Description
These baked chicken ricotta meatballs are tender, flavorful, and paired with a creamy spinach Alfredo sauce—perfect for a comforting yet lighter meal that’s simple to prepare and full of Italian-inspired flavor.
Ingredients
- For the meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- For the spinach Alfredo sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix just until combined.
- Form mixture into evenly sized meatballs and place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F/74°C).
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Add heavy cream and simmer for 2–3 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once meatballs are done, add them to the sauce and gently coat before serving.
Notes
- Use ground turkey instead of chicken if preferred.
- Swap heavy cream for half-and-half to lighten the sauce.
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicy version.
- Use frozen spinach (thawed and drained) if fresh isn’t available.
- Serve with pasta, mashed potatoes, or zucchini noodles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking & Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
