Description
A flavorful and healthy Mediterranean-inspired dish with juicy chicken meatballs and zesty lemon orzo.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Ground Chicken (or ground turkey as a substitute)
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (whole wheat preferred)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
- 1/4 cup Red Onion (minced)
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 large Egg
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon Oregano (dried or fresh)
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest (fresh)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 cup Orzo Pasta (whole grain)
- 4 cups Broth (chicken or vegetable)
- 1/2 cup Feta Cheese (crumbled)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, mix ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, red onion, garlic, egg, parsley, oregano, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
- Form into golf-ball-sized meatballs and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- In a separate saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8-10 minutes until tender. Drain, then stir in feta, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Serve meatballs over the lemon orzo and garnish with parsley or feta.
Notes
For added flavor, incorporate herbs like mint or dill. This recipe is versatile – consider vegan options using lentils.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 110mg