Looking for an easy oven baked chicken meatball recipe? That freezes beautifully? These baked Italian chicken meatballs are it!
It’s Michaela from Covered in Mod Podge again. I’m excited to be here today to share a delicious recipe with you all.
I love to cook. But I also am pressed for time. So I love recipes that do double duty {hehe…I said duty. Sounds like dooty. Yes, my humor is as sophisticated as a 12 year old boy’s.} or that freeze beautifully. This delicious Baked Italian Chicken Meatball Recipe comes together quickly, freezes like a dream, is a healthier alternative to traditional meatballs, and is tasty to boot!
These baked meatballs use ground chicken. You could also use ground turkey or even ground beef. I HIGHLY prefer ground chicken to turkey. Ground chicken is moist, and has a more mellow flavor. Ground chicken is also easy to find these days. I picked mine up at Target! Also, these little gems are baked. Frying them in the pan is an option. But to me, baking them is fool-proof. Its so much easier and healthier {no oil}.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground chicken
1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesan
1 tbsp. basil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes {or more to taste}
1 egg
Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix together with your hands.
Shape into balls and place on a greased baking sheet or a silicone baking mat. {I like to use my silicone baking mat so the cheese that oozes out gets all crispy and yummy.} One pound of ground chicken will get you 12 golf ball sized meatballs.
Bake in an oven pre-heated to 400 degrees for about 25 minutes. You can either split one open to make sure its cooked through or use a meat thermometer to check that its at an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
If I really have things together, I like to bake these guys during nap time. Then, I throw the ground chicken meatballs I want to use that night for dinner into a pan with spaghetti sauce {jarred…shhh don’t tell}. Then, I simmer them on low until dinner time. If I don’t have it together, I just throw them on the plate straight from the oven. They still taste great.
Recipes to use these baked chicken meatballs in –
To freeze these guys let them cool on the counter for about 30 minutes. Then wrap them up in tin foil and store in a freezer bag. When I’m looking to use them {meatball subs anyone?}, I let them defrost in the fridge. You can throw them in the sauce to warm up/simmer.
What’s your favorite recipe that you freeze? I’m always on a look out for a good recipe that I can freeze leftovers!
Baked Italian Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan
- 1 tbsp. basil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes {or more to taste}
- 1 egg
Instructions
Notes
To freeze for later - allow to cool on the counter. Wrap in tin foil and place in a plastic bag in the freezer.
To reheat - allow to thaw on the counter and then heat up on the stove, in the microwave or a slow cooker.
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Candy @ Candypolooza says
Yum!! I’m gonna try that soon!
Kelley says
Don’t they look good?!
Michaela says
You should! They are delicious!
Jane's Adventures in Dinner says
Yummy! Is there really anything better than spaghetti and meatballs.
Kelley says
NO! 😉
Michaela says
There really isn’t! I hope you try them soon!
ChiWei says
Now I’m craving spaghetti and meatballs – and this looks like a great recipe to use to freeze up for post-baby. Thanks!
Kelley says
Oh Im sure it freezes well! What a great idea! 🙂
Michaela says
This is an excellent freezer meal! Stock up as much as you can. I regretted not having more freezer meals stocked up before I had my daughter!