Craving a weeknight dinner that's both simple and satisfying? Get ready to sink your fork into tender, baked chicken meatballs smothered in a vibrant homemade sauce, all tangled with perfectly cooked spaghetti.
This recipe unveils the secrets to creating a flavorful and easy-to-make meal that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Ingredients
Okay, let's gather everything we need to make these awesome meatballs! For the meatballs themselves, you'll need 500g of chicken mince – or ground chicken, as some folks call it. If you're feeling adventurous, turkey or pork works too!
Don't forget 1/4 of a small white onion, grated – I know, onion tears are real! Next up, 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs, 1/3 cup of grated parmesan, and one minced garlic clove. Add 1/4 cup of finely chopped parsley—or two teaspoons of the dried stuff. Consider these chicken meatballs a variation on chicken rissoles which are also referred to as chicken patties.
You'll also need 1 egg, 1/4 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of pepper, and olive oil spray. Got it? Now, for the pasta sauce! Grab 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 finely chopped garlic clove, 3/4 small onion, 800g crushed tomato, a cup of water, and some basil leaves.
Instructions
Now that we've got all our ingredients prepped, let's get cooking! First, preheat your oven to 200C/390F, or 180C/350F if you've got a fan oven.
Next, I'm gonna have you place a rack on a tray—we don't want any meatball mishaps! Spray that rack with oil because sticky situations aren't ideal.
In a bowl, toss all meatball ingredients. Mix them well! Scoop a heaped tablespoon, roll into a ball, and place it on the rack. Gotta repeat 'til you've used up all the meatball mix—should make about 25–30. Like the cheeseburger meatball recipe, these will be perfect for parties.
Spray each ball good 'n' proper with oil, then bake 'em for 25 minutes! Keep a super close eye on 'em until they're golden brown and cooked all the way through. They oughta feel soft!
Sauce
I'm ready to make the sauce now, and, trust me, it's super easy and tastes amazing! First, grab a large skillet. Pour 1 tbsp of olive oil in it and heat it over medium-high heat.
Next, toss in 1 finely chopped garlic clove and 3/4 of a small, finely chopped onion. Cook 'em for like, 2-3 minutes—until they're translucent. You know, see-through-ish?
Now, pour in 800g (28 oz) of crushed tomato and 1 cup (250ml) of water. Stir it all up! Then, turn the heat down to medium. Let it simmer for about 5-10 minutes, so the flavors can get to know each other.
Season to taste with salt and pepper – don't be shy! Finally, stir in a handful of torn basil leaves, or 1 tsp of your favorite dried herbs. And congrats, you've made the sauce!
Serving
Once the sauce is ready, you can cook 250g (or 1/2 lb) of spaghetti—or any long pasta you like—in a big pot of boiling water. Cook it according to the package directions. You definitely don't want mushy pasta, trust me!
Drain the pasta really well. Use the same pot we cooked the pasta in and add it.
Now, add the sauce and meatballs to the pasta. Toss everything together, making sure the pasta is coated in the delicious sauce. It's all coming together!
Serve it up, with a sprinkle of fresh basil and Parmesan cheese, if you like. I think it looks pretty and tastes even better! Enjoy every bite! Seriously, you've gotta try this.
Short Recipe Version
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 24 oz jarred marinara sauce
- Fresh basil, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Roll mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
- Bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
- Toss cooked spaghetti with marinara sauce.
- Add baked chicken meatballs to the spaghetti.
- Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 45g