Description
Tender, juicy chicken meatballs blended with creamy ricotta and a smoky paprika kick, nestled over garlicky, herb-kissed orzo—this is one of those comforting meals that feels like a warm hug. Simple enough for weeknights, yet delicious enough to wow guests! 💛
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Garlic Orzo:
- 2 cups orzo pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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In a large bowl, mix together ground chicken, ricotta, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until fully combined.
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Roll into 16–18 meatballs (about 1.5 inches each).
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Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add a drizzle of olive oil or cooking spray.
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Cook meatballs for 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F internal temp).
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While meatballs cook, heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
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Stir in orzo and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer 8–10 minutes until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed.
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Mix in parsley, salt, and pepper.
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Serve meatballs over warm garlic orzo and garnish with more parsley if desired.
Notes
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Don’t overmix your meatball mixture—just enough to bring everything together keeps them light and tender!
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Swap parsley for basil if you’re in the mood for something extra fragrant.
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Want a kick? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatballs or the orzo.
- Meal prep friendly! Both components reheat beautifully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: Chicken meatballs, Ricotta meatballs, Garlic orzo, Easy chicken dinner