to the skillet and turn them to coat in the sauce. Let everything simmer together for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and the meatballs are cooked through.
  10. Serve: Transfer the meatballs and sauce to serving plates. Garnish generously with chiffonaded fresh basil. Serve immediately with your choice of sides such as pasta, rice, or crusty bread.

Notes

  • Using ground turkey as a substitute for chicken works well.
  • Olive oil is optional in the meatball mixture but helps keep them moist.
  • Room temperature heavy cream and Parmesan cheese blend better in the sauce.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes add a tangy sweetness and texture; you can use oil-packed or dry – just rehydrate the dry variety.
  • Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to control the heat level in the sauce.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
  • Avocado oil is used for browning meatballs due to its high smoke point.

Keywords: chicken meatballs, creamy tomato sauce, Parmesan meatballs, sun-dried tomato sauce, easy dinner recipe, stovetop meatballs

Find it online: https://miarosetti.com/marry-me-chicken-meatballs-recipe/