One-Pot Chicken Meatballs With Greens 

Published May 9, 2024

One-Pot Chicken Meatballs With Greens 
Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Vivian Lui.
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Rating
5(3,728)
Comments
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An upside down take on typical skillet meatballs, these juicy garlic-and-herb filled ones are smothered in greens rather than being cooked on top or alongside them, an ingenious trick to streamline efforts for weeknight cooks. The meatballs first brown in the pot for both color and flavor, then are covered with a mound of greens, which achieves two feats: It gently finishes cooking the meatballs while the chard and lemon slices steam and collapse on top, draping themselves over these hidden delights. Scoop them up with a soup ladle, spooning the lemony pan sauce over everything.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • ½cup panko bread crumbs
  • cup full-fat thick yogurt (preferably Greek or Icelandic)
  • 2garlic cloves, minced or grated
  • 2scallions, white and light green parts thinly sliced
  • 2teaspoons dried oregano
  • ¼teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • Salt
  • 1pound ground chicken
  • ¼cup olive oil, plus more as needed
  • 1pound rainbow or Swiss chard (1 large or 2 small bunches), tender stalks sliced and leaves cut into 1-inch ribbons
  • 1lemon, halved, ½ thinly sliced
  • 1teaspoon ground cumin 
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

356 calories; 24 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 14 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 24 grams protein; 695 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

    In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, yogurt, garlic, scallions, oregano, crushed red pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken and gently mix until fully combined.

  2. Step 2

    Coat your palms in olive oil, then shape the meat into 14 medium meatballs (about 2 inches each), making sure each is lightly coated with oil by refreshing the coating on your hands. Set the meatballs directly on a sheet pan or on parchment paper.

  3. Step 3

    Heat a 12-inch Dutch oven (or other heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid) over medium heat for 2 minutes until hot. Pour in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, tilting the pot to coat the surface, then add the meatballs. Let cook until they are golden halfway up the sides, occasionally turning them when they easily release, adding extra oil if needed, about 7 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Meanwhile, to another large bowl, add the greens, lemon slices, cumin and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and season with salt; toss to coat the leaves, scrunching them up as needed.

  5. Step 5

    Smother the meatballs with the greens and lemon slices. Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the meatballs are cooked through and the greens tender, 12 to 13 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    Use a soup ladle to scoop up the meatballs, resting them on the greens, browned-side up and ladling any juices on top of the meatballs and greens. Cut the remaining lemon into wedges for serving, if desired.

Ratings

5 out of 5
3,728 user ratings
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Comments

This was simply delicious! After reading the other comments I added an egg to the meatball mix and refrigerated them for a couple of hours. They held together nicely. Before adding the kale to the pot I added a can of cannellini beans, sprinkling them with cumin, garlic powder and lemon juice. I then proceeded with the recipe as written.

Excellent. Only change was adding a can of cannellini beans before smothering with greens. Winner!

I've now made this 3x, tweaking it the last two. I used ground turkey, bumped up all of the spices, BAKED the meatballs w a drizzle of olive oil on top, and added the juice of 1/2 a lemon in addition to the lemon slices in with the greens when I massaged them. I put oil and cumin in the pot and then added the cooked meatballs, let them cook a little longer, and then put the greens (a mix of kale and spinach) on top, along with maybe 1/2 c. of chicken broth. When reheating, add more raw greens.

so good!

Used collards, added feta and tzatziki

Just made this my third time. Used a bit of unsalted chicken stock and white wine to deglaze the pot it made a bright (lemon, warm (cumin) lovey soupy sauce . Served it over soba noodles. It was a great light Saturday supper for my husband and me. It is a little mild - but sometmes that's what is needed. It was fresh and wholesome. My husband called dibs on the leftovers for lunch. I love New York Times Cooking!

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