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Chicken Ricotta Meatballs Recipe

Chicken Ricotta Meatballs Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 12 reviews

These Chicken Ricotta Meatballs are moist, flavorful, and served in a creamy Spinach Alfredo Sauce. A delicious twist on traditional meatballs that’s perfect for a cozy dinner.

Ingredients

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Main Meatball Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 medium onion, very finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1.5 pounds (700 grams) ground chicken or turkey
  • 6 ounces whole milk ricotta
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt, to taste

Spinach Alfredo Sauce Ingredients:

  • 6 bacon strips
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cooking cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 5 ounces baby spinach
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 450°F (235°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Prepare Breadcrumbs Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with milk and set aside to soak for 2 minutes.
  3. Prepare Vegetable Mix: Add the onion, garlic, parsley, and sun-dried tomatoes to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
  4. Make Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the vegetable mixture with ground chicken, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt. Mix just until combined.
  5. Form Meatballs: Shape into 18-20 (2.5-inch) meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Spray with cooking oil.
  6. Bake Meatballs: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the meatballs are crisp on the outside and cooked through.
  7. Prepare Sauce: In a large skillet, fry bacon until crispy. Remove bacon, then melt butter in the same pan. Add minced garlic and sauté briefly. Pour in heavy cream, season with salt and pepper, and whisk in Parmesan cheese until melted. Add baby spinach and cook until wilted.
  8. Combine Meatballs With Sauce: Add the baked meatballs to the skillet with the sauce. Simmer for 2 more minutes to allow flavors to blend.
  9. Serve: Serve the Chicken Ricotta Meatballs and Spinach Alfredo Sauce over pasta of your choice. Sprinkle with chopped bacon and fresh parsley for garnish.

Notes

  • For a lighter version, you can use ground turkey instead of chicken.
  • Feel free to add more vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the meatball mixture for added flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chicken Ricotta Meatballs, Spinach Alfredo Sauce, Italian Meatballs, Comfort Food

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/chicken-ricotta-meatballs-recipe/