Baked Hen Meatballs are tender, juicy, and completely scrumptious! This versatile and lighter meatball recipe is made in minutes with on a regular basis elements.
As a result of I all the time preserve it actual with you, I’ll share that simply previous to my husband taking a chunk of his loaded hen meatball sub for dinner the opposite evening he requested, “why hen meatballs?” in a approach that indicated he was…not sure…of the meal he was about to devour (actual Italian Beef Sandwich power right here).
Three minutes later he declared it one of the best meal I’d made in “a really very long time“. Not sure as as to whether or not I ought to be barely offended or thrilled, I went with the latter and right here we’re.
Take it from my husband — straightforward, baked Hen Meatballs would be the greatest meal you’ve made in a really very long time! 😉
Watch Learn how to Make It!
Straightforward Baked Hen Meatballs
I feel the easiest way to explain this recipe, per my husband’s response, is that it’s surprisingly scrumptious. Meatballs after all are completely tasty, however these straightforward, baked hen meatballs are going to blow you away.
Made with a handful of on a regular basis elements, blended up in minutes, then baked to golden brown perfection — with essentially the most scrumptious crispy crust! — they’re going to vary what you envision if you hear the phrase “meatball”.
Why You’ll ADORE Hen Meatballs
- 30 minute meal: floor hen meatballs go from fridge to desk in below Half-hour — together with prep time and prepare dinner time. YES!
- Make-ahead: these meatballs are good for meal prep! Roll then retailer the raw meatballs within the fridge, or bake them fully as much as 3 days forward of time.
- Freezer-friendly: toss the unbaked or baked meatballs into the freezer for later. This can be a nice meal to make a double batch of and inventory the freezer of a brand new dad or mum with.
- Lighter than beef: these meatballs are decrease in fats and energy in comparison with being made with 90/10 floor beef, with the identical quantity of protein.
- Dairy free: whereas many meatball recipes name for parmesan cheese or pecorino romano cheese, these meatballs are nonetheless so flavorful with none dairy.
- No searing: pop the meatballs onto a baking sheet then ship them off into the oven — no further searing step wanted.
- No chopping required: ‘nuf mentioned!
Elements Wanted
Except for the bottom hen, I all the time have all of the elements wanted to make home made hen meatballs readily available. Right here’s what you’ll want:
- Floor hen: consists of darkish and chicken that makes for essentially the most tender and flavorful meatballs. Utilizing 99% fat-free floor hen can lead to dry and crumbly meatballs.
- Egg: helps make the meatballs stick collectively.
- Additional virgin olive oil: offers the baked meatballs essentially the most scrumptious and crispy golden-brown crust.
- Panko bread crumbs: binds the meatballs collectively and supplies tenderness. I take advantage of Kikkomen gluten-free panko bread crumbs.
- Herbs and seasonings: dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper present numerous taste with no chopping wanted.
- Worcestershire sauce: since these meatballs don’t include cheese, a splash of worcestershire sauce supplies an ooph of umami taste.
Learn how to Serve Hen Meatballs
The most effective issues about hen meatballs is how versatile they’re. The sky’s the restrict on the subject of learn how to serve them. Listed here are some concepts:
- Spaghetti: prime cooked pasta with marinara sauce and the baked meatballs. Serve with Gluten Free Focaccia.
- Meatballs subs: slather sub rolls with garlic butter then toast and stuff with sliced provolone cheese or mozzarella cheese and meatballs.
- Salad: quarter heat hen meatballs then scatter on prime of a chilly, hearty salad.
- Appetizer: scoop the meatballs a bit smaller then bake and serve with pesto, or toss in buffalo sauce and serve with home made ranch.
- Soup: scoop the meatballs with a teaspoon then bake and drop inside Hen and Rice Soup or Home made Hen Noodle Soup as a substitute of hen breasts.
- Mashed potatoes and gravy: prime a scoop of mashed potatoes with meatballs and gravy then serve with steamed inexperienced beans or a recent salad.
High Ideas for Juicy Hen Meatballs
This straightforward, 30 minute meal isn’t rocket science however there are 2 ideas I wish to name consideration to so that you get essentially the most tender and juicy baked hen meatballs ever:
- Use floor hen: remember to purchase floor hen, which is a combination of white and darkish meat, versus 99% fat-free floor hen breast for essentially the most tender and flavorful meatballs. You need to use floor turkey (once more, not floor turkey breast) should you like.
- Over-bake: as I instruct in my recipe for Baked Hen Thighs, the best way to make darkish meat extra tender and flavorful, is to overcook it. So, bake the meatballs to an inner temperature of 200-ish levels as a substitute of 165 levels, which is what floor hen technically solely must be cooked to.
Alrighty, let’s bake!
Learn how to Bake Hen Meatballs
Step 1: Mix the meatball elements
To a big bowl, add the egg, panko breadcrumbs, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and worcestershire sauce then whisk with a fork to mix.
Notice: you CAN use recent herbs, garlic, and onion, and many others, however the meatballs are lots flavor-packed as written.
Step 2: Crumble floor hen on prime
Crumble a pound of floor hen on prime then use your arms to combine till all the pieces is mixed. The combination will likely be delicate and barely sticky — that’s okay!
Step 3: Roll the meatballs
Use a spatula to divide the hen meatball combination into quarters, then every quarter into 4 sections. Roll every part right into a ball then place onto a parchment paper or non stick-sprayed foil-lined baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake the meatballs
Bake the meatballs for 16-18 minutes at 400 levels or till the inner temperature as learn by an instant-read thermometer reaches at the very least 165 levels. Like my Baked Hen Thighs, I bake hen meatballs till the inner temp is round 200 for supremely tender meatballs.
Step 5: Use ’em up!
That is the place it will get enjoyable! How will you utilize your hen meatballs?
- On prime of spaghetti
- Inside a meatball sub
- Tossed with buffalo sauce and served as an appetizer
- On a salad
- Dipped into pesto
- Dropped inside soup
- Over mashed potatoes with gravy
Learn how to Make Forward or Freeze
Like I mentioned, this recipe is a meal-prepper’s dream. Right here’s how one can make or freeze the hen meatballs forward of time.
- To make forward: put together the recipe by way of the rolling step then refrigerate the unbaked meatballs in a dish for as much as 3 days. Or, bake the meatballs then cool fully and retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat leftovers with a splash of hen broth within the microwave or with sauce in a pan on the range over medium warmth.
- To freeze: put together the recipe by way of the rolling step then freeze stable. Switch the frozen meatballs to a Ziplock freezer bag then freeze flat for as much as 3 months. Bake from frozen, tacking on an additional 5-7 minutes. Alternatively you’ll be able to freeze the baked then cooled meatballs. Bake from frozen for 15-20 minutes or till heated by way of.
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Description
Baked Hen Meatballs are tender, juicy, and completely scrumptious! This versatile and lighter meatball recipe is made in minutes with on a regular basis elements.
Elements
- 1 massive egg
- 2 Tablespoons further virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup gluten free panko-style bread crumbs
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- scant 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1lb floor hen (not 99% fats free floor hen breast)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 levels then line a half sheet pan with parchment paper or nonstick sprayed-foil and put aside.
- To a big mixing bowl add the egg, further virgin olive oil, bread crumbs, worcestershire sauce, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper then whisk with a fork to mix. Crumble the bottom hen excessive then use your arms to combine till all the pieces is simply mixed — don’t over combine or the meatballs can grow to be powerful.
- Divide the meatball combination into quarters, then every quarter into 4 parts. Roll every portion right into a ball to create 16 meatballs complete then place onto the ready baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 16-18 minutes or till the inner temperature of the meatballs attain at the very least 165 levels as learn by an instant-read thermometer. I desire the feel of the meatballs after they’re baked to an inner temperature of at the very least 200 levels (darkish meat turns into extra tender when cooked to a better temperature), which takes 16 minutes in my oven. Notice: if utilizing 99% fats free floor hen breast, which I don’t suggest, solely bake the meatballs till they attain an inner temperature of 165 levels in any other case they are going to grow to be dry.
Notes
- You’ll want to purchase floor hen vs 99% fat-free floor hen breast on the grocery retailer. Floor hen breast will create dry and crumbly meatballs.
- I like serving these meatballs as I might beef meatballs — on prime of spaghetti with good high quality marinara sauce, or stuffed inside toasted gluten free hoagie buns with melted mozzarella or provolone cheese and a scoop of marinara sauce.
- To make forward of time: comply with the recipe by way of step 3 then place the meatballs right into a glass storage container and refrigerate for as much as 3 days earlier than baking. Alternatively, you’ll be able to bake the meatballs then cool and retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge as much as 3 days forward. Reheat with a splash of hen broth within the microwave, or in a pot with marinara sauce on the range over medium-heat.
- To freeze the uncooked meatballs: comply with the recipe by way of step 3 then switch the baking sheet to the freezer. As soon as the meatballs are frozen stable, switch to a freezer Ziplock bag and freeze flat for as much as 3 months. Bake from frozen for 25-Half-hour or till the meatballs have reached at the very least 165 levels within the facilities.
- To freeze the baked meatballs: bake the meatballs then cool and switch to a freezer Ziplock bag then freeze flat for as much as 3 months. Bake from frozen for 15-20 minutes or till warmed by way of.
Serving recommendations:
- Spaghetti: prime cooked pasta with marinara sauce and the baked meatballs. Serve with Gluten Free Focaccia.
- Meatballs subs: slather sub rolls with garlic butter then toast and stuff with sliced provolone cheese or mozzarella cheese and meatballs.
- Salad: quarter heat hen meatballs then scatter on prime of a chilly, hearty salad.
- Appetizer: scoop the meatballs a bit smaller then bake and serve with pesto, or toss in buffalo sauce and serve with home made ranch.
- Soup: scoop the meatballs with a teaspoon then bake and drop inside Hen and Rice Soup or Home made Hen Noodle Soup as a substitute of hen breasts.
- Mashed potatoes and gravy: prime a scoop of mashed potatoes with meatballs and gravy then serve with steamed inexperienced beans or a recent salad.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Woman Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin
