Description
These Creamy Lemon Chicken Ricotta Meatballs are juicy, zesty, and irresistibly tender thanks to the ricotta. Served over a garlicky, creamy spinach orzo, this dish comes together in just 40 minutes for a comforting, balanced weeknight meal that feels restaurant-worthy but is easy to pull off at home.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Orzo:
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup cream
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra Parmesan for serving
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined—don’t overmix.
Form into small meatballs (about 1.5 inches) and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 18–20 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
Meanwhile, cook orzo according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add spinach and sauté until wilted. Stir in cream and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
Toss the cooked orzo into the skillet until fully coated in the creamy sauce.
Serve the orzo topped with baked meatballs and finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
Equipment
Notes
For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the orzo.
You can substitute ground turkey for ground chicken if preferred.
For gluten-free, use GF breadcrumbs and GF pasta.
The meatballs can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.
Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Dish
- Method: Baked + Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 45mg