Description
Tender chicken meatballs stuffed with gooey mozzarella, infused with basil and baked to golden perfection. A versatile and cheesy dish perfect as an appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 small onion, halved
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup ground parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup fresh basil
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 100 g firm mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly spray a baking tray with cooking spray.
- In a food processor, blend onion, garlic, and basil until finely minced.
- Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add ground chicken, egg, parmesan, breadcrumbs, salt, allspice, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Lightly oil your hands. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the chicken mixture and flatten slightly. Place a cube of mozzarella in the center.
- Wrap the meat around the cheese, sealing fully to form a ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Place meatballs on prepared tray. Brush or drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Serve warm, optionally with sauce or over pasta.
Notes
- Use firm, low-moisture mozzarella to avoid cheese leakage.
- Air fry or pan-fry for a different texture.
- Can be made ahead and frozen raw or cooked.
- Substitute ground turkey for ground chicken if preferred.
- Pairs well with marinara sauce, pasta, or vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
