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These ground chicken meatballs with spinach alfredo sauce are definitely going into rotation around here as an easy weeknight dinner since my entire family devoured them! The meatballs get nice and crispy in the oven while you make the pasta and scrumptious sauce.
Why You'll Love This Chicken Meatballs Recipe
This ground chicken meatball recipe is a flavor explosion of savory meat, creamy sauce, and yummy pasta. Spinach alfredo sauce is a simple sauce that has the cheesy goodness of alfredo but includes spinach to give your body some nutrition. The best part about this easy sauce is that it can be served over chicken breasts, fettuccine alfredo, roasted vegetables, turkey meatballs, or beef meatballs.
These are the best chicken meatballs and are ready in just 30 minutes! Win win! This meal is creamy and delicious and I know you'll love it just as much as we do.
These meatballs are also great to take to any party – just make a double batch for larger get togethers! If you're also a meatball lover, try my Veggie Loaded Turkey Meatballs, or my Swedish Meatballs and Gravy next!
Recipe Highlights
- Quick and easy meal for busy weeknights
- Perfect family dinner
- Made from simple ingredients
- The whole family will love it
- Can be made with regular or gluten-free products
Ingredient Notes
Baked Chicken Meatballs
- lean ground chicken: You can also use ground turkey or ground beef.
- egg
- gluten-free panko breadcrumbs: You can use regular bread crumbs if you aren't gluten-free.
- grated parmesan cheese
- garlic powder: Use fresh garlic cloves if you prefer.
- Italian seasoning
- salt: You can use kosher salt or sea salt.
- black pepper
Spinach Alfredo Sauce
- butter
- fresh garlic cloves
- half & half: Or dairy free cream of choice (like Nutpods). Heavy cream will also work!
- grated parmesan cheese
- salt and black pepper
- fresh spinach: You can use baby spinach or regular spinach. If you use regular spinach, remove any large/tough stems before using.
For exact ingredient amounts, see the full recipe card below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400. Combine the meatball mixture in a large mixing bowl and mix using your hands.
Step 2: Use a 1.5-inch cookie scoop to form the mixture into 12 meatballs.
Step 3: Place on a greased sheet pan (or a rimmed baking sheet) and bake for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Step 4: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Cook your pasta according to the package instructions.
Step 5: Add in the half & half and parmesan and stir over medium heat until it begins to thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 6: Add in the spinach and stir until wilted-season with salt and black pepper to taste. When the baked chicken meatballs come out of the oven, nestle them into the sauce. Serve over gluten-free pasta of choice.
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Instead of baking the meatballs, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 2-3 minutes.
Spray the basket, then place the uncooked meatballs in a single layer. Spray the tops of the meatballs with cooking oil. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook in batches if necessary.
Expert Tips
- One serving = 3 meatballs and ¼ of the total spinach alfredo sauce. Pasta not included in the nutrition facts.
- I prefer to use lean ground chicken. You can also use ground beef to make beef meatballs, or ground turkey to make turkey meatballs.
- I use Jovial Foods gluten-free spaghetti for this recipe but you can use any kind of pasta and any shape of pasta regular or gluten-free will work.
- To ensure your meatballs are done bake for at least 18 minutes or if you have a meat thermometer, make sure the internal temperature of your meatball is 165 degrees F before consuming.
- If spinach alfredo sauce isn't your favorite, you can also pair these tender meatballs topped with your favorite pasta sauces instead.
- For best results, serve immediately after cooking.
Serving Tips
Serve with some extra veggies, like broccoli, zucchini, or mushrooms. Add your desired amount of red pepper flakes to add some spice to your meal.
Serve ground chicken meatballs & spinach alfredo as a main dish with my Gluten Free Biscuits and an ooey gooey S'mores Chocolate and Marshmallow Cookie Skillet for dessert!
Storage Tips
Store leftover ground chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I recommend reheating meatballs in a pan over medium heat, or in the microwave (covered) for 2-3 minutes.
Store leftover spinach alfredo sauce in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Reheat over the stovetop until warmed through.
To freeze these meatballs, you have two options:
- Option 1, you can freeze these meatballs, after they've been cooked by letting them cool completely, then placing them in a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag. When you’re ready to eat them, remove them from the freezer, let them reach room temperature, and reheat in the oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Option 2, you can freeze raw meatballs to bake later. If you want to do this, shape the meatballs and arrange them in a single layer in a freezer-safe airtight container (using parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking) and freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! If you're serving a large group or just want some extras to save for later double the recipe.
Yes! Follow steps 1 and 2 (except for preheating your oven) and then put them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. When you are ready to bake them take them out of the freezer and thaw overnight in the refrigerator or bake frozen. Follow the above step-by-step instructions to cook your meatballs.
Yes! If you prefer to use heavy cream instead of half and half you can absolutely do so.
Yes, you can! Use vegan butter, Nutpods, and vegan parmesan cheese shreds.
Yes! If you want to try chicken meatballs with your spaghetti and marinara sauce you can totally do that; it'll be delicious!
Yes! This recipe is so easy to double. Click on the printable recipe card below and increase the number of servings you want to make. The ingredients will automatically adjust!
More Meatball Recipes
Easy Thai-Inspired Turkey Meatballs
Easy Greek Lamb Meatballs (with Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce)
Chicken Meatballs with Spinach Alfredo Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb lean ground chicken
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup gluten free panko breadcrumbs, or almond flour
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Spinach Alfredo Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 ¼ cups half & half , or Original Nutpods
- ⅔ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400. Combine the meatball ingredients in a bowl and mix using your hands.
- Use a 1.5-inch cookie scoop to form the mixture into 12 meatballs.
- Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add in the half & half and parmesan and stir over medium heat until it begins to thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add in the spinach and stir until wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- When the meatballs come out of the oven, nestle them into the sauce. Serve over gluten free pasta of choice.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Instead of baking the meatballs, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 2-3 minutes. Spray the basket, then place the uncooked meatballs in a single layer. Spray the tops of the meatballs with cooking oil. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook in batches if necessary.
Notes
- One serving = 3 meatballs and ¼ of the total spinach alfredo sauce. Pasta not included in the nutrition facts.
- I prefer to use lean ground chicken. You can also use ground beef to make beef meatballs, or ground turkey to make turkey meatballs.
- I use Jovial Foods gluten-free spaghetti for this recipe but you can use any kind of pasta and any shape of pasta regular or gluten-free will work.
- To ensure your meatballs are done bake for at least 18 minutes or if you have a meat thermometer, make sure the internal temperature of your meatball is 165 degrees F before consuming.
- If spinach alfredo sauce isn't your favorite, you can also pair these tender meatballs topped with your favorite pasta sauces instead.
- For best results, serve immediately after cooking.
- Store leftover ground chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Store leftover spinach alfredo sauce in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Reheat over the stovetop until warmed through.
- I recommend reheating meatballs in a pan over medium heat, or in the microwave (covered) for 2-3 minutes.
- To freeze these meatballs, you have two options:
Nutrition
All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
This was so fast and easy after a busy day. I took a short cut and bought pre-made meatballs, but would 100% make this again! Thank you Mary for another award winning recipe that is packed with protein and tastes delicious!
Thanks Sara!!
This was delicious and came together quickly. I love baking the chicken balls instead of frying. Less mess! The only problem I had was the sauce and butter separated and was a little “chunky”. I’m sure something I did. Any tips on correcting that is appreciated. Will be making this again. Chicken piccata meatballs next !
Very tasty and quick. Just don’t use too much spinach like I did. It didn’t wilt enough and took over the sauce…LOL!
This is so good! The flavors combine so well and make you want more!
Thanks Caryl!
So delicious and so quick and easy to make! I made extra chicken meatballs and ate them the next day by themselves for a snack they were so good! I am definitely going to keep this as a go-to recipe for my family 🙂
These meatballs are so easy and so flavorful! Definitely will be making these again!
This was a huge hit with everyone in the family! Easy to put together so great option in a busy week. Leftovers taste just as great. Definitely another one added to the rotation in meal planning!