Trader Joe's Chicken Meatballs Recipe

This Trader Joe’s-style Chicken Meatballs recipe is a tender and juicy recipe, which is made with ground chicken, Parmesan cheese, and a bright lemon-garlic butter sauce. It’s the perfect healthy weeknight dinner, a versatile and easy meal ready in about 40 minutes.

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Trader Joe’s Chicken Meatballs Ingredients

A simple, flavorful combination for a light and delicious meatball.

For the Chicken Meatballs:

2 pounds (907g) ground chicken (94% lean)
1 large egg
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

For the Lemon Garlic Herb Butter Sauce:

1/4 cup (4 Tbsp) unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano
Pinch of salt
Optional: crushed red pepper flakes

How To Make Trader Joe’s Chicken Meatballs

A step-by-step guide to these incredibly easy and flavorful baked meatballs.

Prep Oven and Make Meatball Mixture: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients: the ground chicken, egg, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, and all the seasonings. Mix with a spatula or your hands until just combined.
Roll and Bake: Scoop the mixture (about 2 tablespoons per meatball) and roll into balls. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between them. You should have about 35 meatballs.
Bake the Meatballs: Bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned. The internal temperature should be 165°F (74°C).
Make the Lemon Butter Sauce: While the meatballs bake, make the sauce. Melt the butter and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, but not browned. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped fresh herbs and a pinch of salt.
Serve: When the meatballs come out of the oven, brush or spoon the lemon-garlic butter sauce over them. Serve the warm meatballs immediately with any remaining sauce on the side for dipping or drizzling.

Trader Joe's Chicken Meatballs Recipe — Trader Joe’s Chicken Meatballs Recipe

Recipe Tips

For the most tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken meatballs.

How to keep the meatballs moist? The key is to not overmix the ground chicken mixture. Mix the ingredients with a light hand until they are just combined. Overworking the meat can result in tough, dense meatballs. Using a 94% lean ground chicken also provides enough fat to keep them juicy.
Can I make these ahead of time? Yes, these are perfect for meal prep! You can form the unbaked meatballs, cover them tightly, and refrigerate for up to 1 day before baking.
How to get evenly sized meatballs? Using a cookie scoop (about a 2-tablespoon size) is the best way to ensure all your meatballs are a uniform size, which helps them to cook evenly in the same amount of time.
Can I pan-fry these instead of baking? Yes. Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches on all sides, then reduce the heat, cover, and cook until they are cooked through, about 8-10 minutes total.

What To Serve With Chicken Meatballs

Versatile pairings for this light and flavorful dish.

These delicious meatballs are incredibly versatile. They are fantastic served:

Over a bed of pasta or zucchini noodles, tossed with the extra sauce
With creamy mashed potatoes or a simple rice pilaf
As a party appetizer with the sauce for dipping
In a sub or hoagie roll for a meatball sandwich

How To Store Chicken Meatballs

These are perfect for stocking your fridge or freezer.

Refrigerate: Store any leftover cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freeze: These meatballs freeze beautifully, either raw or cooked. To freeze raw, place the shaped meatballs on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. To freeze cooked meatballs, let them cool completely first. Both will keep for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding extra time as needed.

Trader Joe’s Chicken Meatballs Nutrition Facts

An estimated guide per serving of 5 meatballs.

Calories: 333 kcal
Carbohydrates: 9.8 g
Protein: 34 g
Fat: 16.9 g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Can I use a different ground meat?

Yes, ground turkey is a perfect substitute for the ground chicken. Lean ground beef would also work, but the flavor profile will be heartier.

Can I make these gluten-free?

Absolutely. Simply substitute the regular breadcrumbs with your favorite gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh in the sauce?

Yes. If you don’t have fresh herbs, you can use dried. A general rule is to use about half the amount of dried herbs as you would fresh. So, for this sauce, you would use about 1/2 teaspoon of each dried herb.

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