Chicken Meatballs with Red Pepper Sauce
Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh parsley, and a combination of oregano, thyme, paprika, and onion powder go into the mix before anything goes into the oven, and the roasted red pepper sauce that receives them is the kind of sauce that makes you want bread on the table before the meatballs are even done.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese finely grated
- 1 tablespoon parsley finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Combine ground chicken, bread crumbs, milk, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, egg, parsley, herbs, spices and salt in a bowl. Mix until just combined.
- Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and with wet hands, roll each portion into nicely formed balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Spray or brush the meatballs with olive oil.
- Place the baking sheet in a 400°F oven and bake for 10 minutes. Turn them half way through the baking time. They will not be totally done; they can continue to cook simmering in the sauce.
- In the meantime, make the red pepper sauce, by combining all ingredients (roasted red bell peppers, sautéed onion, sautéed garlic, basil, broth, and cream) in a food processor or blender and process until you have a smooth sauce. (NOTE 2)
- Pour the sauce in a skillet, deep enough to also hold the meatballs and bring the sauce to a slow simmer. Add the meatballs straight from the oven into the sauce and allow to finish cooking for another 5 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Notes
- This recipe is made from 1 pound of ground chicken. I prefer to make a pound at a time and freeze what I don't serve that day or use it the next day in a meatball sub. Each meatball is about 2 inches in diameter when raw, about 1.75 inches when cooked.
- Find the full recipe details for the red pepper sauce here.
Nutrition
Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 14gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 633mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g