Juicy Chicken Meatballs (Printable Version)
Tender baked chicken meatballs with garlic, parsley and smoked paprika — quick, moist dinner or meal-prep option.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1.1 lb ground chicken
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 small onion, finely grated
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
→ Binders & Seasonings
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 2.1 oz breadcrumbs
07 - ¼ cup milk
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - ½ tsp black pepper
10 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
11 - ½ tsp dried oregano
→ For Serving
12 - Marinara sauce, warmed
13 - Fresh chopped parsley
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease the surface.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and dried oregano.
03 - Fold the mixture gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender and juicy.
04 - Wet your hands to prevent sticking, then shape the mixture into balls using roughly 1 heaping tablespoon per meatball. Arrange them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the meatballs are golden brown on the outside and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Transfer to a serving plate and accompany with warmed marinara sauce and a sprinkle of fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These meatballs stay incredibly moist thanks to a simple milk and breadcrumb soak that most people skip.
- They freeze beautifully, so you can double the batch and thank yourself on a hectic night next week.
02 -
- Overmixing the chicken mixture will give you rubbery meatballs, so stop as soon as everything looks evenly combined.
- A tablespoon of olive oil mixed into the batter is a game changer for extra juiciness, especially if your chicken is very lean.
03 -
- Wet hands between every three or four meatballs to prevent sticking and keep the shapes smooth.
- Let the shaped meatballs rest on the tray for five minutes before baking so they hold their shape better in the heat.