Description
Bring your dinner to life with these juicy, golden Chicken Piccata Meatballs—a zesty twist on a classic Italian-American favorite. Simmered in a buttery lemon-caper sauce, these easy meatballs are ready in under 40 minutes and packed with fresh, bold flavor. Perfect for quick dinners, elegant gatherings, or your weekly meal prep. Whether you’re after quick dinner ideas, easy comfort food, or a healthy twist on Italian recipes, this dish ticks all the boxes.
Ingredients
1 pound ground chicken
0.5 cup breadcrumbs
0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 lemon, zested
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
0.25 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)
1 tablespoon water (optional, for cornstarch slurry)
Fresh parsley and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, onion powder, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
2. Form into meatballs using about 1.5 tablespoons per ball. Place on a tray or plate.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear meatballs on all sides until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes per side. Set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter with olive oil. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
5. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice. Scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze.
6. Add capers and lemon zest. Simmer the sauce for 2–3 minutes.
7. Return meatballs to the skillet and simmer for 8–10 minutes, partially covered, until fully cooked.
8. If needed, stir in cornstarch slurry to thicken sauce. Simmer 2 minutes more.
9. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices. Serve hot with your favorite side.
Notes
Use dark meat ground chicken for maximum juiciness and flavor.
Don’t skip the searing step—it adds crucial texture and flavor to the meatballs.
Fresh lemon juice is a must for the brightest, most balanced sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (about 4 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: chicken piccata meatballs, lemon chicken meatballs, easy chicken dinner, quick meal, weeknight recipes