Description
Savor Mediterranean magic with these delightful chicken meatballs nestled in creamy orzo. Fragrant herbs, zesty lemon, and rich feta create a culinary journey that brings Greek-inspired comfort right to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil
- 1 shallot, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon Garlic Orzo:
- 2 1/3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/3 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives
Garnish:
- Fresh dill
- Feta cheese
Instructions
- Blend ground chicken with shallot, garlic, breadcrumbs, sun-dried tomatoes, and seasonings in a food processor for 30 seconds until ingredients are evenly combined.
- Using slightly wet hands, form the mixture into 12-14 uniform meatballs, noting the mixture will be sticky and delicate.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and carefully sear meatballs until golden brown on all sides, approximately 4-5 minutes total.
- Transfer meatballs to a clean plate and in the same skillet, pour broth, minced garlic, and lemon juice, then add orzo.
- Simmer orzo for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta becomes tender and begins to absorb liquid.
- Incorporate chopped tomatoes and olives into the orzo, then gently return meatballs to the skillet.
- Continue cooking until liquid is mostly absorbed and meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F, creating a cohesive and flavorful one-pan meal.
Notes
- Ensure meatballs stick together by chilling the mixture for 15 minutes before shaping, which helps prevent crumbling during cooking.
- Use a light touch when mixing and forming meatballs to keep them tender and prevent dense, tough texture.
- Substitute gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour for a low-carb version that maintains the same delicious Mediterranean flavor profile.
- Test internal meatball temperature with a meat thermometer to guarantee food safety and perfectly cooked chicken without drying out the meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg