My Gourmet Healthy Chicken Meatballs are a true ode to Gourmet Done Skinny. Crafted with lean ground chicken, the fiery essence of Casa M’s new spice, Texas Twister, and a medley of aromatic ingredients, these meatballs will become a fast favorite in your kitchen. And did I mention they are super easy to make and that you can freeze them? Perfect as appetizers for the holidays too!
This recipe created especially for Casa M Spice Co®
These mouthwatering savory healthy gourmet chicken meatballs are not your average meatballs. Tender and delicious and a hint of “what’s that yummy spice?”
So what exactly is that spice?
Casa M’s Texas Twister™!
I couldn’t wait to try out Casa M’s new spice – Texas Twister on these healthy chicken meatballs. I knew it would be a perfect match and it is!
As with all of Casa M Spice blends, Texas Twister™ starts with Chain Reaction as a base but has the addition of black pepper, sugar, turmeric, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and a few earthy, aromatic spices all blended perfectly to complement chicken, pork, beef, lamb, and more. Texas Twister™ is a very low sodium blend that can add as much additional flavor to recipes as desired without all of the salt.
The spice combination of turmeric, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves gives these gourmet chicken meatballs a warm comforting food feeling.
Healthy Meatballs?
Yes! Here are the ways I’ve lightened up these meatballs without sacrificing taste and in fact they are so good, you don’t even need any sauce – you can eat them alone as appetizers.
- Instead of ground beef, I’ve used ground chicken. You could also use ground turkey.
- Instead of bread crumbs – I’ve substituted ground oatmeal. This secret ingredient gives my meatballs their irresistible texture, making them perfectly moist while still being waistline-friendly.
- To make up for the fat which makes the meatballs moist – I’ve added sautéd onions and finely chopped mushrooms.
- And a little finely chopped kale for color and vitamins.
- Baked instead of pan fried.
You would never know these meatballs are healthy, they are addicting and you can’t eat just one!
How to Make Ground Chicken Yourself
It’s so easy to make your own ground chicken and so much less expensive! Buy a big pack of chicken thighs, trim off the visible fat and use the food processor to mince the meat. That’s it! You can use chicken breasts but the meatballs won’t be as moist.
How to freeze chicken meatballs
These chicken meatballs are super easy to freeze and reheat. Flash freeze them on a cookie sheet, then transfer to vacuum sealed bags. Reheat covered in foil until hot. Or put them in the microwave for a few minutes.
Can you make these in the air fryer?
Yes you can do them in the air fryer! Preheat air fryer to 400°. Air fry in batches for about 10-12 min or until done – internal temperature should reach about 165°.
How to make Chicken Meatballs in Pictures:
In a food processor, grind the oatmeal, set aside. Finely chop the onions.
In a small skillet heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add onions and cook for about 5 minutes, add garlic and Casa M Texas Twister spice. Sauté for a few minutes to open up the spices. Don’t let the garlic burn.
If using chicken thighs, trim off visible fat. I recommend using thighs versus chicken breasts – it will make the meatballs more tender.
Place in food processor and process using the pulse button (or if you’re using ground chicken, no need to process).
In a large bowl combine: ground chicken, 2 tablespoons olive oil, onion mixture, ground oatmeal, chopped mushrooms, parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, thyme, kosher salt and beaten egg.
Preheat oven to 400°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a small icecream scoop (1 1/2 inches in diameter) or use a spoon, scoop out chicken mixture and place on parchment paper. Round the balls if necessary with your hands. If you use your hands to roll the balls, wet them slightly to prevent sticking, and shape the mixture into perfectly portioned balls. If you make your meatballs smaller or larger, you will need to adjust the baking time.
Bake for about 13-15 min until temp reaches at least 165°. Serve hot or with sauce. These freeze extremely well. Cool completely before freezing. Makes about 46 meatballs using the 1 1/2 inch scoop.
Serve these meatballs hot, over a bed of fresh greens or with a side of fluffy cauliflower rice, for a light yet satisfying meal. You could also make a yogurt based dipping sauce using more of the Texas Twister Spice.
Healthy Gourmet Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 cup onions, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic – minced
- 2 pounds ground chicken – you can make your own with chicken thighs in food processor
- 1-2 tablespoons Casa M Texas Twister see notes
- 1 cup oatmeal – finely ground in food processor
- 1/4 cup mushrooms – finely chopped
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons parsley- fresh
- 1 tablespoon oregano – fresh
- 1 tablespoon thyme – fresh
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a food processor, grind the oatmeal, set aside. Finely chop the onions.
- In a small skillet heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add onions and cook for about 5 minutes, add garlic and Casa M Texas Twister spice. Sauté for a few minutes to open up the spices. Don't let the garlic burn.
- If using chicken thighs, trim off visible fat. Place in food processor and process using the pulse button (or if you're using ground chicken, no need to process).
- Preheat oven to 400°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine: ground chicken, 2 tablespoons olive oil, onion mixture, ground oatmeal, chopped mushrooms, parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, thyme, kosher salt and beaten egg.
- Combine with spoon or use hands. Do not over mix, just combine until everything is distributed fairly evenly.
- Using a small icecream scoop (1 1/2 inches in diameter) or use a spoon, scoop out chicken mixture and place on parchment paper. Round the balls if necessary with your hands. If you use your hands to roll the balls, wet them slightly to prevent sticking, and shape the mixture into perfectly portioned balls. If you make your meatballs smaller or larger, you will need to adjust the baking time.
- Bake for about 13-15 min until temp reaches at least 165°. Serve hot or with sauce. These freeze extremely well. Cool completely before freezing. Makes about 46 meatballs using the 1 1/2 inch scoop.
- Serve these meatballs hot, over a bed of fresh greens or with a side of fluffy cauliflower rice, for a light yet satisfying meal.
Notes
Check out my other Casa M Spice ® recipes!
Casa M Cattle Drive Air Fryer Steak Bites – Sometimes the best things in life are simple, like my Casa M Cattle Drive Air Fryer Steak Bites. These are absolutely to die for – the best steak bites ever! You can’t just have one! Slightly spicy, crispy on the outside and melts in your mouth when you bite into it – all that steak goodness is accented by the Cattle Drive Seasoning. They are so addictive!
Spicy Vegetarian Meatballs – These spicy vegetarian meatballs made with beans and vegetables are so good even the meat eaters will love them! Super easy to make, these tasty vegetarian meatballs are so versatile! You can serve them over zucchini noodles or pasta with a tomato based sauce, serve them alone or even turn them into unique appetizers. See below for all of the great ideas!
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