Description
One Pan Chicken Meatballs offer a quick and delicious dinner option featuring tender chicken meatballs simmered in rich marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese and fresh basil for a flavorful, comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 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
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce and Topping
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 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. Mix the ingredients until well combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
- Season Test: Take a small amount of the mixture and cook it in a skillet to taste for seasoning. Adjust salt and pepper if needed to ensure balanced flavor.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into meatballs about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. This recipe yields approximately 20 meatballs.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches without overcrowding. Cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally until browned on all sides but not fully cooked through.
- Prepare Sauce: Remove the browned meatballs and set them aside. Pour the marinara sauce into the same skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits from the pan, enhancing flavor. Allow the sauce to simmer gently over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Return the meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce so they are mostly submerged for even cooking.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) in preparation for baking.
- Add Cheese: Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the meatballs and sauce in the skillet.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and cheese is melted and golden.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the meatballs rest for a few minutes so the cheese sets. Scoop meatballs and sauce onto plates, garnish with fresh basil leaves, and serve warm.
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring meatballs to another dish.
- Check the internal temperature of meatballs to ensure they are fully cooked for food safety.
- Italian seasoned breadcrumbs add extra flavor, but plain breadcrumbs plus Italian herbs can be substituted.
- Fresh basil garnish is optional but adds a lovely aroma and color contrast.
- This recipe can be doubled easily for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: chicken meatballs, one pan dinner, baked meatballs, Italian chicken recipe, easy dinner, marinara sauce, mozzarella topping
