Favourite Baked Hen Meatballs (Straightforward)

These are essentially the most scrumptious baked rooster meatballs I’ve ever had! Filled with taste, baked, after which brushed with a lemony garlic herb butter for even extra taste, they’re lighter-tasting than many meatball recipes. Take pleasure in them together with your favourite pasta, zucchini noodles, or all on their very own! You gained’t remorse making a double batch and freezing half for a future meal.

chicken meatballs in a pile topped with lemon butter herb sauce with red pepper flakes.

Whereas I’ve change into an skilled at blocking out the temptation that comes together with the fixed presence of candy baked items in my kitchen (hazard of the job!), a brand new temptation has been calling my title from the fridge, within the type of these savory baked rooster meatballs.

Lunch, dinner—I’ve been all about this rooster meatball recipe. I’ve been making some variation of them for years, however this recipe you see under is my favourite, and my household (youngsters included!) get pleasure from them too. Pair with spiralized zucchini noodles tossed in a zingy lemon-herb butter, and you’ve got a brilliant springy, fresh-tasting important dish that’s a far cry from the heavier meals we sometimes crave within the winter months.


Why This Will Be Your New Favourite Hen Meatball Recipe

  • No cooking aside from 20 minutes within the oven—simply combine, form, and bake.
  • Lemony, garlicky, herby butter “sauce” is a contemporary, flavorful of completion.
  • Scrumptious on their very own, or smothered in a marinara or pesto sauce.
  • You may swap floor turkey for the rooster, if most popular.
  • Make them gluten free through the use of GF bread crumbs.
  • You may as well form them as patties, and grill them to make rooster burgers.
close-up of a chicken meatball with bite taken out of it sitting on a bed of zucchini noodles.

Finest Substances to Use & Why

  • Floor Hen: Or use floor turkey, in case you can’t discover floor rooster.
  • Egg: 1 egg works to bind the elements collectively.
  • Olive Oil: For taste and moisture.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Only a small quantity supplies massive taste, simply because it does in crab desserts, black bean burgers, and beer cheese dip. Versatile!
  • Breadcrumbs: One other binding agent. You should utilize panko, common, complete wheat, Italian seasoned, and even gluten free.
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese: Extra scrumptious taste! Be happy to omit.
  • Garlic: Mince 4–5 cloves; you’ll use some within the meatballs and a few within the garlicky herb butter sauce.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, and contemporary parsley taste these rooster meatballs from the within out.

And, optionally available… a pink pepper flake garnish for some kick!

ingredients in bowls on gray backdrop including breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper, herbs, egg, and olive oil.

Methods to Make Baked Hen Meatballs

Step one is to easily combine all of the elements collectively. Yep, all collectively abruptly, in 1 bowl! You should utilize an enormous spoon or rubber spatula for this.

meatball mixture ingredients in glass bowl with spoon about to stir together.

Scoop a portion of the combination (about 2 Tablespoons’ value, or 30–35g) and roll/form right into a ball together with your palms. This half can get a bit of messy, so have some paper towels close by to wipe your palms as wanted. Or do what I do and have somebody spray your palms with nonstick cooking spray earlier than you start!

Do I Must Pre-Prepare dinner These Hen Meatballs?

No. In contrast to with many do-it-yourself meatball recipes, like these crockpot turkey meatballs, there’s no searing/stovetop step on this baked rooster meatball recipe. You may place the formed meatballs proper on a lined baking sheet and so they’ll be able to eat in lower than half an hour.

unbaked meatballs on parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
baked chicken meatballs on parchment paper.

Recent Lemon Garlic Herb Butter Sauce

Whereas they bake, make the easy sauce on the range. This “sauce” provides these flavorful rooster meatballs much more moisture and taste—I don’t suggest skipping it! It’s not a lot a sauce as it’s merely melted butter flavored with contemporary lemon, garlic, and herbs.

In a small saucepan, soften the butter with some fresh-squeezed lemon juice, then add the minced garlic and cook dinner briefly, till good and aromatic. Take away from warmth and stir within the chopped herbs.

lemon, butter, garlic, herbs, and salt on plate and pictured again melted together as a sauce in a saucepan.
meatballs on platter with spoon drizzling herb butter sauce on top of one.

Brush or spoon it on the nice and cozy meatballs once they’re executed baking, and spoon any further over the pasta or zucchini noodles you’re serving the meatballs with. The feel is gentle sufficient that it may be layered with one other, thicker sauce, like marinara or do-it-yourself pesto, however that’s completely as much as you!

My favourite technique to get pleasure from them is with some zucchini noodles (aka “zoodles” or “courgetti”)—which I additionally love on this bruschetta rooster recipe—tossed within the herb butter sauce. See recipe Notes for how you can cook dinner zucchini noodles.

Why Are My Hen Meatballs Powerful?

The meatballs might be over-baked, however it’s additionally doubtless that they had been packed too tightly when shaping. Meatballs can style rubbery and difficult in the event that they’re shaped too tight. Roll the combination gently, simply till it comes collectively to type a ball.

How Do I Know When the Baked Hen Meatballs Are Performed?

The meatballs solely take about 20 minutes within the oven. Bake them simply till an instant-read thermometer reads the interior temperature as 165°F (74°C).

What to Serve With Hen Meatballs

  • Your favourite number of pasta; or zucchini noodles (pictured) or spaghetti squash
  • Your favourite pasta sauce, like marinara or do-it-yourself basil pesto
  • On their very own, on a platter with toothpicks, as a celebration appetizer
  • Alongside zucchini casserole or baked candy potato fries
  • In a hoagie roll, as a meatball sandwich
  • Alongside olive bread, or these do-it-yourself breadsticks or garlic knots
  • Or strive shaping the combination into patties and making rooster burgers with it. High with contemporary mozzarella, a slice of tomato, and a swipe of pesto on a bun for a caprese-style rooster burger!
chicken meatballs with herbs on top on a plate with zucchini noodles and lemon slices.

Methods to Freeze Hen Meatballs

I’ve these directions under, however can briefly clarify right here as effectively. You might have 2 decisions right here: (1) you’ll be able to bake after which freeze them or (2) freeze them uncooked. To freeze after baking, let the meatballs cool utterly, then place in a freezer-friendly container and freeze as much as 2 months. To freeze earlier than baking, type meatballs, then house aside on a lined plate or baking tray and freeze for 1–2 hours or till they’ve “set” and can not stick collectively. Then you’ll be able to place them in a freezer-friendly container and freeze as much as 2 months.

Reheat: Warmth oven to 400°F (204°C). Bake frozen totally cooked meatballs for 15–18 minutes. Bake frozen uncooked meatballs for 25 minutes, or till the interior temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Print
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chicken meatballs in a pile topped with lemon butter herb sauce with red pepper flakes.

Absolute Favourite Baked Hen Meatballs

  • Creator: Sally
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes
  • Whole Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: about 35 meatballs
  • Class: Dinner
  • Technique: Cooking
  • Delicacies: American

Description

Filled with taste, baked, after which brushed with a lemony garlic herb butter for even extra taste, these rooster meatballs are lighter-tasting than many meatball recipes. No must pre-cook, and you’ll simply freeze them earlier than or after baking. Take pleasure in them together with your favourite pasta, zucchini noodles, or all on their very own!


Meatballs

Lemon Garlic Herb Butter Sauce


Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or spray with nonstick spray. Put aside.
  2. With a big spoon or spatula, combine collectively all of the meatball elements in a big bowl.
  3. Scoop a portion of the combination, about 2 Tablespoons (30–35g) in measurement, roll right into a ball together with your palms, and place on the ready baking sheet. Repeat with remaining combination. It’s best to have round 35 meatballs.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, or till cooked by. Insert an instant-read thermometer to test for doneness; the meatballs are totally cooked when an instant-read thermometer reads the interior temperature as 165°F (74°C).
  5. Make the sauce: Place the butter and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium warmth and cook dinner till the butter is totally melted. Add the minced garlic and cook dinner, stirring sometimes, till aromatic (about 1 minute—don’t let the garlic brown). Take away from warmth and stir within the chopped contemporary herbs. Brush or spoon the buttery sauce onto the meatballs once they come out of the oven. You should have some further for serving. If desired, sprinkle meatballs with crushed pink pepper flakes.
  6. Serve heat meatballs with remaining herb butter sauce, over your alternative of pasta or zucchini noodles.
  7. Retailer leftovers lined tightly within the fridge for as much as 1 week.

Notes

  1. Make Forward Directions: To make forward, you’ll be able to full steps 2 & 3, then cowl the unbaked rooster meatballs tightly and refrigerate for as much as 1 day earlier than baking.
  2. Freezing & Reheating Directions: You might have 2 decisions right here: (1) you’ll be able to bake the meatballs after which freeze them or (2) freeze the meatballs uncooked. To freeze after baking, let the meatballs cool utterly, then place in a freezer-friendly container and freeze as much as 2 months. To freeze earlier than baking, type meatballs, then house aside on a lined plate or baking tray and freeze for 1–2 hours or till they’ve “set” and can not stick collectively. Place in a freezer-friendly container and freeze as much as 2 months. To reheat both, preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Bake frozen totally cooked meatballs for 15–18 minutes. Bake frozen uncooked meatballs for 25 minutes, or till the interior temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  3. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Instant-Read Thermometer | Basting Brush | Spiralizer (to make zucchini noodles)
  4. Floor Turkey or Beef: You may substitute floor turkey or beef for the rooster.
  5. Breadcrumbs: You should utilize panko, common, complete wheat, Italian seasoned, or gluten free.
  6. Parmesan Cheese: Be happy to skip the cheese (it does give lots of taste, although!), or exchange with one other shredded or crumbled cheese of your alternative. Give the shredded or crumbled cheese a fast chop earlier than utilizing.
  7. Herbs: You may exchange any of the contemporary herbs with dried, if desired. Basic rule of thumb is to chop the quantity in half; so 1 teaspoon of contemporary oregano = 1/2 teaspoon dried.
  8. Zucchini Noodles: Should you’d wish to make the zucchini noodles as pictured, right here is how I cook dinner them: Add a splash of olive oil to a skillet, adopted by the zucchini noodles. Prepare dinner over medium warmth for five minutes, stirring sometimes. Take away from warmth and punctiliously drain off many of the liquid, if any has gathered. Season with salt and pepper, to style. Serve with the meatballs and a bit of of the sauce.

Vitamin

  • Serving Measurement: 5 meatballs with sauce
  • Energy: 333
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 584.9 mg
  • Fats: 16.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9.8 g
  • Fiber: 0.8 g
  • Protein: 34 g
  • Ldl cholesterol: 142.7 mg

Key phrases: baked meatballs