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    Home » Recipes » Chicken and Poultry

    Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

    By Marjory Pilley Published Oct 14, 2022 · Updated Aug 20, 2019

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Pin It
    Chicken Parmesan Meatball dipped in marinara on a toothpick.

    Cheesy baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs have the flavors of chicken Parm neatly packaged into meatballs. It's an easy dinner or appetizer.

    Cheesy baked chicken parmesan meatball dipped in marinara on a toothpick with a plate of more meatballs below it.

    This healthy recipe combines ground chicken with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, marinara, seasonings, and Panko breadcrumbs. Yes, indeed! These meatballs really do have all the flavors you expect in Italian Chicken Parmagiana.

    But this twist on the traditional preparation is so much easier to make! Just mix the ingredients together, shape them into balls, and cook them in the oven. Or make muffin tin meatballs!

    Chicken parm meatballs are sure to become a family favorite:

    • It takes about 30 minutes to make them. Most of the time is hands-off cooking time.
    • They're healthy and lower in carbs.
    • You can freeze them before or after you cook them.
    • They're versatile! See the list below of ways to serve them.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Directions
    • What to Serve With Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
    • Storage
    • More Ground Chicken Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    Ingredients

    Here's what you need to make these easy Chicken Parmesan Meatballs:

    Collage of labelled ingredients to make Parmesan chicken meatballs: Ground chicken, marinara, egg, Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese, Panko breadcrumbs, basil.
    • Ground chicken - Use chicken breast ground from lean white meat or darker meat.
    • Marinara - You may not like your meatballs if you don't love your sauce. So use one you love! If you're eating low-carb, make sure to use a low-sugar one.
    • Breadcrumbs - We used seasoned panko breadcrumbs to impart extra flavor. Any type can be used. This ingredient helps absorb the juices and keep the meatballs moist.
    • Mozzarella cheese - any type, shredded.
    • Parmesan cheese - grated. Nutritional yeast can be substituted for Parmesan cheese.
    • Basil - Fresh or dried.
    • Egg - Binds the ingredients.

    Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

    You might also like Eggplant Parmesan Stacks! They share many of the same ingredients and have a similar flavor profile!

    Directions

    Here's how to make the best chicken parmesan meatballs:

    Collage of pictures to make Parmesan chicken meatballs: 1) Ingredients mixed in bowl except chicken 2) chicken being mixed into base 3) uncooked meatballs in baking dish 4) cooked meatballs with extra cheese in baking dish.
    1. Add breadcrumbs, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, basil, and egg to a bowl and combine. Wait to add the ground chicken so that the handling of meat is kept to a minimum.
    2. Mix ground chicken into the combined base. Don't overmix, or else the chicken will get tough.
    3. Spread the remaining marinara sauce over the bottom of a baking dish. Form the mixture into balls (see size options below.) Top with sauce and additional cheese, if desired.
    4. Bake uncovered until chicken is no longer pink and reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F.
    Chicken parm meatballs in a glass baking dish on top of marinara sauce.

    Meatball Size Variations

    Chicken Parmesan meatballs can be shaped into different sizes, depending on your preference and how you will use them. They also can be baked in the sauce or separately on a baking sheet.

    The yield will differ, as will the cooking time. Use a meat thermometer so you don't overcook them.

    • Tablespoon-sized portions make about 30 meatballs.
    • Heaping teaspoon-sized balls yield about 50.
    • ¼ cup will make 12 large meatballs or muffins and can be cooked on a baking sheet or in a cupcake tin.
    • The base can even be turned into chicken meatloaf.

    What to Serve With Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

    You have lots of options!

    • For a traditional spaghetti and meatball dinner, bake ground chicken meatballs on top of the sauce right in the baking dish and serve with pasta.
    • For a low-carb version, serve over zucchini noodles.
    • Need a fun appetizer? Serve meatballs with a side of sauce for dipping. I also call this my kid-friendly version because who doesn't like eating dinner with toothpicks?!
    • Make a meatball sub sandwich. Top with pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese.
    • Add to Italian-inspired soup, like pasta fagioli.
    • Use them as a pizza topping.
    • Make this Chicken Parmesan Meatball Casserole from Buns in My Oven.

    I hope you get the picture...there are lots of ways to enjoy this recipe.

    Chicken Parmesan meatballs in a bowl over zucchini noodles coated with spaghetti sauce and topped with more cheese.

    Storage

    Store chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    There's nothing more satisfying than having a bag of tasty meatballs in the freezer! There are two options for freezing chicken parmesan meatballs:

    1. Prepare and bake. Freeze the cooked meatballs in a baking tin and then transfer them to a plastic bag that seals. When ready to enjoy the meatballs, lift the amount you want out of the bag and reheat.
      • To Reheat: Place them on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for about 2 minutes. Check and turn them slightly and cook at additional 30-second intervals until heated through.
    2. Prepare the meatballs, but don't cook them. Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer until solid, then move them to a plastic bag. When you are ready to cook them, remove the amount needed and defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.
      • To Cook: Place them on a baking sheet or glass baking dish and then cook the meatballs as you normally would.
    Cheesy baked ground chicken parmesan meatballs in a glass baking dish.

    More Ground Chicken Recipes

    • Slices of ground chicken meatloaf on a platter.
      Ground Chicken Meatloaf - Amazingly Delicious Recipe!
    • Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf Cups Recipe
      Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf Cups Recipe
    • Healthy turkey meatloaf muffins with salsa, oats, and cheese on a plate.
      Turkey Meatloaf Muffins with Salsa

    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

    📋 Recipe

    Cheesy baked chicken parmesan meatball dipped in marinara on a toothpick with a plate of more meatballs below it.

    Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

    Cheesy baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs have the flavors of chicken Parm neatly packaged into meatballs. Easy dinner or appetizer recipe.
    5 from 3 votes
    Text Ingredients + Recipe Email Ingredients + Recipe
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Author: Marjory Pilley

    Ingredients

    • 1 Egg slightly beaten
    • ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs, seasoned any type including gluten-free
    • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese shredded
    • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
    • ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped or 1 Tablespoon dried
    • 24 ounces marinara sauce divided; ⅓ cup for meatball mixture and the remaining sauce for serving
    • 1 pound ground chicken breast

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375 °F.
    • Add egg, breadcrumbs, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, basil, and ⅓ cup of marinara sauce to a large bowl and thoroughly combine.
    • Add ground chicken and combine with the base ingredients. Don't overmix, or the meatballs will become tough.
    • Shape the mixture into tablespoon-sized balls.
    • Pour the remaining marinara sauce into the bottom of a glass baking dish and place formed meatballs on top. Spoon some sauce from the baking dish over each meatball.
      Optional: Top with additional cheese.
      Note: Meatballs may also be cooked without additional sauce on a greased baking sheet.
    • Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F

    Notes

    1. Meatballs can be made ahead of time and frozen raw. Or cook and freeze.
    2. Meatballs can be made larger. However, the cook time will be longer. Internal temperature should reach 165 °F.
    3. They can also be baked on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray.
    4. If desired, brown meatballs in a skillet before baking. Add about 1 Tablespoon of oil to a pan and brown on all sides.
    5. Make this recipe lower-carb by using low-sugar marinara. 
    6. Note: The meatballs use ⅓ cup of marinara. The rest of the jar is used for dipping or on the side. The nutritional estimate assumes all marinara is consumed. 
    Grab 5 Low-Carb Saucesand get more easy, healthy recipes! JOIN HERE

    Nutrition

    Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 880mg | Potassium: 773mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 722IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 227mg | Iron: 2mg
    Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

    This recipe was originally published on 10/28/14 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Healthy Spicy orange chicken with carrot and broccoli in a bowl.
      Healthy Spicy Orange Chicken Recipe
    • Creamy white chicken chili made with cream cheese in a glass bowl topped with cilantro, green onions, and shredded cheese.
      Creamy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese
    • Slices of turkey tenderloin that have been marinated in a mixture of maple syrup, olive oil, stone ground dijon mustard, dried thyme leaves, salt, and pepper.
      Easy Turkey Tenderloin Marinade Recipe
    • One pot lasagna soup topped with two dollops of ricotta cheese and garnished basil and more mozzarella cheese in a white bowl on a red checkered napkin.
      Easy One Pot Lasagna Soup Recipe
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Aggie

      October 29, 2014 at 7:01 am

      Ha ha ha...love your spookified version! My kids would crack up (and think I'm cool 😉 ) My kids would love these meatballs in general. Great dinner idea!

      Reply
    2. DessertForTwo

      October 29, 2014 at 7:10 am

      These sound SO good!

      Reply
    3. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine

      October 29, 2014 at 8:27 am

      Chicken meatballs totally beat any other "meatball" in my opinion 😉

      Reply
    4. Nutmeg Nanny

      October 29, 2014 at 8:44 am

      Haha I love your little spooky meatball 🙂 It's perfect for Halloween!

      Reply
    5. claire @ the realistic nutritionist

      October 29, 2014 at 8:51 am

      I adore how versatile these are!

      Reply
    6. Lana@NeverEnoughThyme

      October 29, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Oh, these sound so delicious! I'm thinking a meatball sub would be fantastic with these.

      Reply
    7. heather @french press

      October 29, 2014 at 10:45 am

      sounds like a definite crowd pleaser

      Reply
    8. Colleen (Souffle Bombay)

      October 29, 2014 at 10:54 am

      I love just about any meatball I meet - however chicken meatballs are my favorite...delicious!!

      Reply
    9. Tara

      October 29, 2014 at 10:56 am

      These look so lovely, stumbled and pinned. YUM!!

      Reply
    10. Liz - Meal Makeover Mom

      October 29, 2014 at 11:23 am

      Wow. That's MY kind of recipe. Hearty, healthy, and I know … delicious. My boys would devour that 🙂 Can't wait to share this on Pinterest.

      Reply
    11. The Food Hunter

      October 29, 2014 at 11:41 am

      great photos!

      Reply
    12. Kristen

      October 29, 2014 at 12:56 pm

      Cracking up at your spooky meatball 🙂 He's a cutie!
      This recipe is so smart... I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
    13. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)

      October 29, 2014 at 1:56 pm

      I am majorly drooling here. Chicken parm is my favorite but as meatballs?! yes, please!

      Reply
    14. Danae @ Recipe Runner

      October 29, 2014 at 2:01 pm

      These meatballs look and sound wonderful! I'll definitely be trying them out soon, I love the idea of them as an appetizer!

      Reply
    15. Paula - bell'alimento

      October 29, 2014 at 2:06 pm

      Now that's a meatball!

      Reply
    16. Erin @ Texanerin Baking

      October 29, 2014 at 2:37 pm

      The one with the eye is so cute! I've never had ground chicken in anything. That's one thing we definitely don't have over here in Germany! I need to get the grinder attachment for my KA so I can try these. 🙂

      Reply
    17. Brenda@Sugar-Free Mom

      October 29, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      Love the eyeball version for Halloween!

      Reply
    18. Lauren @ Healthy Delicious

      October 29, 2014 at 4:18 pm

      I love the idea of chicken park meatballs! These loook so tasty. personally, i love the one with the eyeball. haha

      Reply
    19. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living

      October 29, 2014 at 4:26 pm

      Love the spookiefied version of these meatballs - so cute!

      Reply
    20. Christine @ A Sprinkle of This and That

      October 29, 2014 at 5:12 pm

      These meatballs look incredibly good! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    21. Arman @ thebigmansworld

      October 30, 2014 at 6:31 am

      That looks absolutely delicious-I LOVE meatballs! Pinning!

      Reply
    22. Rose | The Clean Dish

      October 30, 2014 at 6:39 am

      The spooky version is so neat!! What a cool idea!! This has comfort food written all over it. Love it!!

      Reply
    23. kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox

      October 30, 2014 at 8:23 am

      Love these meatballs! What a great idea and so simple. I, especially, love the spookified cyclops version!

      Reply
    24. Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes

      October 30, 2014 at 2:30 pm

      I laughed when I saw the spookified version! These look so good! We're on the same page with the meatballs today 🙂

      Reply
    25. Melanie

      October 30, 2014 at 7:42 pm

      Love the cyclops too. So funny. My boys would love that. Such a fun idea.

      Reply
    26. Kim Beaulieu

      October 30, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      These look insanely good. I want to eat 10 then come back for more.

      Reply
    27. Nellie Tracy

      September 18, 2018 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      These Meatballs look absolutely delicious! I can't wait to try these!

      Reply
    28. Justine Howell

      September 18, 2018 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      Love the parmesan twist on these, such a great addition!

      Reply
    29. diane

      September 19, 2018 at 1:19 pm

      These meatballs look so juicy! And they're baked, which is even better!

      Reply
    30. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

      September 20, 2018 at 4:31 pm

      Chicken Parm is my fave, so this recipe has catapulted to the front of the line. Seriously....YUM!

      Reply
    31. Toni | Boulder Locavore

      September 20, 2018 at 9:11 pm

      5 stars
      My family will surely love this!

      Reply

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    Chicken Parmesan Meatball dipped in marinara on a toothpick.

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