Baked Chicken Ricotta Meatballs (Print)

Juicy chicken meatballs paired with spinach Alfredo sauce for a hearty family-friendly comfort meal.

# Ingredients:

→ Meatballs

01 - 450g ground chicken
02 - 125g ricotta cheese
03 - 25g grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 25g breadcrumbs or gluten-free alternative
05 - 1 garlic clove, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
07 - 15g fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 egg
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Spinach Alfredo Sauce

10 - 60g fresh spinach
11 - 1 tablespoon butter
12 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
13 - 240ml heavy cream
14 - 50g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Pinch of ground nutmeg
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 190°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, gently mix ground chicken, ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, chopped parsley, egg, salt, and pepper until just combined.
03 - Form 12 to 16 equally-sized meatballs from the mixture and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake meatballs for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 74°C.
05 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add fresh spinach and sauté until wilted. Remove spinach from skillet and set aside.
06 - In the same skillet, add a small knob of additional butter if needed and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute over medium heat.
07 - Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.
08 - Return the sautéed spinach to the sauce and stir to evenly incorporate.
09 - Immerse the baked meatballs in the spinach Alfredo sauce. Let them simmer briefly on low heat, gently turning to coat well.
10 - Serve the meatballs hot over pasta, zucchini noodles, or accompanied by crusty bread as desired.

# Notes:

01 - For tender meatballs, avoid overmixing the meat mixture. Gently fold ingredients together until just combined.
02 - Maintain medium-low heat when preparing the Alfredo sauce to prevent separation. Remove from heat once thickened for a smooth, creamy result.
03 - Taste and adjust seasoning during each stage, especially when preparing the sauce, to achieve balanced flavor.

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