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These Simple Baked Cheesy Italian Chicken Meatballs are best for cold fall and winter nights when you want easy comfort food at home. All mixed in one bowl, these meatballs come together easily and are so flavorful. This dish is warm, saucy, cheesy, and so amazing. Add some crusty bread or pasta on the side for a delicious hearty meal. Perfect as a simple family dinner. Yet equally great as an appetizer for upcoming holiday entertaining.
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The thing about this past year and a half that I actually love is the fact that’s it’s made time with our families even more special and more valuable. We’ve been able to spend more time with family than ever before. And personally, I’ve loved having my brothers and cousins around to cook for on a more daily basis.
My oldest brother, who has been living with us since covid began, has inspired quite a few recipes. And to no one’s surprise I’m sure, he very much influenced this meatball recipe.
Creighton loves any form of meatballs, but meatballs covered in sauce and cheese? Oh yeah, I could probably get him to do just about anything for me. When he found out these were for dinner, his excitement was like a kid on Christmas morning.
Meatballs are something I’ve actually come to love to make. I use a trick my grandma taught me to keep them juicy and flavorful…but still super simple.
You guys are going to love how easy these are, and of course how delicious too!!
The process is simple, here are the steps
Start with the bread. My grandma used to wet the bread, then ring out the excess water and tear the bread into super fine pieces. This is the key to a juicy, non-dry meatball.
Add the bread to a bowl along with a mixture of spicy Italian chicken sausage and ground chicken. I love to use spicy chicken sausage for added flavor and heat, but use what you like best.
If you’re having a hard time finding ground chicken sausage, you can of course use regular pork sausage. Or make your own ground chicken sausage, which I often do. It’s simple, just take ground chicken and mix it with plenty of dry spices and herbs. I included my recipe below in the notes so you guys can make it too!
Next, add shallots, garlic, eggs, and parmesan to the ground chicken and spicy sausage. Mix that all together, and you’re ready to roll your meatballs.
Now bake! I love baking meatballs. It’s so much easier and cleaner, not to mention healthier, than frying them up in a skillet.
Once the meatballs are crisp and cooked, I pour over some jarred marinara sauce. Then top with a mixture of mozzarella and provolone cheese and a handful of fresh oregano.
Finish it up
Bake the meatballs until the cheese is super melty and browning on top and the sauce is bubbling.
At this point, your kitchen is going to smell pretty amazing, which always leaves everyone excited for dinner.
It’s such a great dish for an easy family dinner. Or use these meatballs as appetizers for your next dinner party with friends.
I’m already planning to make these again for Halloween night. These meatballs and sauce will be so delicious over a plate of spaghetti with a big side salad. Especially after trick-or-treating in the cold! Crusty bread on the side is also a must for soaking up all that sauce.
Looking for other easy fam dinner recipes? Here are a few ideas:
30 Minute Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs
Spicy Pumpkin and Pesto Cheese Stuffed Shells
Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo
Roasted Garlic Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
Lastly, if you make these Simple Baked Cheesy Italian Chicken Meatballs, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Simple Baked Cheesy Italian Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground spicy Italian chicken sausage, (see note)
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 slices soft whole grain bread
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 small shallots, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncinis
- 1 jar (32 ounce) marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded provolone
- 1/4 cup fresh oregano
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 450° F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil.2. Take the bread and run it under water until dampened but not soaked. Gently squeeze the excess water out of the bread and then crumble the dampened bread into pieces.3. In a bowl, combine the sausage, chicken, bread crumble, eggs, parmesan, shallots, garlic, pepperoncinis, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Coat your hands with olive oil, then roll the meat into 2 tablespoon size balls, and place them into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes or until the meatballs are crisp on the outside, but not yet cooked through on the inside.4. Remove from the oven and pour the marinara over top the meatballs. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until the meatballs are cooked through. Remove the foil and add the cheeses and oregano. Bake until the cheese is melted and golden, about 10 minutes. Serve topped with fresh oregano and your favorite pasta!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Is it really a full tablespoon each of fennel, thyme, basil, oregano, salt and pepper for making the sausage?
YUM! I make at least 2 HBH recipes a week, and this is one of my favorites. So much flavor with these spices. Will definitely be making again!
Aw thank you Amanda! xT
We love this recipe. Absolutely incredible and wouldn’t change a thing!!
Hi there! Thank you so so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Have an amazing weekend 🙂 xT
Very tasty even with some modifications and the omission of the peppers. Used ground turkey and topped with a mexican cheese blend, since that is what we had on hand. So good.
Thanks for trying out the recipe! So glad you loved it! xT
Hi Teighan!! I love all of your recipes!
I’m in the Deep South and am wondering how this would be with southern smoked chicken sausage.
Thanks for your response.
Thanks so much Lyd!! I think it would make this less of an Italian dish, but you could totally use it! Let me know how this recipe turns out for you:) xx
Made these last night and my whole family loved them. I try a lot of your recipes and this was one of the favorites so far!
Wondering if these hold up if frozen? Recipe makes a lot, and would love to save some for another night.
Hi Kylie,
Happy Friday!!☘️ Thanks a bunch for testing this recipe out and sharing your review, I’m so glad to hear it was delish! xx
I have frozen them before and they thawed very well!
Made this last night and it was a hit with my husband and 15 yr old daughter. I will be making these meatballs often! Thank you.
Hey Damaris,
Happy Monday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
I made these and they were a huge hit! So delicious!! My husband wants me to make them to go on top of the one pot sun-dried tomato pasta (a favorite in our house). If I don’t want to add the marinara, do you recommend doing anything differently for cooking the meatballs?
Hi Caitlin,
Happy Friday!!❄️🧑🎄 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! You could just follow the meatballs as is:) xx
Spicy, but very flavorful!! Easy to follow for someone just learning to cook, like myself. Thank you!
Hey Sarah,
Amazing!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xx
Love these meatballs! Is there a substitute I could use to make an egg-free version?
Hey Bryn,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it and sharing your review:) So sorry, I have never made these without the egg, you might be okay without it!
Try Aquafaba from the chickpea can. It will be okay also without eggs. I tried this recipe both ways.
My go to for meatballs! Questions … what’s the equivalent of 2 slices of bread to bread crumbs ?
Hi Mariana,
Happy Wednesday! Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! I would say about 1/2 cup. xT
Oh my goodness, these meatballs were amazing!!!! I followed the recipe exactly, found the spicy chicken sausage at Whole Foods. I wasn’t sure how my husband and our teenage son would like these since the mere mention of meatballs that aren’t beef could send them into a tivvy, but they raved about these!!!! Thanks for the recipe!!
Hey Justine,
I truly appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
I love these meatballs! I omitted the bread because almost all the other meatballs Tieghan has don’t use it. And I used pork sausage and ground pork in place of the chicken products – so so good. I’ve been eating these for dinner each night the last couple days because I’ve been pressed for time and haven’t been able to make anything else. I haven’t gotten sick of them yet, they’re that good. I just have a few with some bread and salad, perfect meal!
Hey Nicole,
Awesome!! Thanks for making this recipe and sharing what worked well for you, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Absolutely best meatballs and sauce!!! I serve over bucatini, perfection!
Hey Margaret,
I truly appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
These were cheesy goodness with a little kick! I added about half the cayenne and only 1 tsp of paprika and they still had a good kick. I also only put 1 24 oz jar and found it to be more than enough sauce. I used GF bread in this and the meatballs were moist and tasty. Would definitely make again.
Hey Carrie,
I truly appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx