Baked Chicken Meatballs with Spinach Alfredo (Printable Version)

Tender chicken meatballs, baked with ricotta inside, coated in a lusciously creamy spinach Alfredo. Comfort food that feels a bit fancy.

# Ingredients:

→ Meatball ingredients

01 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
02 - 1 lb chicken, ground
03 - 1 egg
04 - 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
07 - 1/2 tsp paprika
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
10 - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
11 - 3 tbsp olive oil

→ Spinach Alfredo sauce ingredients

12 - 1 cup Parmesan, shredded
13 - 2 cups spinach, chopped fresh
14 - 1 cup heavy cream
15 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
16 - Salt and pepper to season
17 - 1/2 cup milk
18 - 1 tbsp olive oil

# Steps:

01 - Set the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) while you get a baking tray ready with parchment paper.
02 - In a big bowl, toss in the ground chicken, ricotta, egg, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, salt, paprika, and black pepper. Stir until it’s all blended together smoothly.
03 - Roll the mixture into small balls (golf ball size is great). Arrange them on the lined sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and let them bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until golden and done.
04 - As your meatballs cook, pour a bit of olive oil into a skillet heated over medium. Toss in the spinach and cook it down until it’s soft, which should take just about 3 minutes.
05 - Mix the heavy cream, shredded Parmesan, milk, nutmeg, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper into the warm skillet. Stir steadily for about 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens up nicely.
06 - Add the meatballs into the completed sauce, gently turning them to get good coverage. Spoon over pasta, rice, or even mashed potatoes, and sprinkle on some extra parsley or Parmesan if you’d like.

# Notes:

01 - Switch things up with ground turkey or a chicken-pork mix for the meatballs.
02 - Add tiny diced onions or bell peppers to the meatball mix for more flavor.
03 - Use cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles instead for a lighter meal.
04 - Up the heat by tossing some red chili flakes or hot sauce into the Alfredo sauce.

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