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Golden brown chicken meatballs in creamy marry me sauce with sun-dried tomatoes in black cast iron skillet

Marry Me Chicken Meatballs

40aprons.com/marry-me-chicken-meatballs/
Easy to make but packed with flavor, this marry me chicken meatball recipe is smothered in Parmesan cream sauce, dotted with sun-dried tomatoes, and finished with fresh basil. Great as a main dish, leftovers, or excellent for meal prep.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 35 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 6

Equipment

  • Large skillet cast iron or heavy-bottomed
  • large mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • Wooden spoon
  • Tongs
  • Cookie scoop optional, for even meatballs

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground chicken (or turkey)
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional – makes meatballs more moist)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil (minced)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • black pepper ( to taste)

For the Marry Me Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • cup chicken broth (see notes)
  • ½ cup heavy cream (at room temperature)
  • cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese (at room temperature (see notes))
  • ¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes (sliced (see notes))
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (see notes)
  • fresh basil (chiffonaded, for garnish)

Instructions

Prepare the Meatballs

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pound ground chicken, 1 egg, 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste. Mix until just combined.
  • Roll mixture into approximately 30 small balls and place on a baking sheet.
  • Heat a layer of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add rolled meatballs to skillet and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.

Make the Sauce

  • Move skillet to cool stovetop burner and let cool slightly, then wipe out to remove extra oil and any burned bits. Return to stove and add 1 tablespoon butter. Let melt, then add 2 to 3 minced garlic cloves. Stir constantly for 30 seconds.
  • Add 1/3 cup chicken broth and deglaze pan. Bring to simmer and reduce heat, then simmer 1 to 2 minutes or until broth is slightly reduced.
  • Remove skillet from heat and add 1/2 cup heavy cream. Whisk gently to incorporate heavy cream into chicken broth. Once liquids are blended, sprinkle 1/3 cup grated Parmesan into mixture and stir gently until cheese has melted.

Finish the Dish

  • Return skillet to hot burner and continue stirring sauce mixture for 1 minute, while skillet returns to temperature. Add 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes to cream sauce. Stir gently to incorporate ingredients. Taste sauce and adjust salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes as desired.
  • Bring sauce to constant slow simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Once sauce is simmering, return meatballs to skillet. Turn to coat all sides in sauce, then simmer 3 to 4 minutes until sauce is slightly thickened and meatballs are cooked through.
  • Transfer chicken meatballs to serving plates. Top with remaining sauce from skillet and garnish with chiffonaded fresh basil. Serve immediately with desired sides.

Recipe Notes

Chicken Broth: If you’d like to reduce sodium, use low-sodium broth to control salt levels in the final dish.
Parmesan: Fresh grated melts much better than pre-shredded; bring to room temperature for smoothest incorporation.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Oil-packed variety works best; reserve some oil for extra flavor.
Red Pepper Flakes: Start with less if you're sensitive to heat; you can always add more.
Lighter Version: Use ground chicken breast, replace heavy cream with half-and-half (add a tablespoon of flour to thicken), and reduce the Parmesan by half.
Make it Dairy-Free: Replace heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk (use the thick cream that separates on top), swap Parmesan for 2-3 tablespoons nutritional yeast, and use vegan butter instead of regular butter. The coconut cream creates an incredibly silky sauce!
Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
Make it Whole30: Replace panko with almond flour, heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk, omit Parmesan and butter (use ghee or extra olive oil instead). The result is still incredibly flavorful!
Storage: Keep leftovers refrigerated up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of broth.
Batch Cooking: Double this recipe and freeze half the cooked meatballs (without sauce) for future busy nights. Just defrost and make fresh sauce – dinner in 15 minutes!

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Calories: 361calProtein: 22gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 131mgSodium: 608mgPotassium: 946mgTotal Carbs: 14gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gNet Carbs: 12gVitamin A: 698IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 3mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://40aprons.com/marry-me-chicken-meatballs/