Description
Savory Baked Chicken Ricotta Meatballs with Spinach Alfredo Sauce is a delicious twist on traditional meatballs, featuring a flavorful blend of ground chicken, ricotta cheese, and aromatic seasonings, served with a creamy spinach Alfredo sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably whole wheat)
- 1 large egg
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried)
For the Spinach Alfredo Sauce:
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix until fully combined.
- Form Meatballs: Using your hands, shape the mixture into meatballs, roughly 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving some space between each meatball.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and golden on the outside.
- Make Spinach Alfredo Sauce: While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Lower the heat and pour in heavy cream. Slowly add in grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. If desired, sprinkle in nutmeg for added depth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Once the meatballs are done baking, gently transfer them to the skillet with the Spinach Alfredo sauce. Toss to coat the meatballs evenly in the sauce.
- Serve: Plate the meatballs and sauce, and garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Enjoy with your favorite pasta, on top of a bed of greens, or with crusty bread!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, Sauteing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: chicken meatballs, spinach alfredo, baked meatballs, Italian recipe
