Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs
Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs bring juicy, tender bites with a gentle heat from spicy sausage balanced by sweet onion, garlic, and salty pecorino. The zucchini keeps them moist without feeling heavy, making them great for weeknight dinners or party platters. Serve with marinara for dipping, or tuck alongside pasta or zoodles when you want something hearty yet lighter.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook25 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 44 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 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.
- 11
- Heart Health
- 51
- Metabolic
- 17
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 54
- Performance
- 40
- General Wellness
- 1
Lay out clean kitchen towels or paper towels to make a bed, and spread the zucchini shreds over it. Lightly sprinkle with salt and let sit while you prepare the other ingredients, about 15 minutes.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C), and line a 12x18-inch sheet pan with parchment or foil.
- 3
In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken sausage, onion, pecorino Romano cheese, and garlic.
- 4
Roll up the towel bed with the grated zucchini like a jelly roll, pressing as you go to squeeze out extra liquid. Unroll, add the zucchini shreds to the other ingredients, add the egg, and stir until all the meatball ingredients are well mixed.
- 5
Shape the mixture into 18 to 20 2-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared pan. Spray lightly with olive oil spray.
- 6
Bake the meatballs in the center of the preheated oven until lightly browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted near the center reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 25 to 30 minutes.
- 7
Serve with purchased marinara as a dipping sauce, if desired.
- Calories 287.9 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 26.85 g Good Source 54%
- Carbohydrate 9.53 g 3%
- Total Fat 16.85 g High 22%
- Saturated Fat 5.96 g High 30%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 132.52 mg High 44%
- Sodium 1129.72 mg High 49%
- Dietary Fiber 1.38 g Low Source 5%
- Total Sugars 4.02 g --
- Added Sugars 1.47 g Low Source 3%
- Calcium 257.87 mg Moderate 20%
- Iron 2.21 mg Moderate 12%
- Potassium 510.34 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin A 64.87 mcg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin C 2.04 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin D 0.17 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs is an Italian dinner recipe made with 9 ingredients. It takes about 45 mins, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Eggs, Italian Chicken Sausage, Marinara Sauce, and Minced Garlic. Each serving provides about 287.9 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs?
- It is an Italian meatball recipe made with 9 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs made of?
- The main ingredients are Eggs, Italian Chicken Sausage, Marinara Sauce, Minced Garlic, Olive Oil Cooking Spray. The full list of 9 is above.
- What goes well with Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs?
- About 45 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 25 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 287.9 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs healthy?
- Hot Italian Chicken & Zucchini Meatballs has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 287.9 calories and 26.85 g of protein, or 54% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1129.72 mg (49% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.96 g (30% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, 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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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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