Description
Marry Me Chicken Meatballs are tender ground chicken meatballs simmered in a rich, creamy sauce infused with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian herbs. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a comforting weeknight meal, offering a perfect balance of savory, tangy, and subtly spicy flavors. Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a versatile and satisfying dinner that’s sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil (for browning)
For the Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to keep meatballs tender.
- Form and Brown the Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 1 to 1.5 inch meatballs. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides until golden but not fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Add chicken broth and heavy cream, then stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently to thicken slightly.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, spoon the sauce over them, cover, and simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and have absorbed the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh chopped basil over the dish. Serve hot over your choice of pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender.
- Use fresh minced garlic for the best aroma and flavor.
- Browning the meatballs first seals in juices and adds flavor.
- Simmer gently to prevent cream from separating.
- Let the dish rest for a few minutes off heat before serving to meld flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: chicken meatballs, marry me chicken, creamy tomato sauce, easy weeknight dinner, gluten free, Italian meatballs
