Cheesy Baked Chicken Meatballs in Sauce – Tender, juicy meatballs cook to perfection as they gently poach in the tomato sauce, then are topped with melty mozzarella. No need to roll the meatballs—just simple, effortless, and irresistibly delicious!
We absolutely love using ground chicken for making easy dinners! It's a healthier source of protein, a family favorite, and incredibly versatile—perfect for dishes like ground chicken tacos or chicken rice bowl.
Meatballs are one of our favorite ways to use a pound of ground chicken. They're quick and easy to make, loved by kids, and a perfect portion for a small family dinner.
Today, we're taking an easier route by baking the meatballs right in the sauce, allowing them to gently poach and infuse the sauce with all their delicious flavor. Then, we top them with mozzarella, which melts perfectly over the saucy chicken meatballs. It’s a total winner!
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Why you'll love it?
- Cheesy, saucy and amazing
- The meatballs gently poach in the sauce, resulting in perfectly juicy and tender bites.
- No need to roll the chicken meatballs—just spoon them right into the sauce!
- Perfect with pasta, crusty bread, or as a delicious appetizer!
- Uses jarred marinara sauce for convenience.
How to make cheesy baked chicken meatballs in tomato sauce?
You can find the full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Step 7 - Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or the chicken meatballs are cooked through.
👩🍳 Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your meatballs - For meatballs that are about ¼ cup in size, like the ones used in this recipe, bake for 35 to 40 minutes. They should feel slightly firm to the touch or reach an internal temperature of 165°F when tested with an instant-read thermometer.
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Serving suggestions
These cheesy baked chicken meatballs in sauce can be transformed into a variety of delicious meals.
- Pasta - Spoon some of the meatballs along with sauce over any plain cooked pasta.
- Meatball sandwiches - Turn them into a delicious chicken meatball sandwich by placing the meatballs between two slices of bread or in hot dog buns.
- With bread - Spoon over toasted bread slices for an instant meal.
- Appetizer - For entertaining, serve these with toasted baguette slices. For easier serving, I recommend shaping the meatballs smaller.
Recipe tips
- Use more mozzarella for topping, if you like a cheesy dish.
- Use one pound of ground turkey instead.
More easy chicken dinner ideas
Cheesy Baked Chicken Meatballs in Sauce
Equipment
- 8x8 square baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce I used Prego - tomato, basil & garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅛ teaspoon salt or as needed
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 egg large
- 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
- 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella divided
- 2 tablespoon grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add the marinara sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, red pepper flakes and ⅛ teaspoon salt into a 8-inch square baking dish. Stir well to combine.
- Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl, using only ½ cup of mozzarella (save the remaining 1 cup for later). Mix thoroughly until everything is well incorporated.
- Using an ice cream scoop, portion about ¼ cup of the meatball mixture at a time and gently drop them into the sauce, spacing them evenly.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked through.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack (do not turn off the oven). Spoon the sauce over the meatballs until they’re fully coated. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella evenly on top. For an extra cheesy dish, feel free to add more mozzarella to your liking.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and set the pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped basil and serve alongside crusty bread or cooked pasta.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
All contents and images are my original work, unless and otherwise mentioned. Please do not use my recipes or images without linking back to www.kitchenathoskins.com. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite in your own words and don’t forget to include a link back to the original recipe.
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
What a neat trick cooking these in a muffin tin! I will have to try that 🙂 and these just look so moist and flavorful. Love the sneaky avocado!!
Shelli
Could you use ground turkey instead?
Maria Doss
I haven't worked with ground turkey, but I'm sure that it will work:)
Ashika | Gardening Foodie
This is such a great lunch box treat Maria...and I love how you used a muffin tin to make these.
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I love these photos, and these meatballs! I like the idea of sneaking avocado in too 🙂