Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara
Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara deliver tender chicken bites with a crisp panko exterior, simmered in a rich tomato sauce and finished with gooey mozzarella. Each meatball balances salty Parmesan, gentle heat from red pepper flakes, and aromatic Italian herbs. Serve for a cozy weeknight Dinner or as a shareable platter for game day gatherings.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 73 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 15
- Heart Health
- 52
- Metabolic
- 29
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 50
- Performance
- 37
- General Wellness
- 1
In a large bowl, stir together the egg, grated Parmesan cheese, 3/4 cup panko crumbs, garlic powder, Italian herb seasoning blend, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper.
- 2
Put on food-grade disposable gloves, add the chicken to the bowl, and mix with your hands until everything is well combined.
- 3
Spread the remaining 1 cup panko crumbs on a plate. Using a 1-1/2-inch scoop, form about 24 meatballs. Roll each meatball gently in the crumbs until lightly coated; set them aside on a plate.
- 4
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- 5
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter to a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add half the meatballs and brown them on each side, turning until all sides are browned. Transfer this batch to a plate and wipe the skillet clean.
- 6
Repeat with the reserved oil and butter, and cook the remaining meatballs the same way.
- 7
Wipe out the skillet again, pour in the marinara sauce, and place the browned meatballs in the sauce. They will not be submerged.
- 8
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Sprinkle on the shredded mozzarella and return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.
- Calories 382.74 kcal Moderate 19%
- Protein 28.07 g Good Source 56%
- Carbohydrate 30.01 g 11%
- Total Fat 17.41 g High 22%
- Saturated Fat 7.24 g High 36%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 112.93 mg High 38%
- Sodium 1092.29 mg High 47%
- Dietary Fiber 3.84 g Moderate 14%
- Total Sugars 6.87 g --
- Added Sugars 2.22 g Low Source 4%
- Calcium 174.31 mg Moderate 13%
- Iron 3.3 mg Moderate 18%
- Potassium 389.73 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin A 40.65 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 4.23 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 0.12 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara is an Italian appetizer recipe made with 14 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr, serves 8, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Eggs, Fresh Parsley, and Garlic Powder. Each serving provides about 382.74 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara?
- It is an Italian meatball recipe made with 14 ingredients, usually served for appetizer or dinner or lunch.
- What is Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Eggs, Fresh Parsley, Garlic Powder, Grated Parmesan Cheese. The full list of 14 is above.
- What goes well with Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara?
- About 1 hr in total: 20 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 382.74 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 14 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara healthy?
- Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Meatballs with Marinara has an easyChef Pro health score of 40/100. Per serving, it provides 382.74 calories and 28.07 g of protein, or 56% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1092.29 mg (47% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.24 g (36% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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