Hi friends! Today I’m sharing one of my all-time favorite comfort meals Chicken Meatballs with a creamy sundried tomato sauce! These meatballs are soft, juicy, and packed with flavor. I like to call them “Marry Me” Chicken Meatballs because they’re so good, someone might just propose! 😂 I paired mine with a smooth butter bean mash, but you can also serve them with pasta or potatoes. Let’s get cooking!
Method
Mix the Meatballs
To start, grab a large mixing bowl and add all your chicken meatball ingredients: 500g ground chicken, 30g grated Parmesan cheese, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Use a spoon or clean hands to combine everything until the mixture is well blended. You want all the flavors to mix together so that every bite of the meatballs tastes delicious.
Shape the Meatballs
Once the mixture is ready, it’s time to shape the meatballs! Here’s a helpful tip: drizzle a bit of oil onto your hands before rolling. This makes the process less sticky and way easier. Scoop out small portions of the mixture and roll them into balls try to make them about the size of a golf ball so they cook evenly. Place each one onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper so they don’t stick while baking.
Bake the Meatballs
Preheat your oven to 200°C (about 400°F). Once heated, pop the tray of meatballs into the oven and bake them for 20 minutes. This will cook them through and give them a nice, golden edge. While they bake, you can move on to preparing the sauce.
Make the Sauce
In a large pan, start building your “Marry Me” sauce. Add the chopped sundried tomatoes, a can of light coconut milk, 30g of Parmesan cheese, 3 more minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons of oregano, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and another ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Place the pan over medium heat and stir everything together. Let the sauce simmer gently until it begins to bubble. This allows the flavors to come together and the coconut milk to thicken slightly.
Add Meatballs & Spinach
When the meatballs are done baking, carefully transfer them into the bubbling sauce. Add two big handfuls of fresh spinach right into the pan. Gently stir the meatballs and spinach into the sauce, making sure everything is coated well. Cook for just one more minute, or until the spinach softens. Be careful not to overcook it spinach wilts quickly!
Serve Warm
Your “Marry Me” chicken meatballs are now ready to enjoy! Serve them hot over something cozy like butter bean mash, pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice. I love how the sauce soaks into the base it makes every bite taste amazing.
Necessary Tools
- Large mixing bowl
- Baking tray + baking paper
- Spoon or scoop for shaping meatballs
- Pan for sauce
- Measuring spoons
- Knife and cutting board
🍗 Chicken Meatballs A “Marry Me” Dinner You’ll Love!
Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, MediterraneanDifficulty: Easy4
servings15
minutes25
minutes40
minutesIngredients
For the Chicken Meatballs:
500g ground chicken
30g Parmesan cheese
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
For the Sauce:
6 sundried tomatoes, chopped
1 can (light) coconut milk
30g Parmesan cheese
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 big handfuls of fresh spinach
Directions
- Mix the Meatballs:
In a big bowl, mix the chicken, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. - Shape the Meatballs:
Tip: Add a little oil to your hands before rolling it helps keep the meatballs from sticking!
Roll the mix into small balls and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper. - Bake:
Bake the meatballs at 200°C (about 400°F) for 20 minutes. - Make the Sauce:
In a large pan, mix the chopped sundried tomatoes, coconut milk, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let it bubble - Add Meatballs & Spinach:
Add the baked meatballs and spinach to the bubbling sauce. Stir and cook until the spinach softens (about 1 minute). - Serve Warm:
Spoon over your favorite base and enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t skip oiling your hands it makes rolling meatballs way easier!
- Make sure the meatballs are fully cooked before adding them to the sauce.
- Don’t overcook the spinach just a minute is enough, or it gets mushy.
- Taste the sauce before serving. You can add a pinch more salt or cheese if needed.
Serving Suggestions
- Over creamy butter bean mash (my fave!)
- With pasta like penne or spaghetti
- On mashed potatoes
- With warm rice or couscous
- In a sandwich roll as a fun meatball sub
Fun Fact 🎉
Did you know? The nickname “Marry Me Chicken” started online when someone said the flavor was so good, it could make someone fall in love! Now it’s a fun way to describe creamy, tasty chicken dishes!
Conclusion
This chicken meatball recipe is cozy, full of protein, and full of flavor! It’s perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or even a date night meal at home. I love how simple it is to make and how good it tastes every time. Give it a try and let me know what you paired it with!
Stay tuned for my butter bean mash recipe soon! 🙌🏼💛
