Budget Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Chicken parm energy, but faster and cheaper than breading cutlets.
If you want something comforting but do not have the energy for breading chicken cutlets, this is the move. These chicken parmesan meatballs give you the same familiar tomato, garlic, basil, and melty cheese feel with less fuss and a shorter cleanup. They are great for a weeknight when you still want dinner to feel like dinner, not a snack assembled in panic. Expect a cozy, saucy skillet meal that tastes like it took more effort than it did. Serve it with pasta, garlic bread, rice, or even a pile of greens if that is what is in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs — plain or Italian-style
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 unit egg
- 2 tbsp milk
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 24 oz marinara sauce — about 3 cups
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh basil — optional, for serving
Method
- 1 Heat the oven to 400°F. In a bowl, mix the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, milk, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until just combined.
- 2 Shape the mixture into 16 to 18 meatballs and place them in a lightly oiled baking dish or oven-safe skillet.
- 3 Bake for 12 minutes, then spoon the marinara around and over the meatballs. Sprinkle the mozzarella on top.
- 4 Bake 8 to 10 minutes more, until the meatballs are cooked through and the cheese is melted. Let rest 2 minutes, then top with basil and serve.
- 5 Serve as-is, over pasta, or with crusty bread for a low-effort comfort dinner.
Variations
- Vegetarian swap — Use 2 cans drained white beans mashed with the egg, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, then bake as soft parm-style bean balls.
- Faster swap — Form smaller meatballs and bake them on a sheet pan so they finish a few minutes sooner and are easier to serve.
- Substitutions — Use panko instead of breadcrumbs, provolone instead of mozzarella, or parsley instead of basil if that is what you have.
Notes
Do not overmix the chicken mixture or the meatballs can turn dense. If your marinara is thick, add 2 tbsp water so it loosens into a better sauce. Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or in a 350°F oven until hot.
Equipment that helps
- Large mixing bowl — It gives you room to combine the meatball mixture without overworking it.
- Baking dish or oven-safe skillet — It lets the meatballs bake in the sauce and keeps the dinner to one pan.
Find more dinners like this
More like this
