Description
Succulent chicken ricotta meatballs dance in a luxurious creamy spinach sauce, bringing Italian comfort to your dinner table. Mediterranean flavors meld seamlessly, inviting you to savor each comforting, herb-infused bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground chicken
- ½ cup (120 ml/120 grams) ricotta cheese
- ¾ cup (75 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups (480 ml) fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 egg
- ½ cup (60 grams) breadcrumbs
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsps (30 grams) butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked pasta
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to a searing 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal meatball roasting.
- Meatball Composition: Blend ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, and Italian herbs into a cohesive mixture, ensuring robust flavor and tender consistency.
- Shaping: Craft uniform spherical meatballs, approximately one inch in diameter, promoting even cooking and visual appeal.
- Initial Roasting: Distribute meatballs across the prepared sheet, allowing ample space for heat circulation and golden crust development.
- Baking Process: Roast for 20-25 minutes, rotating midpoint to achieve consistent golden-brown exterior and thorough internal cooking.
- Sauce Foundation: Melt butter in a saucepan, infusing with garlic until aromatic and translucent.
- Cream Integration: Introduce heavy cream to the butter-garlic base, whisking continuously while incorporating Parmesan cheese for a silky, rich texture.
- Sauce Refinement: Simmer gently, stirring periodically to prevent burning and encourage luxurious thickening.
- Spinach Finale: Fold chopped spinach into the creamy mixture, allowing leaves to wilt and meld seamlessly. Season with salt and pepper to elevate flavor complexity.
- Serving: Plate meatballs over preferred pasta, cascading the vibrant spinach sauce generously. Serve immediately to preserve optimal temperature and gastronomic integrity.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Texture: Use room temperature ricotta and egg to prevent dense, tough meatballs and ensure a light, tender bite.
- Prevent Sticking: Lightly oil your hands before shaping meatballs to create smooth, uniform spheres that won’t cling to your fingers.
- Control Sauce Consistency: Watch cream sauce carefully while simmering; low and slow prevents separation and maintains silky smoothness.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast breadcrumbs briefly before mixing into meatball mixture to unlock deeper, nuttier undertones and improve overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 466
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 146 mg