Description
Succulent chicken ricotta meatballs swim in creamy spinach alfredo sauce, offering a comforting Italian-inspired dish. Family and friends will savor these tender, flavorful morsels that elevate weeknight dinner expectations.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) ground chicken
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (or panko)
- 1 cup spinach, fresh, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- ¼ cup parsley, fresh, finely chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
Instructions
- Meatball Composition: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, and seasoning, blending ingredients with a light touch until uniformly mixed.
- Shaping and Roasting: Form mixture into uniform 1 1/2-inch spheres on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then slide into a preheated 400F (200C) oven, roasting until golden and fully cooked, approximately 18-20 minutes.
- Sauce Foundation: Melt butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat, introducing minced garlic and sautéing until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream, bringing to a gentle simmer while whisking in Parmesan cheese.
- Spinach Integration: Fold chopped spinach leaves into the developing Alfredo sauce, allowing them to wilt and meld seamlessly. Enhance with delicate touches of nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Final Assembly: Transfer roasted meatballs directly into the spinach-infused Alfredo sauce, gently coating each piece. Serve over pasta, zucchini noodles, or alongside crusty bread.
Notes
Manage Meat Moisture: Mix ground chicken with ricotta carefully to prevent dry meatballs, ensuring smooth blending without overmixing to maintain tender texture.
Avoid Overcrowding Pan: Space meatballs evenly on baking sheet for consistent golden-brown exterior and thorough cooking, preventing steaming instead of roasting.
Control Sauce Consistency: Whisk Parmesan slowly into cream, maintaining medium-low heat to prevent sauce from breaking or becoming grainy, creating smooth silky finish.
Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute breadcrumbs with almond flour for gluten-free version, use low-fat ricotta for lighter preparation, or replace heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 528 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 575 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg