Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Meatballs

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

These chicken meatballs have a gooey mozzarella center — delicious in a sub sandwich or served in tomato sauce with pasta for a family-pleasing meal.

Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup low-fat cream cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 cloves garlic, grated
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon dry bread crumbs
2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup chopped fresh mozzarella, or as needed

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2 Combine ground chicken, egg, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, bread crumbs, basil, red pepper, garlic powder, salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano in a freezer-safe bowl and mix well. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes to make the mixture firmer and easier to handle.
3 Form into 14 equally sized meatballs using an ice cream scoop. Add a piece of mozzarella cheese to the center of each meatball, making sure cheese is covered by meat. Place meatballs on a nonstick baking sheet.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the centers and juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes.