Description
These Marry Me Chicken Meatballs are irresistibly tender, coated in a rich and creamy sun-dried tomato parmesan sauce that will make anyone fall in love! Packed with bold flavors, this dish is perfect for a cozy dinner, date night, or meal prep. Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs (or almond flour for low-carb)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Make the Meatballs: In a large bowl, mix the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Roll into 1-inch meatballs.
2. Cook the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside (they don’t need to be fully cooked yet).
3. Prepare the Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the pan.
4. Simmer & Thicken: Add heavy cream, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Finish Cooking the Meatballs: Return the meatballs to the skillet, cover, and simmer for 8-10 minutes until fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.
6. Serve & Garnish: Sprinkle fresh basil over the meatballs and serve with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- For Extra Flavor: Add a splash of white wine before adding the chicken broth.
- Make it Lighter: Swap heavy cream for Greek yogurt or light coconut milk.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use coconut cream and nutritional yeast instead of heavy cream and parmesan.
- Low-Carb Pairing: Serve with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: ~400 kcal per serving