Description
Homemade chicken ricotta meatballs melt with creamy spinach alfredo sauce, creating comfort on dinner plates. Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs complete this Italian-inspired comfort meal that families will eagerly devour.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (700 g) ground chicken or turkey
- 6 oz (170 g) whole milk ricotta
- 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups heavy cooking cream (35% fat)
- 6 bacon strips
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ½ cup milk
- 4 tbsps butter
- 1 medium onion, very finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 5 oz (150 g) baby spinach
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, for garnish
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal meatball roasting.
- Meatball Base: Soak breadcrumbs in milk, then combine with finely processed onion, garlic, parsley, and sun-dried tomatoes to create a flavor-packed mixture.
- Meatball Formation: Gently blend ground chicken, moistened breadcrumbs, egg, ricotta, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and salt, carefully mixing to maintain a light, tender consistency.
- Roasting: Shape meatballs into uniform 2.5-inch rounds, lightly spray with cooking oil, and roast until golden and thoroughly cooked, developing a crisp exterior.
- Sauce Development: Crisp bacon in a large skillet, remove, and use drippings to create a luxurious Alfredo sauce by melting butter, adding garlic and cream, then whisking in Parmesan until smooth.
- Final Assembly: Incorporate fresh spinach into the sauce, gently nestle roasted meatballs, and allow flavors to meld for a few minutes.
- Presentation: Garnish with crumbled bacon and serve alongside pasta, creating a decadent and satisfying culinary experience.
Notes
- Breadcrumb Technique: Soak breadcrumbs in milk to ensure meatballs remain incredibly moist and tender, preventing dry and dense results.
- Flavor Layering: Process aromatics like onion, garlic, and herbs in a food processor to distribute flavors evenly throughout the meatball mixture.
- Gentle Mixing Method: Use a light touch when combining meatball ingredients to maintain a delicate, airy texture and prevent tough meatballs.
- Bacon Drippings Secret: Utilize rendered bacon fat as a flavor booster for the Alfredo sauce, adding depth and richness to the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 735
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1150 mg
- Fat: 56 g
- Saturated Fat: 30 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg