Chef John's Chicken Meatballs

Name: Chef John's Chicken Meatballs
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian, American
Ingredients: 3 oz Bacon Fat; 0.5 tsp Black Pepper; 1 lb Boneless Chicken Thigh; 3 oz Bread Crumbs; 0.33 cup Diced Onion; 1 whole Eggs; 0.25 tsp Fennel Seed; 0.25 cup Fresh Parsley; 3 cloves Minced Garlic; 0 tsp Olive Oil Cooking Spray; 0.25 tsp Red Pepper Flakes; 1.5 tsp Salt; 4 cups Tomato Sauce; 1 tbsp White Wine

Appetizer 🧄Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 Italian 🇮🇹American High-Protein 💪

Chef John's Chicken Meatballs are tender and juicy, blending chicken thighs with a touch of pork fat, herbs, and warm spices for a delicate, springy bite. Baked to a light golden finish, they’re delicious served straight from the oven or gently simmered in tomato sauce to soak up extra flavor. Ideal for a cozy dinner with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.

Prep40 mins
Cook20 mins
Serves4
DifficultyMedium

1

Combine the chicken and pork on a plate or tray, then place in the freezer for about 15 minutes, or until firm and very cold. Partially frozen is fine.
2

Put the breadcrumbs into the bowl of a food processor (use the inside of a fresh or day-old French bread loaf—no crust). Add the sautéed onions, egg, white wine, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, chili flakes, and crushed fennel seeds. Add the chilled chicken mixture on top.
3

Pulse the food processor on and off as shown until the mixture looks like ground meat. It is recommended to stop occasionally and scrape down the bowl of the food processor during processing.
4

Move the mixture to the fridge and chill for 1 hour before shaping.
5

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease it with olive oil.
6

Divide the mixture into 12 portions and place them on the prepared baking sheet. With damp hands, roll each portion into a smooth ball.
7

Bake in the preheated oven until the meatballs are cooked through, about 18 minutes. For extra browning, switch the broiler to high and broil the meatballs for 1 to 2 minutes.
8

Serve the meatballs right away, or transfer them into tomato sauce set over low heat. Simmer gently for about 20 minutes to flavor the sauce.