Description
These juicy chicken meatballs in marinara are a cozy, family-friendly dinner idea that’s perfect for weeknights. Tender, flavorful, and simmered in rich tomato sauce, they’re an easy recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
1 lb ground chicken
½ cup breadcrumbs (Italian-style or panko)
1 large egg
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ small onion, grated or finely minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing)
3 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
In a large bowl, mix together the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper until just combined.
Roll into 1 ½-inch meatballs and place on a lined tray.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the meatballs for 2–3 minutes per side until golden (they won’t be fully cooked yet).
Transfer the meatballs into a pot of simmering marinara sauce. Cover and cook for 20 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked through and tender.
Serve hot with pasta, bread, or roasted veggies. Garnish with extra Parmesan and parsley.
Notes
Don’t overmix the meatball mixture—gentle handling keeps them tender.
To freeze: Place uncooked meatballs on a baking sheet, freeze, then transfer to a bag. Cook straight from frozen, adding extra simmer time.
Swap ground chicken for turkey or a chicken-pork blend for a flavor twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: chicken meatballs, marinara, easy chicken dinner, weeknight recipes