Description
A cozy dish combining tender chicken ricotta meatballs with a creamy spinach Alfredo sauce, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 medium onion (very finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (finely chopped)
- 1.5 lb ground chicken (or ground turkey)
- 6 oz whole milk ricotta (approximately ¾ cup)
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt (or as needed)
- 6 bacon strips
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 cup heavy cream (35% fat)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 5 oz baby spinach (approximately 150 grams)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley (to garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk and become soft.
- Add the onion, garlic, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, ground chicken or turkey, ricotta, egg, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and salt to the breadcrumb mixture. Mix until combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Scoop out the meat mixture and form into balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly golden. An internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) indicates doneness.
- For the sauce, cook the bacon until crispy, then drain and chop.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat and add garlic, cooking for 1 minute.
- Add the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Whisk in the Parmesan until melted and smooth. Add baby spinach and cook until wilted.
- Add the baked meatballs to the sauce and toss to coat. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Garnish with bacon and parsley.
Notes
Consider serving with garlic bread or a mixed green salad to balance the richness of the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball with sauce
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 80mg