Chicken Meatballs with Orzo
This delicious dish features tender, seasoned meatballs, creamy orzo, and a burst of fresh herb flavors. It's creamy, flavorful and high in protein!
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken meatballs with orzo, one pan chicken meatballs with orzo
Servings: 6 bowls
Chicken Meatballs
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp parmesan grated
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Orzo
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2½ cups chicken broth low sodium
- 1½ cups orzo pasta dry
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Garnish
- 1 tbsp parmesan cheese grated
- 6 basil leaves chopped
Chicken Meatballs
In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and grated parmesan.
In a large bowl, add the ground chicken, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and breadcrumb mixture.
Combine using your hands without overmixing.
Roll the mixture into approximately 1-inch balls. The mixture should yield around 20-24 meatballs.
Now, heat up a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the olive oil.
Once hot, add in the meatballs and sear on all the sides until the meatballs turn golden brown. It should take around 5-7 minutes.
Once golden brown, remove the meatballs from the skillet onto a plate and cover with a bowl or foil to keep them warm. Leave the fat inside the skillet
Orzo
Add garlic into the skillet and cook for 30s.
Now, pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula.
Bring the broth to a simmer and then add in the orzo, heavy cream, parmesan, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
Bring the meatballs back into the skillet and place them on top of the orzo. Lower the heat and cover with a lid or foil.
Let it simmer for 10 minutes or until the orzo becomes al dente and the dish thickens. Check at 8 minutes, as the cooking times vary by brand. If the dish is a little too thick, just add a dash of chicken broth.
Garnish with chopped basil leaves and fresh parmesan before serving.
Serving: 1 bowl (10 oz) | Calories: 551kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9.7g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 789mg | Potassium: 708.3mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 3.1g | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 3.9mg