This Meatball Recipe Is So Good, You Won’t Even Miss The Pasta

Sami Allen

Before I give you the secret to the best meatballs on Earth, I have to admit that I have no Italian in my blood. I didn’t have a grandma who taught me how to make a killer sauce or Pasta e Fagioli. That said, I have an undying love for Italian food, and thankfully, I have friends who have taught me invaluable tricks for cooking it.

So, you can thank them for this moment — the moment when I give you the best meatball recipe ever.

Oh, and I should note: they’re made with ground chicken. Yes, riot all you want, but you’ve got nothing on me till you try them for yourself.

Sami Allen

The Best Meatballs In The World (Serves Four)

Ingredients

• 1 pound of ground chicken
• 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs (I prefer fine, garlic-flavored if possible)
• 1 egg
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 2 Tbsp. fresh basil, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. fresh minced garlic
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400° and line a cake pan with foil. Heat a large skillet to medium-high with 2 Tbsp. oil. Prepare your sauce (store bought is fine, but if you want to go all out, try our Italian grandma sauce recipe).

Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and knead (you’ll have to use your hands. Don’t be a scaredy cat!) until the mix is well-combined. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and add them to the skillet. Cook the meatballs for three minutes on each side, turning on all sides until they’re evenly golden brown all around.

In the cake pan, add one ladle of sauce and spread until the bottom is evenly coated. Add the meatballs, then pour the rest of the sauce on top. Bake them for 15 minutes while your pasta cooks (but trust us, you don’t even need pasta to enjoy these babies).

When the pasta is done, take meatballs out and either combine the meatballs, sauce and pasta in one pan or ladle the sauce and meatballs over pasta.

We promise this recipe is really worth it. The best part: it’ll only take you 30 minutes.