Description
Zesty, light, and full of comforting flavors these Lemony Chicken Ricotta Meatballs are the ultimate feel-good dinner. Juicy meatballs packed with creamy ricotta and bright lemon zest, oven-baked to golden perfection, then served over a warm bed of garlicky spinach orzo that’s both cozy and vibrant. It’s the kind of one-plate meal that feels fancy, but comes together with weeknight ease.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Garlic Spinach Orzo:
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, lemon zest, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
- Shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and arrange on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the meatballs are golden and cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
- While the meatballs cook, bring chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the orzo and simmer for 8–10 minutes, until tender.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 2–3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Drain any excess liquid from the orzo, then stir it into the spinach and garlic mixture. Toss to combine.
- Serve the meatballs over the warm garlic spinach orzo. Garnish with lemon wedges for a fresh finish.
Notes
- Don’t skip the lemon zest it gives the meatballs a bright, fresh flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy ricotta.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if you’d like to control salt levels in the orzo.
- Leftovers? These reheat beautifully in a covered skillet with a splash of broth to loosen up the orzo.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (¼ of total recipe)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: chicken ricotta meatballs, lemon chicken meatballs, garlic spinach orzo, healthy chicken dinner, one-plate dinner