Baked Spicy Chicken Parm Meatballs (Printable)

Juicy spicy chicken meatballs baked in marinara with melted mozzarella

# What You Need:

→ For the Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground chicken
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
11 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 2 tablespoons hot sauce

→ For Baking

14 - 2 cups marinara sauce
15 - 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, and hot sauce. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
03 - With damp hands, form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place on a plate. Approximately 16 meatballs will be formed.
04 - Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and brown for 2-3 minutes per side in batches if necessary. Meatballs do not require full cooking at this stage.
05 - Spread half of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange browned meatballs in a single layer on top. Spoon remaining marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs.
06 - Place baking dish in preheated 400°F oven and bake for 15 minutes.
07 - Remove from oven and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over meatballs. Return to oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and internal meatball temperature reaches 165°F.
08 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Combines the kick of a spicy chicken sandwich with the comfort of Italian-American chicken parm.
  • Oven-baked for juicy, tender meatballs that are lighter than traditional fried versions.
  • The perfect balance of spicy heat, savory marinara, and creamy mozzarella.
  • Simple to prepare in 50 minutes, making it ideal for weeknight meals.
02 -
  • Use a 9x13-inch baking dish to ensure the meatballs have enough space to bake evenly in the sauce.
  • Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  • If browning in batches, do not crowd the skillet, as this helps achieve a better golden crust on the meat.
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