Baked Spinach Chicken Meatballs

Baked Chicken Meatballs – Perfect for Everyday Dinners

I love making a big batch of these Baked Chicken Meatballs and having them on hand for easy weeknight dinners all week long. My kids absolutely love them, and there’s even a dairy-free and egg-free variation that I’ve made since my toddler has allergies! Whether you’re looking to sneak more veggies into your daily dinners, or just a quick and flavorful dinner idea, these healthy baked spinach chicken meatballs are SO. GOOD.

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Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this Baked Chicken Meatball recipe:

Ground Chicken – The core ingredient for this recipe? Lean ground chicken! Of course, you can always use ground turkey instead if you don’t have ground chicken on hand.

Egg – The egg in this recipe helps to bind the meatballs. However, feel free to substitute with a flax egg or vegan egg replacement instead!

Whole Wheat Breadcrumbs – You can make your own breadcrumbs by blending a piece of toasted whole wheat bread or use pre-made breadcrumbs.

Olive Oil – Feel free to use olive oil, avocado oil, cooking spray, or really any type of savory cooking oil!

Spices – A mix of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, smoked paprika (just a little bit – optional, but if you can, it’s amazing!), salt, pepper, and dried oregano make up the flavoring for these meatballs. You can also add parsley and red pepper flakes for even more flavor!

Parmesan Cheese – The parmesan cheese in this recipe really bring these chicken meatballs to life! Feel free to use grated or shredded parmesan, or substitute with vegan parmesan. Or simply leave it out all together if necessary!

Spinach – I’m a big fan of sneaking in veggies lately! The key here is to make sure that the spinach is finely chopped and made into very small pieces. You can also use kale or any type of green!

Pasta Sauce – The secret to next level Baked Chicken Meatballs? Add some marinara sauce, pasta sauce, or even just tomato sauce! You can use the full amount listed in the recipe if baking in a deep pan or dish (like a skillet), or just use a few tablespoons to coat the meatballs if baking on a baking sheet.

Equipment

Feel free to make these Baked Chicken Meatballs in a cast iron skillet, oven-safe pan, baking dish, or baking sheet!

How to Make Baked Chicken Meatballs (with Spinach & Parmesan)

Making Baked Chicken meatballs is so easy! Here’s how to put them together in about 30 minutes:

1. Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Add oil to a cast iron skillet or baking dish (or parchment paper on a baking sheet).
3. Roll the mixture into about 18-19 meatballs, then place each one in the skillet or dish.
4. Bake for about 15 minutes.
5. Flip the meatballs and add pasta sauce.
6. Bake for another 10 minutes (or until fully cooked)!

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Dairy-Free & Egg-Free Baked Chicken Meatballs

There are several ways to make these meatballs dairy-free, egg-free, or even gluten-free! Here’s how:

• Use a flax egg or vegan egg substitute instead.
• Swap out whole wheat bread for gluten-free bread!
• Use vegan grated parmesan or omit completely.

What to Pair Chicken Meatballs With

There are so many ways to pair Baked Chicken Meatballs! Here are a few ideas:

• Pasta, of course! This Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, Mushroom & Spinach Pasta Bake, Creamy Pumpkin Pasta, Lemon Garlic Eggplant Mushroom Orzo, and Spinach & Mushroom Vegetarian Lasagna, and classic spaghetti are all delicious pairings.
• Rice – Any kind of rice works great, but in my opinion, the creamier the better! This Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto recipe is one of my favorites for pairing with Chicken Meatballs. This Fall Veggies & Rice Harvest Bowls recipe and Rosemary Mushroom Rice Pilaf are also so yummy!
• Salads – My favorite salads to pair with Baked Chicken Meatballs are this Sun-Dried Tomato & Arugula Lentil Salad and this Easy Quinoa Salad With Feta Cheese.
• Side Dishes – Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini, Vegan Green Bean Casserole, Mac and Cheese Stuffed Acorn Squash, and Air Fryer Crispy Brussels Sprouts & Bacon are so yummy as sides!

Refrigerating/Freezing Chicken Meatballs

Make a big batch of these Baked Chicken Meatballs and refrigerate or freeze them for later!

To refrigerate chicken meatballs, simply let them cool and place them in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days!

To freeze, let them cool and store in an airtight container. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour (or more), them move to the freezer and keep for up to 3 months! To reheat, you can microwave them from frozen or let them thaw out in the fridge the night before and then reheat in the microwave or oven.

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Did you make this Baked Chicken Meatballs recipe? Be sure to give it a rating below and tag your photos  @jar.of.lemons!