These chicken ricotta meatballs are a mashup of two of my favorites: ricotta meatballs and chicken burgers. Using ground chicken in place of beef lightens the meatballs immensely. And the addition of ricotta cheese guarantees an unbelievably tender meatball, with a flavorful taste you will love!
I take the easy route with these by baking the meatballs, then simmering them in marinara sauce while I cook some pasta. It makes a fantastic family-friendly meal!
Why You Will Love These Meatballs
These meatballs are ideal for anyone looking for comfort food, easy dinner ideas, or a protein-rich, healthy meal option. They offer a unique twist on traditional meatball recipes, combining the flavors of chicken and ricotta cheese.
Ricotta meatballs are perfect for any occasion, from cozy family dinners to special gatherings, making it a versatile addition to your rotation.
Ingredients Needed
How to Make Chicken Ricotta Meatballs
First, combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Then, I like to slightly oil a small cookie scoop and use it to portion out the meatballs. I then wet my hands and roll the portions to better form ball shapes. The wet hands reduces the stickiness of the meatballs.
Arrange the meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet, leaving a little space in between so the meatballs cook evenly.
Drizzle a little olive oil over the meatballs. This helps to compensate for the fat difference between beef and chicken.
Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and transfer to a large skillet. Add a jar of marinara sauce and heat until the sauce is bubbling.
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This is when I make my pasta. Cook it per the package instructions, then serve your chicken ricotta meatballs with the pasta and sauce.
Serving Suggestions
I always serve with pasta per above, but these meatballs can also be served as an appetizer. Keep them warm in a crockpot for your guests to scoop up at will.
To make it a meal, add a crisp green salad or a vegetable to round things out. And no one will be disappointed if you add a slice of crusty garlic bread!
Oh and don't forget a little Parmesan cheese for that perfect finishing touch! Just say when!
Substitutions and Variations
If you want to spice up these meatballs, add a little cayenne pepper to the mixture. No panko? Regular bread crumbs work too.
Ground turkey works great to substitute for the ground chicken.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge. They will keep for 4 to 5 days, and microwave to reheat for a delicious leftover meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try swapping the panko with almond flour to remove the carbs. Serve on zoodles for a delightful low carb meal.
Ground turkey works great. If you have the choice, pick a less “lean” package, so you don’t end up with super dry meatballs.
📖 Recipe
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Chicken Ricotta Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ¾ cup Ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add all meatball ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined.1 pound ground chicken, ¾ cup Ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, ½ cup panko bread crumbs, 2 cloves garlic, ⅓ cup parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Use wet hands and/or an oiled cookie scoop to form 1 to 1½ -inch sized meatballs.
- Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between to allow even cooking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Transfer to a large skillet with a jar of marinara sauce. Heat the meatballs and sauce while you cook pasta.24 ounces marinara sauce
- Serve together for a delicious pasta and meatballs meal!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Jenny J
I loved how these turned out; I love using ground chicken in recipes and can't believe I hadn't done meatballs before. The flavor was amazing, and they were perfect with our pasta and garlic bread
Sula
Ground chicken is such a great way to lighten up meatballs!
Sharon
i used ground turkey instead of chicken. excellent recipe. my hubby loved it and he isn't a ground poultry guy. i never heard of putting ricotta and parmesan cheese in meatballs. i might do that with beef too.
Sula
I sometimes have to use ground turkey because my local store seems to stock that more often, I honestly have found no difference in taste!
You can find my version of ground beef and ricotta meatballs here: Ricotta meatballs with beef.