Cheesy Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Published Jan. 13, 2021

Cheesy Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Sstylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(2,636)
Comments
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This one-dish dinner takes inspiration from chicken Parmesan, but eliminates the fuss of breading and frying chicken cutlets. Instead, chicken meatballs are the star, delivering an equally comforting and satisfying meal. The unexpected secret to these tender meatballs is tofu, which keeps them juicy. Simply press pieces of tofu between your fingertips to create small crumbles that resemble ground meat. The addition of ricotta creates a creamy texture, as well as great flavor. The meatballs are simmered in marinara sauce with red bell peppers, which infuse the sauce with fresh flavor and natural sweetness. Sharp and tangy provolone completes the dish, although mozzarella could be used for milder flavor. Enjoy over buttered egg noodles, or with crusty bread to sop up the sauce.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • ¾cup crumbled firm tofu (about 4 ounces)
  • ½cup ricotta (about 4 ounces)
  • ½cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 1½ ounces)
  • ¼cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1large egg
  • 2tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1teaspoon dried oregano
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1pound ground chicken (or turkey)
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2medium red bell peppers, cored and sliced lengthwise ½-inch-thick
  • 3cups marinara sauce (about 24 ounces)
  • 6ounces sliced provolone cheese,
  • Cooked egg noodles or other pasta, for serving
  • Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

709 calories; 41 grams fat; 16 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 16 grams monounsaturated fat; 6 grams polyunsaturated fat; 38 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 49 grams protein; 1357 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine tofu, ricotta, Parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, oregano, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper, and mix until well combined. Add chicken and gently mix to incorporate. Lightly wet hands to prevent meatball mixture from sticking, then roll into 24 (1½-inch) golf ball-size rounds.

  2. Step 2

    In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium. Add bell peppers, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add marinara sauce and meatballs, and stir gently to coat the meatballs in the sauce. Bring to a boil, cover and transfer to the oven to bake until meatballs are cooked through, 20 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Top with provolone slices, slightly overlapping, and bake until cheese melts, about 3 minutes longer.

  4. Step 4

    Serve meatballs, peppers and sauce over egg noodles. Garnish with parsley, if using.

Ratings

4 out of 5
2,636 user ratings
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Comments

I would substitute ground mushrooms for those who can't eat soy. I often put them in my meatballs because they're tasty and cut down on the meat content.

Made per recipe. *** If you don't like Tofu, make something else and stop asking for substitutes. This was perfect. 5 stars. Used the Bastianich / Moskin Marinara recipe for the Marinara. Had with spaghetti noodles as Egg seemed a bit off.

Julie, As it happens, I made this recipe last night using whatever I had in the pantry. Tofu is not one of my staples, but I had mushrooms on hand (large, plain white "champignons de Paris"), and so I used those. Uncertain how they'd work out, I used 1/2 cup of freshly ground bread crumbs + 1/2 cup minced mushrooms. The result was perfect! My husband usually compliments my meals, but he RAVED about this one. "It tastes like veal!" he exclaimed. This scores higher than all other meatball recipes!

I didn't love these. I made them as the recipe states, no substitutions. For my family's taste the meatballs didn't have enough flavor. For us, the tofu doesn't work here. I've used oatmeal to good effect for lighter meatballs. I also missed the crunchiness of cooking the meatballs for a couple of minutes to get a crunchy exterior before cooking in the sauce. As others have mentioned, there are too many meatballs for the size of most dutch ovens.

This recipe is great! I subbed the tofu with 1 zucchini. I grated it on the medium-sized holes of a box grater and drained all moisture with paper towels. Also, I'd say this yields 6 servings, not 4!

Loved it!! The tofu contributes protein and great texture to these meatballs. Making a second batch for the freezer today. I cheated and used a big jar of my favorite premade sauce to save time. And swapped sliced mozz for provolone.

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