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One Pan Chicken Meatballs with Marinara and Mozzarella Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 89 reviews

This One Pan Chicken Meatballs recipe offers a quick and delicious dinner option, combining tender ground chicken meatballs cooked in a flavorful marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Prepared entirely in an oven-safe skillet, it simplifies cooking and cleanup while delivering hearty, comforting flavors perfect for weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatball Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably Italian seasoned)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, egg, minced garlic, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Mix gently: Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
  3. Test seasoning: Take a small amount of the mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste for seasoning. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  4. Shape meatballs: Shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. You should get around 20 meatballs from this mixture.
  5. Brown meatballs: In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the meatballs, avoiding overcrowding; cook in batches if necessary.
  6. Cook meatballs partially: Cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally until browned on all sides. They don’t need to be fully cooked at this stage.
  7. Remove meatballs: Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
  8. Prepare sauce: In the same skillet, pour in the marinara sauce and use a wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits from the pan’s bottom for extra flavor.
  9. Simmer sauce: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
  10. Return meatballs to sauce: Nestle the meatballs back into the sauce, ensuring they are mostly submerged for even cooking.
  11. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  12. Add cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the meatballs and sauce.
  13. Bake: Transfer the oven-safe skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and cheese is bubbly and golden.
  14. Rest: Remove from oven and let the meatballs sit for a few minutes to allow the cheese to set.
  15. Serve: Using a large spoon, scoop meatballs with sauce onto serving plates.
  16. Garnish: Garnish with fresh basil leaves for added color and flavor.

Notes

  • Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender.
  • Cooking a test meatball helps adjust seasoning before shaping all meatballs.
  • Use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring the mixture to another dish for baking.
  • Check the meatballs’ internal temperature to ensure they are fully cooked.
  • Fresh basil garnish adds freshness but is optional.
  • Italian seasoned breadcrumbs add extra flavor, but plain breadcrumbs can be used as a substitute.

Keywords: chicken meatballs, easy dinner, one pan meal, baked meatballs, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese

Find it online: https://kitchenbynora.com/one-pan-chicken-meatballs-with-marinara-and-mozzarella-recipe/