Juicy Chicken Meatballs (Printer-friendly)
Moist, savory baked chicken meatballs with garlic, parsley and smoked paprika — quick, protein-packed weeknight fare.
# What You'll 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 (optional)
12 - Marinara sauce, warmed
13 - Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and dried oregano.
03 - Mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
04 - Wet your hands and form mixture into balls, about 1 heaping tablespoon each. Place on prepared baking sheet.
05 - Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F).
06 - Serve immediately with warmed marinara sauce and garnish with extra fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Ground chicken is lean and affordable, and this method turns it into something you will actually crave.
- The grated onion trick keeps the meatballs incredibly moist without needing heavy fillers or extra fat.
02 -
- Overmixing is the number one reason chicken meatballs turn out dense and tough, so stop folding as soon as you no longer see dry spots.
- A tablespoon of olive oil mixed into the batter adds remarkable juiciness with almost no extra effort.
03 -
- Grate the onion directly into the bowl over a paper towel, then squeeze out excess liquid before adding it so the mixture does not become too wet to shape.
- Toasting the breadcrumbs in a dry skillet for two minutes before adding them deepens the flavor in a way that surprises people every time.