Name: Chicken Meatballs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound ground chicken; ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic salt; 1 teaspoon onion powder

These savoryChicken Meatballsmake a great entree or appetizer. The spices can be customized to result in a sweet, savory, or spicy flavor that adds to the versatility of the dish.

chicken meatballs lined on a rectangle cutting board.

If you are not a fan of red meat or are looking for an easy way to switch up your weekly meal rotation then these chicken meatballs are for you! The tender, savory chicken is seasoned with a simple spice mix tocreate chewy, flavorful meatballs.This dish comes together in just 45 minutes and can be used in a variety of dishes.

We like using these meatballs formarinara subs,spaghettiwithmarinara sauceor served overrice. In addition to pairing well with a variety of dishes, these meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months, making them a great option for meal prepping.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Comes together in under an hour.
Can be modified with a variety of spices.
Can be served as a main dish or an appetizer.

Recipe Ingredients

Digitally labeled ingredients for making chicken meatballs.

Ground Chicken—Can be found near the deli section of your local grocery store.
Italian Breadcrumbs—Or a combination of regular breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning.
Egg—Acts as a binding agent to hold your meatballs together.
Olive Oil—Helps lock in the moisture of the meatballs so they don’t dry out too much as they cook.
Spices—A savory combination of garlic salt and onion powder.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Chicken Meatballs

portion bowls each with raw ingredient to make chicken meatballs.

clear mixing bowl with chicken meatball mix in progress.

Step #1.Preheat the oven and gather all of the needed ingredients.

Step #2.Fold the grounded chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, olive oil, and spices together in a bowl until the ingredients are well combined.

raw chicken meatballs lined on parchment on a baking tray.

chicken meatballs lined on parchment on a baking tray.

Step #3.Break the meat mixture into 24 evenly sized pieces and roll them into balls.

Step #4.Place your meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until they are cooked through all the way. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

Why are my meatballs tough?

If you feel like your meatballs are on the tougher side when you chew them then it is likely the result of overcooking. Overcooking your meatballs will cause extra moisture to evaporate, which will result in an unpleasant texture. You can check to make sure your meatballs are done by seeing if they have an internal temperature of 165°F.

What is the best binding agent for meatballs?

Eggs are by far the best binding agent for making meatballs. The egg will help hold your spices and breadcrumbs to the meat, which in turn help prevent moisture loss. Without the binding properties of eggs, your meatballs would easily crumble when removed from the baking sheet.

chicken meatballs on a round white plate with black forks.

How to Store Your Leftover Meatballs

While we don’t anticipate that you’ll have any leftover meatballs, you can store your leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure you keep your meatballs in an airtight container or Ziploc bag to keep them fresh for as long as possible. You can reheat a plate of meatballs in the microwave for 45 seconds. Depending on how powerful your microwave is you may need to add an extra 15 seconds.

In addition to keeping your meatballs in the fridge, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. You will want to cook your meatballs and then allow them to cool on the counter for about 30 minutes. Transfer your chicken meatballs to a large Ziploc bag and lay them flat in the freezer. When you are ready to enjoy them, reheat your frozen meatballs in the oven for 15 minutes at 350°F.

How to Serve Your Meatballs

One of our favorite things about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can serve your chicken meatballs as a side dish tobaked potatoes, a cobb salad, or roasted veggies. You can also use this dish as a substitute for beef meatballs in spaghetti. No matter how you serve your chicken meatballs, they are sure to be a hit.

Expert Tips

Lining your baking sheet withparchment paper will prevent the meatballs from sticking to and breaking when you go to remove them.If you are out of parchment paper then you can coat your baking sheet in olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.
You can add some extra flavor to your meatballs byadding ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese to your meat mixture.
If you have a fresh head of garlic thenyou can replace the garlic salt with 2 cloves of freshly minced garlic and ½ teaspoon of salt.
If you only have regular breadcrumbs thenyou can add a tablespoon of Italian seasoning to add some flavor.
For a spicier meatball you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes or 1 ½ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder to the meat mixture.
Whileyou can use a large spoon to fold your ingredients together, using your hands will result in more evenly distributed ingredients.
Allowing your meatballs tocool before freezing them will help prevent them from sticking together when you are ready to reheat them.