Description
Chicken Piccata Meatballs are a flavorful twist on classic Italian piccata, combining tender ground chicken meatballs with a tangy lemon, caper, and buttery sauce. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner and serves four.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons capers, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Garnish
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, chopped capers, minced garlic, beaten eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into meatballs approximately 1-2 inches in diameter, ensuring they are uniform in size for even cooking.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook them, turning occasionally, until they are browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set them aside temporarily.
- Prepare Piccata Sauce: In the same skillet, pour in the chicken broth, add butter, and fresh lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer while stirring, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet with the simmering sauce. Let them cook in the sauce for 10-15 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the meatballs. Serve the dish hot, ideally over pasta, rice, or with a side of vegetables.
Notes
- For extra zest, you can add additional lemon zest to the sauce while simmering.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor in the meatballs.
- Make sure to brown meatballs well before simmering to retain shape and add flavor.
- Adjust salt according to taste, especially if using salted chicken broth.
- Serve with your favorite side such as angel hair pasta or steamed vegetables.
