Cheesy Chicken Meatballs are so juicy and full of flavor! They are easy to make with just a few basic ingredients, easy to bake in the oven and can be served as an appetizer or for a family dinner!
My birthday is coming up later this week. I'm turning thirty-five. That’s big.
When I was younger, I remember feeling like 35 was a dividing line. You were officially a grown-up. You were into full adulthood. You were halfway to 70 after all.
And now that I’m here? I don’t feel all that grown-up.
But really, I kinda like getting older. I’m more comfortable with me and I care a little less if everyone else is.
But on to the food. These cheesy chicken meatballs, in particular.
So I’m a meatball lover through and through.
I have my basic baked turkey meatballs that I like to have on hand in the freezer at all times for a fast and easy dinner.
I also love trying all kinds of different flavors. Beyond the basics. Beyond Italian. Bring on the craziness in meatball town.
Check out these Asian turkey meatballs for a different twist or Caprese meatballs for a light and flavorful version. Or try vegetarian meatballs for a meatless option.
These cheesy chicken meatballs are only a little crazy, admittedly.
I’m trying to slowly lure you in with me. We’ll go all wild meatball mania in due time. 😉
Today, though, it’s all about the cheddar-chicken combo and a super cheesy, savory, flavorful and delicious meatball.
And they are really easy to make using ground chicken from the store. (Which I love having on hand. We also use it to make easy chicken pad Thai. So yummy!)
I prefer these little nuggets dipped in BBQ sauce. My kids would rather have ketchup. Either way, these are a total hit around here.
Oh and if you love ground chicken recipes like we do, check out this cheesy ground chicken skillet.
OK, let's tackle a few recipe notes and some other tips.
If you prefer to go straight to the recipe, just scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is at the bottom of the post, just above the comments section.
Ingredient Notes:
- Ground chicken - I use the lean ground chicken (about 90-93% lean) and tend to get the chicken breast. You can use mixed ground chicken (dark and white meat) if you prefer.
- Onion - This needs to be finely chopped or grated. We want it to kinda melt into the meatballs, not live big onion chunks.
- Cheese - I go with sharp white cheddar cheese, but another kind of cheddar would be fine, too. You could also try these with an Italian blend cheese if you'd rather.
- Breadcrumbs - Just plain breadcrumbs work great here. If Italian style is all you have, that's fine, too.
It's easy to make some substitutions depending on what you have on hand.
Also, this is a really versatile recipe in terms of how you can serve it up.
Serving Ideas:
- Use as an appetizer and offer up toothpicks or skewers. Have dipping sauces at the ready. Perfect for game day eats!
- Serve over mashed potatoes or creamy polenta and drizzle with BBQ sauce.
- Load up a hoagie or sub sandwich with these healthy chicken meatballs and some sauce. Feast!
- Or just have them with your regular spaghetti and marinara sauce for a cheesy twist.
Definitely make the entire batch, too. (Or possibly double it!) These meatballs freeze beautifully and you’ll be happy to have them on hand.
Storage Tips:
- Let the baked meatballs cool, then store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Or freeze them! Place the meatballs in a freezer ziptop bag or a freezer-safe container, label it and pop it in the freezer for up to 5-6 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight then reheat.
- Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.
Well there you have it. I hope you give these yummy baked chicken meatballs a try and enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Cheesy Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken (I use breast meat)
- ¼ cup onion, finely diced (or grated)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- For serving: BBQ sauce or ketchup, warmed, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Combine all ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl and mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Roll the meatballs into small balls - about the size of a golf ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 400 for 20-24 minutes, until cooked through. (Exact time will depend on the size of your meatballs.) Serve hot.
Vivian | stayaliveandcooking
I love your positivity! And that you don't feel all that grown up - so I know I don't have to grow up, either 😉
One of my favourite things to make is those mini meatballs, and this variety looks so good! Anything with cheese is riiiight up my alley.
Have a great week!
Kathryn
Thanks Vivian! Cheers to not growing up - at least not all the way! And yes, the cheese really takes these to the next level 😉
ALLIE
These look incredible and something my whole family will love
Kathryn
They are family-friendly for sure!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Well HAPPY early birthday!! If it's any consolation on the feeling grown up thing, I don't feel grown up at all! I was just telling my husband last night, "do you ever look around and wonder how we got here? Like, HOW in the world are we old? Where did life go? I don't feel 33. I feel 18 and like I still don't have my shhh together." Lol. BUT I have a feeling you have all your *stuff* together, Kathryn! I mean you have a BEAUTIFUL family and so much to be proud of and thankful for! I bet 35 is going to treat you marvelously!! Now on to meat-a-ball-ahh-ss! I can't believe you didn't like them growing up!! But at least you like them now! These are FAB! I mean CHEESY chicken meatballs? Yes please! These would make a wonderful appetizer or a perfect dinner! Pinned! Cheers, dear!
Kathryn
Thanks so much girl! 😉 I have no idea how I got here, but it's been a fun ride so far and yes, so many things to be thankful for, so I'll see where this crazy life takes me next!
Mona
We joke all the time in my family about how we could not live without chicken - we all love it so much. Can't wait to make these delicious meatballs for my family!
Kathryn
Agree!! We eat a TON of chicken!!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food
Sounds like you had a really nice weekend!! And happy early birthday, my friend! I'm not too much older than you and I still feel young. I definitely don't mind getting older....after all age is just a #. I still feel a lot younger most times than my age. So, I'm totally with ya! It's so nice being comfortable with who you are in your own skin, isn't it? Now, onto these meatballs 🙂 These sound delicious and have so many uses! I love that you used chicken, too, so they are a little healthier (or a lot healthier) than your typically meatball. Pinned, of course, and I'm sure they will make an appearance on our dinner table soon! Hope your Monday is going great! xoxo
Kathryn
We'll always stay young at heart, right?! Have a fabulous week my friend! XO
Laura
This sounds SO good to my pregnant self right now!! Seriously YUM!
Kathryn
Wish I could bring you some Laura! But make a batch when you get a chance and stick them in the freezer for one of those pregnancy days when you DON'T feel like cooking but everyone still expects to eat 😉
CakePants
Ooh, these meatballs plus BBQ sauce sounds like perfection! What a great meal for the chilly nights we've been having. I hope you have/had a wonderful birthday!
Kathryn
The BBQ sauce pairing is the BEST! And aww, thank you - I'm having an awesome birthday week!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
What a fun idea and easier way to feed a crowd!
Kathryn
They definitely are Meg! Super easy to prep and great for a get-together!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
Those seasonings sound good!
Kathryn
Thanks Megan!
Erin
I made these for dinner for my family of 5 tonight and we all loved them! These will be going into the regular meal rotation. Thanks for another great recipe, Kathryn!
Kathryn
Yay, I'm so glad to hear you all loved these meatballs Erin! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
carissa
These were yummy! I made them last night, and bc I'm GF, i used crushed tortilla chips and some oat bran instead of bread crumbs. They came out with a bit of a Mexican flare, which was fun! Thanks for posting this:)
Kathryn
I'm so glad to hear you loved these Carissa! Thanks so much for sharing and thanks for your notes on making them gluten-free -- I'm sure that will be useful for other readers! 😊
Abids
Can we steam the meatballs as I don't have oven
Abida
Can we steam the meatballs as I don't have oven
Kathryn
I haven't done it this way but I think you could cook these on a stovetop. Just add oil to your pan over medium heat and keep rotating the meatballs until they are cooked through. (Use a digital thermometer or split one in half to check.) Would love to hear if you try it!
Kristina Rucker
These were delicious I made them with rice and bbq sauce for dipping!!
Kathryn
I'm so happy to hear you loved them Kristina - thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Leah
So I booked my chicken the night before, then shredded and ground today. I formed the meatballs and cooked. Was your chicken raw before going in the oven? Mine came out dry, but good flavor. Wondering if it’s because the chicken was already cooked?
Leah
Cooked*
Kathryn
Hi Leah - yes, the ground chicken should be raw, not cooked. I buy a package of raw ground chicken (just like you would ground turkey or ground beef) at the store. But if your store doesn't have it, you can grind up raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a food processor to break it down into small pieces before continuing with the recipe. Hope that helps - and hope you try it again!
Leah
Thank you I will give it another go for sure!
Annie
We love these!! We dip them is steak sauce!! And serve with cheeey veggie rice!!
Kathryn
I'm so happy to hear that Annie! Love the steak sauce idea - yum!
Annie
What if I wanted to serve these at a pot luck?? What would you suggest??
Kathryn
Hi Annie, first, I suggest you double the recipe. 😉 If you are asking about keeping them warm though, I'd see if it's possible to use their oven. In that case, you can par-bake them at home (for 15 minutes) and then finish them off for about 8-10 minutes at the host's house. If not, bake them right before you leave and put them in one of those large insulated containers to keep them warm until you are able to set them out at the party. Hope that helps!
Donna Ann Martucci
This was a very easy recipe to make. I made the meatballs 1 inch. It made 65 meatballs. I think it made 4 for 1 serving.
Donna Ann Martucci
These are fantastic. I will definitely make them again. They are perfect for my eating program. It fits in nicely.
Thanks again
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed them Donna! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Rexipune
Was browsing thru the recipes, and thought I'd mention that I just nade a batch of cream cheese chicken meatballs - with nutmeg & black pepper, fresh coriander for seasoning. An Indianized version?
Kathryn Doherty
Yum! That sounds delicious!