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White cheese topped chicken meatballs in red sauce in a white baking dish.
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Cheesy Baked Chicken Meatballs in Sauce

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!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword baked chicken meatballs, cheesy baked chicken meatballs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 338kcal
Author Maria Doss

Equipment

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

Use one pound of ground turkey instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 1129mg | Potassium: 939mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 846IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 279mg | Iron: 3mg