Delicious chicken parmesan meatballs, smothered in sauce and cheese, and baked until bubbly hot. This new twist on an Italian classic is easy to make and will quickly become a family favorite!
I prepare a lot of recipes. Many make it to the blog, some make it to the garbage, and some find a special place in my heart – this recipe for chicken parmesan meatballs found a place in my heart.
I don’t know what it is but I’m a sucker for anything smothered in cheese and sauce, maybe because my mom’s Italian, and I grew up eating Italian food. Who knows? All I know is the smell of anything Italian cooking just brings me to a happy place.
This Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs has been lurking around in my head for a while. In general, I’m a big meatball fan. I didn’t used to be but over the years I’ve learned to appreciate meatballs for a variety of reasons.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Meatballs are super easy to make. Mix everything together, roll into balls, and bake. Bam, done!
- I can make A TON ahead of time and they freeze great. You know how I feel about meal prep. I live by it and it’s been the cornerstone to keeping my healthy lifestyle.
- I can get really creative with meatballs. No need to make the same boring meatball over and over again. Anything can be mixed into a meatball.
- When made with chicken or turkey meatballs are very healthy and fit nicely into a lower-carb lifestyle.
- Meatballs are filling! Sure you can eat them with pasta but most of the time I’ll enjoy a serving of meatballs with a salad or vegetables. Think beyond spaghetti and meatballs.
If you love Italian recipes then check out my Baked Chicken Parmesan, Healthy Eggplant Parmesan, Healthy Baked Ziti, Healthy Alfredo, and this delicious Homemade Italian dressing.
How to Make Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
I started with 1lb ground chicken, 1 large egg, 1/2 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup grated romano or parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup marinara sauce, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings.
After I mixed all the ingredients together I used a medium cookie scoop to measure out 18 meatballs. Please note this chicken mixture is going to be wet so it’s helpful to have some water close by to wet your hands. This keeps the meat from sticking to your hands and helps to roll the meatballs.
Then I baked the meatballs in a 375-degree oven for 20 minutes. As you can see, the meatballs firm right up.
Next, I pour 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish and then nestle all the meatballs on top of the sauce. I pour another cup of sauce over the meatballs.
Before putting it in the oven I sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella on the meatballs. Then I cover it with foil and bake for another 20 minutes in a 375 degree oven.
Mama mia the smells coming from my kitchen! Scrumptious!
Cooking notes
Adding marinara to the chicken provides moisture and flavor. It’s very easy for chicken to dry out because it doesn’t have any fat, adding liquid helps with that. My favorite store-bought marinara is Rao’s
Using Worcestershire sauce in any meatball, meatloaf, or burger recipe that uses ground chicken or turkey adds a rich “meaty” flavor. It’s actually my “secret” ingredient that I guess isn’t so secret anymore.
Let’s touch base about the sauce I use. Yes, I use jarred sauce. I’m not ashamed to admit it because heck I need some convenience in my life too and jarred spaghetti sauce is a convenience food I depend on for recipes like this. It works and taste great. Also, I’m willing to spend a little extra to splurge on quality jarred sauce brands like Rao’s and Dellalo, both are my favorites.
Of course, you can use this homemade easy marinara sauce too.
This Chicken Meatball Parmesan is delicious. It’s everything you love about chicken parm but rolled into a meatball.
Serving Suggestions
Of course, you can eat this with pasta but I recommend keeping it low-carb and enjoy it with zoodles, salad, or a vegetable. I’m telling ya, these meatballs are filling and super tasty so, in my opinion, pasta just gets in the way.
Storage Suggestions
I decided to portion the chicken parm meatballs out in glass containers to have ready for dinners during the week. You can easily freeze this for a future meal too. The bowls below are simply stored glass pyrex bowls.
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Large baking sheet
- 9 x13 casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken breast
- 1 egg
- 3 garlic cloves grated or finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan or romano cheese
- 1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
- 2 cups spaghetti sauce divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a medium bowl mix together the ground chicken, egg, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, grated cheese, breadcrumbs, and 1/4 cup of the spaghetti sauce.
- Form into 18 meatballs and place onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. I lay the foil on the sheet to help with clean-up.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- As the meatballs are cook, cover the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish with 1/2 cup of the spaghetti sauce. After the meatballs are done place them in the baking dish. Pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce, and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese, over the top of the meatballs.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Megan says
We make this recipe all the time!! One of the best foods to meal prep for the week. Thank you so much for this recipe!!
Tammy Overhoff says
I’m so happy you love this. This is one of our favorites!
Molly says
Very good! If you’re looking to cut back on calories at all, I don’t think adding the mozzarella on top the meatballs is necessary. I also opted to use fresh Parmesan Romano that I grated myself for inside the meatballs, so that gave it an extra cheesey taste. I ate these by themselves and also with pasta; it was great both ways! Will be making again.
Tammy Overhoff says
Those are great tips! Thanks so much for your review and leaving a rating!
Cindy Andrews says
My family and I absolutely love this recipe. I think they thought I stole a recipe from Olive Garden. 😊 My family loves pasta but I agree, you do not miss the noodles at all with this recipe. Thanks for making me look like a good cook, Tammy 😊
Tammy Kresge says
That’s awesome! We are obsessed with this recipe so I’m so happy your family loves it too.
Ashley Berg says
I made a huge batch of these for a party and they were a hit! Easy to make them gluten free by replacing the bread crumbs with GF bread crumbs. Absolutely loved this dish and will make it again! Thanks for the recipe!
Tammy Kresge says
That’s great! I’m so glad everyone loved them!
Christina says
I was thrilled with how delicious these were! Adding to my regular rotation of recipes 🙂 I had never used ground chicken before, but the local farmer who I buy chicken & beef from accidentally gave me a pound of ground chicken with Italian herbs added instead of ground beef. I decided to use this as an opportunity to try a new recipe and am so glad I did.
Tammy Kresge says
Yay!! I’m so happy you loved these meatballs!
Brittany says
Came across this recipe on Pinterest and made them last night. So good!! Will definitely make again!
Tammy Kresge says
That’s great! So glad you enjoyed them.
Liz says
A family favorite. I agree If using a jared sauce, gotta splurge on the Raos, or if you have time make your own (used a Trader Joe’s marinara once and the meatballs just didn’t taste all that good.). My 2.5 yr old gobbles these up which is an extra plus.
Chrissy says
Omg , so funny I was going they the comments and while making these I saw Rao’s . Lol I am making them right now with that sauce . I remember they were in Sams club promoting their sauce a few years ago, and she said if she sells enough that they will sell in their store and she will continue to expand to other stores . Good for her, now she is everywhere.
Michelle says
I have made this twice now, once with chicken and once with turkey by mistake. Both were delicious! So easy and yummy thank you for sharing 💕
Tammy Kresge says
We love this recipe too! So happy you love it!
P C says
We LOVE this meatball recipe. I like that we can eat it just as the meatballs, add them to pasta, or turn them into sandwiches. It’s quick, easy to make and the flavor is great! We always save the leftovers (if we have any) and it’s great for lunch the next day.
Lindsay says
I have made this recipe multiple times, and the whole family loves it! This is definitely one of those easy go-to meals that never disappoints.
Tammy Kresge says
So glad you like this recipe. It’s a favorite of ours too.
Arlene says
This sounds like a great chicken meatball dish..going to try it.
Marissa says
These are my go-to meatball for my 1yo! We both love them. I always double the recipe and throw them in the freezer. Perfect for grab-and-go nights. Thank you for these!
Tammy Kresge says
That’s great! SO happy you love them!
LaTisha Webb says
these are so super yummy, I’ve made them a few times already and will be making
them again this weekend.
Emily says
I made this last night and it was a hit with my hubs and 3 yr. old. My 3 yr. old is going through a picky stage, but he ate a full plate and asked for more! We will definitely make this again!
Tammy Kresge says
Yay!! That’s awesome!
Ali says
Made these tonight… absolutely delicious!!! New weekly staple– thanks so much!!!!
pavitra says
Wow, Its looking delicious. i love this recipe. I would try it by this weekend. Your recipes are superb. Thanks for sharing.
Tammy Kresge says
Thank you! I hope you love it!
Michelle Pepin says
You might want to fix the recipe Instructions… It does not say where the bread crumbs need to be added. I knew they were to go into the chicken mixture but when i got on a roll for the second batch, was following the directions and you guessed it… forgot the bread crumbs. Wondered why it was so sticky since the first one come out right.
Tammy Kresge says
will do so sorry about that!