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Mix up your regular chicken piccata with these Chicken Piccata Meatballs. Deliciously made with lemon zest, garlic, and a caper sauce!
The easiest homemade chicken piccata meatball recipe
Chicken piccata is always a good idea. From the lemon juice to the capers, the flavor is always top notch, and the dish always hits the spot! This week, try mixing things up a bit by making chicken piccata meatballs. The simple recipe is made quite similarly to the original dish and makes 20 meatballs. That’s 4-5 large servings!
I love to prepare this dish during the week because the quick cook time makes for an easy meal. The whole dish comes together in under half an hour and can be enjoyed over pasta or rice. If preferred, you can also enjoy the meatballs as is! The caper and garlic sauce makes for a complete flavor.
Ingredients in chicken piccata meatballs
These meatballs made with chicken come together with the help of breadcrumbs and parmesan. They’re flavored with garlic, salt, and lemon zest for the most delicious result!
- Ground chicken: The dish begins with a base of 1 lb of ground chicken. Feel free to substitute with ground turkey!
- Parmesan cheese: From there, we’ll use 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese.
- Panko breadcrumbs: 2/3 cup of panko breadcrumbs are going to help all of the ingredients bind together. They’ll also help thicken up the meatballs.
- Salt: Add flavor with 1/2 tsp of salt.
- Garlic: Follow the salt with 4 cloves of minced garlic.
- Lemon zest: Next, add 1 tbsp of lemon zest to create a nice and subtle zingy flavor.
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp of olive oil will be used to cook the meatballs.
- Butter: 1/2 stick of butter will be mixed with garlic to create the base of the sauce.
- Garlic: You’ll need another 3 cloves of minced garlic here.
- Flour: Next up, use 1 tbsp flour.
- Chicken broth: Thicken up the sauce with 1 cup of chicken broth. Low sodium chicken broth works here, too.
- Capers: Add 1/4 cup of capers and 2 tbsp of caper brine.
- Lemon juice: Last but not least, finish up the recipe with 1/4 cup of lemon juice.
Kitchen tools needed to make this recipe
To make chicken piccata meatballs, you will need a large mixing bowl, large saucepan, spatula, and whisk. You’ll also need a total of 5 measuring cup sizes: 1/2 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, 2/3 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make chicken piccata meatballs
Grab the tools listed above, and let’s get started. You can expect this dish to be ready in about 30 minutes.
To begin, add the chicken, parmesan, breadcrumbs, salt, garlic, and lemon zest to a large bowl. Combine.
Then, use 2 tbsp of the mixture at a time and roll into balls.
Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the oil.
Once hot, add the meatballs to the pan and turn them every few minutes to ensure even cooking. Cook for 6 minutes and then remove the meatballs from the pan.
Next, add the butter and garlic to the same pan. Once melted, whisk in the flour.
Then, slowly whisk in the chicken broth followed by the capers and lemon juice. Let the sauce simmer for 6-7 minutes. It will thicken as it cooks.
Add the meatballs back to the pan and cook for another 5-6 minutes. The sauce should have thickened by now. Mix it up and spoon the sauce over all of the meatballs.
Serve the meatballs over pasta or rice, or enjoy as-is!
Side dish ideas
Wondering what to serve alongside these meatballs? Here are some ideas!
If you’d like to enjoy a classic side dish, try serving these up with this healthy green bean casserole or thick and creamy mashed potatoes.
For a side salad, shaved brussels sprout salad, fall harvest salad, and cobb salad (with or without the chicken) all make great options!
Storing leftovers
Chicken piccata meatballs store quite well, which makes the recipe even better! Allow the meatballs to cool before placing them in an airtight container or freezer bag. The leftovers can be enjoyed within 2-3 days when refrigerated and within 3 months when frozen. For best results, reheat on the stove.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Meatballs are surprisingly versatile and can be made in a bunch of different ways! Try one of these ideas for your next meatball dinner. The Thai turkey variation is one of my favorites!
- Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Healthier Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Sauce
- Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn
Chicken Piccata Meatballs
Mix up your regular chicken piccata with these Chicken Piccata Meatballs. Deliciously made with lemon zest, garlic, and a caper sauce!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2/3 cup panko breadcumbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 stick butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup capers + 2 tbsp caper brine
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together chicken, parmesan, panko, salt, garlic, and lemon zest.
- Using 2 tbsp of meat, roll into balls.
- Heat a large sautepan over medium-high heat and add oil.
- Once hot, add meatballs, turning every few minutes to ensure even cooking. Cook for 6 minutes and then remove meatballs from pan.
- In the same pan, add butter and garlic. Once melted, whisk in flour.
- Slowly whisk in chicken broth, then capers, brine, and lemon juice. Simmer sauce for 6-7 minutes, it will thicken as it cooks.
- Add meatballs back to pan and cook for another 5-6 minutes. Sauce should have thickened by now. Mix up and spoon sauce all over meatballs.
- Serve meatballs over pasta, rice, or enjoy as is.
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E Anna says
This is my boyfriend and I’s favorite dish to make together! So fantastic
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi, so happy you both enjoy it so much! 🙂
Concetta Seridge says
These were unbelievable. My 2 year old loves it and my husband every 30 seconds was like “this is so good” … delicious freak week night recipe or even for meal prep. He’s happy there’s leftovers for work tomorrow !
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Concetta, so happy you all loved them! 🙂
Kristen says
Fun spin on chicken piccata! These meatballs were delicious and had great flavor. I tossed them together with some gemelli pasta and plenty of fresh parsley and served with roasted green beans. The sauce was delicious and everything reheated well as leftovers. I’ll be adding this one to my regular recipe rotating!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristen, so happy you loved them so much!:)
Denise says
This was really tasty! I added pesto to the chicken mixture.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Denise, so happy you loved them and great idea!
lee says
How many lemons are needed for the required juice/zest please?
Charlene Molnar says
So easy and excellent for meal prep. Great reheated.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Charlene, so glad you enjoyed them!! 🙂
Chris says
This recipe is easy to make yet looks nice when served! The flavors are crave-able!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Chris, so happy you loved them!
Mindy says
These were super flavorful and delicious! One question though, would using nutritional yeast and non dairy butter (veg oil spread) work to make this dairy free? Or do you have other recommendations?
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Mindy, so glad you loved it and that would work great! Let me know how they come out!
Alysa says
Such a fun spin on traditional chicken picatta and much easier than using regular chicken breasts. Very yummy!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alysa, so happy you loved them! 🙂
Susan says
So delicious and easy! Have to portion out the leftovers and put them in the fridge before we dig in because we know it will be gone if we don’t!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Susan, so glad you love them so much!!
Lee says
How many whole lemons are needed to get the amount of juice and zest in this recipe please?
Toni Molle says
This was so good I wish I had doubled the recipe! No leftovers😞
I put my pasta in with the meatballs and sauce and it thickened up the sauce nicely. Definitely will add this to my rotation of meals. Also sent the recipe to friends.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Toni, so glad you loved them so much! 🙂
Jenna r says
These were delicious and so easy! I put it over spaghetti squash and my whole family liked it. Definitely making it again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jenna, so glad you liked them and great idea! 🙂
Dawn says
One of our go to meals for family dinner…so delicious. We serve them with veggie pasta and string beans . I’m always disappointed when there’s no leftovers for my lunch the next day .
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Dawn, so happy they were such a hit and great sides! 🙂
WhitG says
I’ve never had piccata and have been interested in trying this one because I like capers and lemon! This was a very good dish and easy to make! Definitely recommend!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi, so glad you liked them!! 🙂
jbaltagirl says
I made these last night and served them with a cauliflower rice and brocolli.. The meatballs were very tasty and so easy to make.
Erin says
Hi, so happy you loved them and great sides! 🙂
Stephanie says
These were absolutely delicious!! I followed the recipe to a T!! Thank you so much!! 😊
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Stephanie, so happy you loved them!!
Debbie Klatt says
This was an amazing dish. I will cut back on the lemon next time but totally great and super easy dinner!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Debbie, so happy you loved them!
Rachel C says
Super tasty and easy to make! Next time I might use a little less lemon zest in the meatball. Served with egg noodle and green beans!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so happy you loved them! 🙂
Lynn says
This was so much easier (because chicken breast meat can get dry) and dare I say tastier in meatball form than traditional Chicken Piccata. I loved it. Another winner!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lynn, so happy you loved them!!
Jessica says
My husband and I both loved these!!! Already can’t wait to make them again
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessica, so happy you both loved them! 🙂