Description
Savory chicken ricotta meatballs bring Mediterranean comfort to dinner tables with rich, creamy spinach alfredo sauce. Home cooks can elevate weeknight meals with this elegant Italian-inspired dish you’ll want to share with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lb (680 g) ground chicken
- 6 oz (170 g) whole milk ricotta
- 2 cups Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 6 bacon strips
- 1 large egg
- 1 medium onion (very finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 cloves garlic
- 5 oz (150 g) baby spinach
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley (for garnish)
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 4 tbsps butter
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream (35% fat)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or cooking spray.
- Breadcrumb Foundation: Combine breadcrumbs and milk, allowing the mixture to soften and absorb liquid for optimal texture.
- Meatball Assembly: Blend breadcrumb mixture with onion, garlic, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, ground chicken, ricotta, egg, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and salt, mixing thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Shaping and Initial Cooking: Form uniform meatballs and arrange on prepared baking sheet, then bake for 18-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) with a golden-brown exterior.
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in a skillet, drain excess fat, and set aside for garnishing.
- Sauce Construction: In the same skillet, sauté garlic in butter, then introduce heavy cream and simmer gently, whisking in Parmesan until smooth and creamy.
- Spinach Integration: Fold baby spinach into the cream sauce, allowing leaves to wilt and blend seamlessly with the rich base.
- Final Composition: Incorporate baked meatballs into the spinach Alfredo sauce, ensuring complete coverage and uniform coating.
- Presentation: Garnish with crumbled bacon bits and fresh parsley, serving immediately while hot.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Mixture: Gently mix ingredients to prevent tough meatballs; overmixing can lead to dense, chewy texture.
- Temperature Control: Use a meat thermometer to precisely check chicken’s internal temperature, ensuring safe and juicy meatballs.
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon thoroughly to enhance sauce’s smoky flavor and provide a crunchy garnish.
- Sauce Consistency: Simmer cream sauce slowly to prevent separation and achieve smooth, velvety texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg