Description
A heartwarming dish of tender chicken meatballs simmered in a vibrant tomato sauce, served over pasta and topped with melted cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tsp Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- Pasta of choice (spaghetti, penne, etc.)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, chopped garlic, minced onion, Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and beaten egg. Mix until just combined.
- Wet your hands slightly to prevent sticking and roll into 1-2 inch meatballs. Set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sear meatballs for 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add more oil if needed, sauté onions until soft, then add crushed garlic. Pour in tomato sauce and remaining herbs, simmer for 5 minutes.
- Return meatballs to the skillet, let them simmer in the sauce for 10-15 minutes.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce and meatballs, adding pasta water if too thick. Serve hot, topped with shredded cheese.
Notes
Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition. This dish can also be made in larger batches for potlucks!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: chicken meatballs, pasta, tomato sauce, family recipe, comfort food