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Marry Me Chicken Meatballs Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 114 reviews

This Marry Me Chicken Meatballs recipe features tender ground chicken meatballs simmered in a rich, creamy sun-dried tomato sauce infused with garlic, parmesan, and fresh herbs. Perfect for a comforting dinner, the meatballs are lightly browned in butter before being gently cooked in a luscious tomato and cream sauce, creating a flavorful and satisfying dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1/3 cup bread crumbs (or panko)
  • 1 egg (lightly beaten)
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced or grated)
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Sauce

  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup oil-packed sun dried tomatoes (drained and chopped, plus 1 Tablespoon reserved oil)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (julienned)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, bread crumbs, egg, parmesan, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to evenly distribute all ingredients.
  2. Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into tablespoon-sized balls; you should get about 30 meatballs in total.
  3. Brown Meatballs: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook on all sides until nicely browned. The meatballs will finish cooking in the sauce later. Remove them from the skillet and set aside on a plate, covered.
  4. Prepare Sauce Base: Drain fat from the skillet and wipe it clean. Return skillet to medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the residual oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. When hot, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then stir in tomato paste and cook for an additional minute.
  5. Deglaze Pan: Pour in chicken stock, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to lift any browned bits for added flavor.
  6. Simmer Sauce and Meatballs: Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream, grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened. Return the browned meatballs and the chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and the meatballs to cook through.
  7. Finish and Serve: Stir in julienned fresh basil leaves. Taste and season the sauce with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm, garnished with additional fresh basil if desired.

Notes

  • Use panko or regular bread crumbs depending on availability.
  • Reserving the oil from sun-dried tomatoes adds extra flavor to the sauce.
  • If you prefer a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes.
  • This dish pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
  • Meatballs can be prepared in advance and refrigerated before cooking.

Keywords: chicken meatballs, marry me chicken, sun dried tomato sauce, creamy meatballs, Italian meatballs, comfort food

Find it online: https://dailysimplerecipe.com/marry-me-chicken-meatballs-recipe/