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chicken meatballs with orzo
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5 from 1 vote

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
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken meatballs with orzo, one pan chicken meatballs with orzo
Servings: 6 bowls

Ingredients

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
  • cups chicken broth low sodium
  • cups orzo pasta dry
  • 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

Instructions

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.

Nutrition

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