Lemony Chicken Ricotta Meatballs Over Garlic Spinach Orzo
A delightful dish combining juicy meatballs with bright lemon flavor, served over savory garlic spinach and orzo.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Poultry
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). In a bowl, combine ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Shape the mixture into meatballs and place on a baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, cook the orzo according to package instructions. In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and add minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, then add spinach and cook until wilted.
- Combine the cooked orzo with the garlic spinach, season with salt and pepper, and mix well.
- Serve the meatballs over the garlic spinach orzo, garnished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
Make sure to mix the meatball ingredients gently to keep them tender. Use fresh lemon zest for the best flavor. For added spice, consider red pepper flakes in the garlic spinach. You can substitute ground chicken with turkey if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg