Description
Lemon Chicken Ricotta Meatballs with Garlic Orzo is a delightful and flavorful dish that combines juicy chicken meatballs with creamy ricotta, aromatic garlic, and a zesty lemon-infused orzo pasta. This dish is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or even special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground Chicken
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- ½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- ¾ tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- ½ tsp Harissa Seasoning (optional)
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
For the Whipped Ricotta
- 12 oz Whole Milk Ricotta
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 tsp Lemon Zest
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
For the Lemon Orzo
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Shallot (minced)
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 cup Orzo (uncooked)
- 2 cups Chicken Bone Broth
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
- 2 tsp Lemon Zest (additional to serve)
- ¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice (additional to serve)
- ¼ cup Basil Pesto (to serve)
Instructions
For the Chicken Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease it with oil or cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, harissa seasoning, salt, and pepper. Use your hands or a spatula to mix until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into 24 small meatballs, about 1-1.5 inches in diameter, and arrange them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden brown on the bottom and cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and set aside for serving.
For the Whipped Ricotta
- Add all the ingredients for the whipped ricotta—ricotta cheese, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and olive oil—to a food processor or blender.
- Blend for about 1 minute, or until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and airy.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired. Set aside for serving.
For the Lemon Orzo
- In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced shallot and garlic, cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and stir to combine.
- Add the uncooked orzo and toast for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Add more broth or water if needed to prevent the orzo from drying out.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon zest, parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. Mix well.
To Serve
- Divide the whipped ricotta among shallow bowls, spreading it out to form a layer at the bottom.
- Spoon the lemon orzo on top of the ricotta.
- Place the chicken meatballs on top of the orzo.
- Drizzle with basil pesto and garnish with extra lemon zest and lemon juice as desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For a spicy kick, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add chili oil to the finished dish.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs for the meatballs and gluten-free orzo or a substitute like quinoa or rice.
- Dairy-free: Swap ricotta with dairy-free ricotta and use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the dish
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg