Description
These Lemon Chicken Ricotta Meatballs with Garlic Orzo are a perfect blend of zesty, creamy, and comforting flavors. The tender meatballs, infused with ricotta and lemon, pair beautifully with the garlicky orzo for a satisfying, quick, and easy meal the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for frying)
For the Garlic Orzo:
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides for about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the meatballs to the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until fully cooked.
- Cook orzo according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In the same skillet used for the meatballs, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add cooked orzo, fresh parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Serve the meatballs over the garlic orzo and garnish with extra parsley or Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze the meatballs and orzo separately for up to 3 months.
- Substitutions: Use ground turkey instead of chicken or gluten-free breadcrumbs and orzo for a gluten-free version.
- Additions: For a creamier orzo, stir in a splash of heavy cream or sprinkle Parmesan cheese before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking and sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 80mg