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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.
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Janet says
So good and easy to make. Served it with Trader Joeโs asparagus risotto. Nice for quick weekday meal.
★★★★★
Lori says
I donโt like capers. Can we leave that out?
Anna Berman says
This was perfect and a crowd hit!! Will make again but double the recipe
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Anna, so happy you loved them! ๐
Donna Martin Burgess says
Great recipe! I made them into burgers instead of meatballs. So delicious ๐
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Donna, so happy you loved them and made them your own! Great idea!!
michele says
Can these be made day before and heated in crockpot on low next day for holiday dinner?
Erin says
Hi Michele, yep! That works! Let me know how they come out for you!!
Rebekah says
I’m not sure where I went wrong but this did not turn out for me and I wanted it to so badly!! My meatballs wouldn’t stay together, everytime I turned them a layer would stick to the pan and rip off. I eventually gave up and tried to cook it as if browning ground beef. My plan was to serve it over orzo but the mixture absorbed all of the sauce so I mixed in the cooked orzo at the end like a Hamburger Helper type dish. It was just not good, very salty and sticky. I’m so sad. I might try again with ground turkey and a different skillet but for the meantime I’m gonna wait awhile.
★★★
Erin says
Hi Rebekah, what kind of pan did you use? To me, it sounds like it wasn’t oiled well enough or wasn’t the right type of pan! I hope you have better luck next time! You can always also bake the meatballs, if you prefer! ๐
sunshine Linda says
When you fry meat in a stainless pan or any pan actually make sure to let the meat brown a bit before you turn them, They release very easy if browned. Use med high heat
That may help, it works on beef chicken or pork.
Chelsea James says
Can these be frozen with the sauce?
Erin says
Hi Chelsea, yep! That works! Just store in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Laura says
Sooooooo good! I will make this again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Laura, so happy you loved them!!
Chloe says
By far one of my favorite recipes. I make this constantly and crave it all the time!! I like to double the sauce and eat over pasta!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Chloe, so glad you loved them so much! ๐
Cindy says
These meatballs are delicious! Both kids and my husband loved this recipe, and that says a LOT because all 3 of them are finicky eaters. I doubled the sauce and served theirs with pasta and mine with zucchini. Will definitely be adding this recipe to our rotation.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Cindy, so happy they are a big hit!! ๐
Morgan says
hi ๐ do you freeze the meatballs alone or with the sauce?
Kelly says
Made the meatballs and they are delicious ๐ they are also very universal I feel like. Today I am going to make them but I am going to boil some orzo in some chx broth and add the meatballs. Didn’t really care for the sauce in this recipe but it was ok.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kelly, so happy you like them and great idea with the orzo!
Clare says
These were so good! I served them with polenta and the flavors went so well together. I’m a sauce fan, so I doubled it, but other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing. Great recipe!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Clare, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
Sara says
We loved it! Definitely making again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sara, so happy you loved them! ๐
Jen Bodnark says
My family LOVED this recipe! Will definitely make it again. I reduced the amount of panko to cut back on carbs but didnโt change anything else. So delicious! It would be great with angel hair pasta next time.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jen, so happy you loved them and made them your own! ๐
Ellen says
Absolutely delicious as is! I made them for my dinner group and they were a huge hit, they keep talking about them! I did make extra sauce!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ellen, so happy you loved them so much! ๐
Shannon says
My husband makes some pretty bomb chicken piccata, and this was a new way to experience similar flavors to his recipe! It was absolutely delicious, bright, and flavorful! We served ours over orzo, and it was perfect. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Shannon, so happy you loved it so much and great idea!!
Lana says
I like your recipes but the adding the brine to an already tart sauce took it over the top.
Erin says
Hi Lana, so happy you enjoyed them! ๐
lori says
do you think the cheese can be left out of the meatballs? I’m dairy free. Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Lori, yes, that should be okay! Let me know how they come out!
Blair says
10/10.. these are SO EASY and so good… i am a pretty good cook and my husband and in-laws were RAVING about these (more than their normal rave)
i made these with a giant spaghtetti squash (so i doubled the sauce) and i added a bag of spinach in at the end of cooking the sauce (just for extra veggies)
it definitely does not need to be tweaked, but next time i may try adding more garlic, more lemon, less butter, and maybe add some chopped parsley in with the meatballs.. thank you so much for the recipe, will be a new weekly go-to.. yum yum
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Blair, so happy you all loved them and great side ideas! ๐