Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs
Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs deliver tender, juicy chicken bites coated in a bright butter-lemon sauce punctuated by briny capers and a hint of white wine. Parmesan and herbs enrich the meatballs while the pan sauce stays silky and vibrant. Serve for a cozy weeknight dinner over orzo, rice, or thin pasta when you’re craving something citrusy and comforting.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 57 / 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.
- 10
- Heart Health
- 47
- Metabolic
- 24
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 43
- Performance
- 33
- General Wellness
- 1
Add half of the shallots to a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, half and half, 1/3 cup bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon parsley, and the egg. Roughly chop 1 tablespoon capers and add them to the bowl; add the ground chicken. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix gently until everything is well combined.
- 2
Spread the remaining bread crumbs on a work surface or in a shallow dish. Shape the chicken mixture into 12 meatballs, rolling each one lightly in the bread crumbs to coat and help form the meatballs.
- 3
Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes, adding more oil if needed. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
- 4
Add the remaining shallot and capers to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
- 5
Pour in the wine and stock and bring to a boil. Return the meatballs to the skillet, reduce the heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced by half to coat the meatballs in the sauce, 6 to 7 minutes.
- 6
Once the sauce is reduced, move the meatballs to one side of the skillet and lower the heat to very low. Whisk in the lemon juice and cold butter, stirring constantly, until well incorporated and slightly thickened. Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat. Toss the meatballs well with the sauce and serve immediately.
- Calories 528.07 kcal High 26%
- Protein 34.46 g Good Source 69%
- Carbohydrate 26.22 g 10%
- Total Fat 30.62 g High 39%
- Saturated Fat 12.27 g High 61%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 183.22 mg High 61%
- Sodium 1144.32 mg High 50%
- Dietary Fiber 2.88 g Moderate 10%
- Total Sugars 3.25 g --
- Added Sugars 2.51 g Moderate 5%
- Calcium 154.77 mg Moderate 12%
- Iron 3.25 mg Moderate 18%
- Potassium 172.56 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 24.73 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 6.63 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin D 0.25 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Sulfites
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs is an Italian dinner recipe made with 16 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Butter, Capers, and Chicken Stock. Each serving provides about 528.07 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs?
- It is an Italian meatball recipe made with 16 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Butter, Capers, Chicken Stock, Eggs. The full list of 16 is above.
- What goes well with Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs?
- About 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 528.07 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs healthy?
- Lemony Chicken Piccata Meatballs has an easyChef Pro health score of 39/100. Per serving, it provides 528.07 calories and 34.46 g of protein, or 69% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1144.32 mg (50% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 12.27 g (61% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 2.51 g (5% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Sulfites, Garlic, Onions and Alcohol, 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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easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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