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Chicken Meatballs Casserole Recipe

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4.4 from 12 reviews

This Chicken Meatballs Casserole is a comforting and delicious baked dish featuring tender, juicy chicken meatballs simmered in marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, these flavorful meatballs are first browned in a skillet for a golden crust and then baked to perfection, garnished with fresh basil or parsley for a burst of freshness.

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Casserole

  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish or an oven-safe skillet to prevent sticking.
  2. Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, finely grated parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Then form the mixture into 1.5-inch sized meatballs.
  3. Brown Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides. This should take about 5 to 7 minutes. The meatballs do not need to be fully cooked through at this stage, just browned to add flavor and seal in juices.
  4. Assemble Casserole: Transfer the browned meatballs to the prepared baking dish. Pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs, making sure they are mostly covered. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top.
  5. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked through and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
  6. Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and juices to settle.

Notes

  • Use fresh garlic for the best flavor; garlic powder can be substituted if needed.
  • For a lower-carb version, replace breadcrumbs with almond flour.
  • Ground turkey or beef can be used as an alternative to ground chicken.
  • Make sure not to overcook the meatballs during browning, as they will cook fully in the oven.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/chicken-meatballs-casserole-recipe/