Description
Tender and flavorful Mediterranean chicken meatballs packed with feta cheese, fresh herbs, pine nuts, and bright lemon zest. These baked meatballs are perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Lemon zest from 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line baking sheet with parchment paper
- Mix Base: Combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, feta, egg, oregano, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in large bowl
- Add Nuts: Gently fold in toasted pine nuts to maintain their texture
- Form Meatballs: Shape mixture into 1-1.5 inch diameter meatballs using clean hands
- Bake: Place on prepared baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F
Notes
- Don’t overmix the meat mixture to prevent tough, dense meatballs – mix just until combined
- Wet your hands slightly when forming meatballs to prevent sticking and ensure smooth shapes
- Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes until golden for enhanced nutty flavor
- Let meatballs rest for 5 minutes after baking to retain juices before serving
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3-4 meatballs
- Calories: 285 calories
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: mediterranean chicken meatballs, baked chicken meatballs, healthy meatballs, feta cheese meatballs, greek inspired meatballs, easy dinner recipe