Last Updated on February 28, 2024
Today, we’re going to be looking at a copycat Meatball Shop chicken meatball recipe. Whether you go for a tomato sauce, parmesan, pesto, ragu – meatballs are incredibly tasty, but especially those from The Meatball Shop. If you’ve ever visited The Meatball Shop in New York, it’s no wonder you’re looking to recreate their meatballs from the comfort of your home. But how do you go about making them? And how do you recreate their sauces? We’ll be covering it all in this article!
What Is The Meatball Shop?
The Meatball Shop is a restaurant in New York. They currently have three restaurants in New York, and also released their own cookbook in 2011. While the most common food items on their menu are undoubtedly the meatballs, they also offer a range of other foods and drinks, including salads, sandwiches, seasonal vegetables, ice cream sandwiches made from scratch, and craft cocktails.
What are chicken meatballs?
Chicken meatballs are much like traditional meatballs which are made from beef; the only difference being that they’re made from chicken. Ground chicken, egg, and breadcrumbs are the three main ingredients you’ll usually find in chicken meatballs. The egg serves as a binder in holding the meatballs together.
Ingredients in chicken meatballs
The ingredients in chicken meatballs can vary depending on which recipe you’re following. However, the most common ingredients are:
- ground chicken
- breadcrumbs
- egg
- parmesan cheese
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- other seasonings
Nutritional information of chicken meatballs
If you’re curious as to the nutritional value of chicken meatballs, each ball contains the following:
- Calories: 70
- Fat: 4.3g
- Cholesterol: 31mg
- Sodium: 125mg
- Carbs: 2.2g
- Dietary Fiber: 0.2g
- Sugar: 0.2g
- Protein: 5.8g
Some people choose chicken meatballs over traditional meatballs because they offer more nutritional value, and are healthier.
1) Meatball Shop Chicken Meatball Recipe
Let’s get on to the reason you’re here – how to make these infamous chicken meatballs!
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
- 2lb of ground chicken (thigh meat)
- 1 tbsp. of salt
- 1 tsp. of ground fennel
- 1 tsp. of ground black peppercorn
- 1/4 cup of white wine
- 1/2 cup of chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. of olive oil
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Step 1: Prepare
Gather all of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe and preheat your oven to 450F. Also prepare a baking dish by drizzling the olive oil and using your hands to ensure the dish is completely covered
Step 2: Prepare the meatballs
Add the chicken, salt, fennel, black peppercorn, wine, parsley, breadcrumbs and eggs to a bowl. Use your hands to ensure that the mixture is combined well. Once you’ve mixed enough that you can mould, roll the mixture with your hands into golf size balls. If you’re struggling, you can use an ice cream scoop to obtain the perfect shape. Repeat until you’ve used all of the chicken mixture.
Step 3: Cook the meatballs
Once moulded, place the meatballs onto your prepared dish. Place into the center of your preheated oven and cook for around 14 minutes. The balls will be firm once cooked. Leave to cool for a few minutes and serve with sauce of your choice.
2) Meatball Shop Sauce Recipes
Now you’ve made your chicken meatballs, you may be wondering which sauces to pair it with. At The Meatball Shop, pesto and tomato are two of the most popular sauces – so we’ll be taking a look at how to recreate both.
Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
- 1/8 cup of walnuts
- 4 cups of baby spinach
- 2 cups of basil leaves
- 1 tsp. of salt
- 1/2 cup of olive oil
- 1/8 cup of parmesan (grated)
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Step 1: Prepare the Pesto
Preheat your oven to 350F. Place the walnuts on a dish and roast in the oven for around 10-12 minutes. Set aside. Bring a stock pot with water to a rolling boil over a high heat. And also fill a bowl with iced water in preparation. Once you have a rolling boil, add the spinach and basil and cook for 1 minute. Now strain the greens and place in the iced water. Now dry them and chop.
Step 2: Pulse
Now place your chopped greens, walnuts, salt, olive oil, and parmesan to a food processor or blender, and pulse. Enjoy!
Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tbsp. of olive oil
- 28 oz of tomato puree
- 1/2 tsp. of oregano
- 1 tsp. of salt
- 1/2 tsp. of red pepper flakes
Recipe
Now all you need to do is:
Add your oil and garlic to a pan and sauté. Once brown, add the tomato puree, pepper flakes, salt and oregano. Keep on a low heat until ready to serve with your meatballs.
Conclusion
I hope this article has given you an idea for a copycat Meatball Shop chicken meatball recipe, as well as a few accompanying sauces to try too! These meatballs are absolutely delicious, and I’d highly recommend trying them yourself.
Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to making moist chicken meatballs? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!
Meatball Shop Chicken Meatball Recipe: How To
Ingredients
- 2 lb of ground chicken (thigh meat)
- 1 tbsp. of salt
- 1 tsp. of ground fennel
- 1 tsp. of ground black peppercorn
- 1/4 cup of white wine
- 1/2 cup of chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. of olive oil
Instructions
- PrepareGather all of the ingredients you'll need for this recipe and preheat your oven to 450F. Also prepare a baking dish by drizzling the olive oil and using your hands to ensure the dish is completely covered
- Prepare the meatballsAdd the chicken, salt, fennel, black peppercorn, wine, parsley, breadcrumbs and eggs to a bowl. Use your hands to ensure that the mixture is combined well. Once you've mixed enough that you can mould, roll the mixture with your hands into golf size balls. If you're struggling, you can use an ice cream scoop to obtain the perfect shape. Repeat until you've used all of the chicken mixture.2 lb of ground chicken (thigh meat), 1 tsp. of ground fennel, 1 tsp. of ground black peppercorn, 1/4 cup of white wine, 1/2 cup of chopped parsley, 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp. of salt
- Cook the meatballsOnce moulded, place the meatballs onto your prepared dish. Place into the center of your preheated oven and cook for around 14 minutes. The balls will be firm once cooked. Leave to cool for a few minutes and serve with sauce of your choice.Set of 3 with Trigger, 18/8 Stainless Steel Cookie Scoops for Baking, Cookie, Ice Cream, Cupcake, Muffin, Meatball2 tbsp. of olive oil
Nutrition
FAQs
Why are my Chicken Meatballs Tough?
Your meatballs may to be tough because the balls are too compact. When rolling them in your hands, try rubbing some oil into your hands and gently form them, as quick as you can.
How Do You Keep Meatballs Moist?
Using breadcrumbs and eggs is the best way to keep them moist, as well as using moisture-rich foods such as cheese.
What to Use Instead of Breadcrumbs in Meatballs?
Oats or crushed up crackers are the best substitutes if you don't want to use breadcrumbs in your meatballs.
What Do Breadcrumbs Do For Meatballs?
The main advantage of breadcrumbs is that it keeps the meatballs moist. It traps all of the moisture inside, making them tender and tasty.
My name is Ania, and I am very glad to see you here. I have always loved cooking; even some of my earliest memories are flipping through a cookbook and making pudding standing on a stool because I was too small to reach the stove.
You should know that I am not a professionally trained chef, just a big food lover who grew up in a family obsessed with cooking and focused on what we eat.
