Description
These Lemony Chicken Ricotta Meatballs are tender, juicy, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. Served over creamy garlic spinach orzo, this cozy-yet-bright dinner is perfect for busy weeknights but special enough for guests.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Garlic Spinach Orzo:
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, lemon zest, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined.
- Shape mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and arrange on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
- While meatballs bake, bring chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add orzo and simmer for 8–10 minutes until tender. Drain excess liquid if needed.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 2–3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add cooked orzo to the skillet and toss to combine.
- Serve meatballs over garlic spinach orzo. Garnish with lemon wedges and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender.
- Wet your hands slightly when rolling meatballs to prevent sticking.
- Add a splash of broth to the orzo if it thickens while sitting.
- Leftovers store well for 3–4 days in the refrigerator.
- Meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked + Stovetop
- Cuisine: American-Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg