Juicy, tender chicken meatballs stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese and tossed with rich tomato sauce–yes, this is as tasty as it sounds! Try these easy mozzarella stuffed meatballs over some pasta or rice, scooped onto garlic bread, or even spooned into a sandwich. Best part? You can prepare these in advance, check out my tips below.
Is there anything more comforting than juicy meatballs smothered in a rich red sauce? I think not! Not only are these mozzarella stuffed meatballs perfect for batch-cooking, they’re also an ideal appetizer, a low-carb meal along with a salad, or simply served over spaghetti for an easy dinner.
One of my favorite meatball recipes is my baked chicken meatballs, so I didn’t reinvent the wheel here. The meatball mixture is very similar, with a few key tweaks.
I added a light breadcrumb coating that forms a nice golden-brown crust when sautéed in a little extra virgin olive oil. And I made it a little more indulgent with one simple ingredient: bocconcini (baby mozzarella balls). Yes, bite into one of these stuffed meatballs and you’ll be met with perfectly gooey, warm cheese.
To bring the comfort factor full circle, the meatballs are tossed in pasta sauce, either homemade or, for a short-cut, good store-bought marinara. Think of these as chicken parmesan meatballs! Best part? You can prepare these chicken meatballs ahead (check out my tips below).
Ingredients
▢ 1 pound ground chicken, ground turkey, or lean ground beef
▢ 3 garlic cloves, minced
▢ 1 raw egg, beaten
▢ ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
▢ ⅓ cup plain breadcrumbs, plus more for later (or gluten free breadcrumbs if needed)
▢ 2 teaspoons dry oregano
▢ ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
▢ 1 cup fresh chopped parsley
▢ Kosher salt and black pepper
▢ 20 baby mozzarella balls, bocconcini, (if you have more, you can use them in the sauce)
▢ Extra virgin olive oil, the everyday California EVOO is a good option here
▢ Pasta sauce, homemade or 25 ounces store-bought marinara
Instructions
Please continue to the next page (>) for the full list of ingredients and complete cooking instructions. Enjoy this meal!
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