Why This Chicken Meatball Recipe is So Awesome! 

• They are easy to make (10 mins prep)
• Uses only 5 ingredients
• They use one bowl
• Ready in around 35 minutes
• Great party food option
• Meal-prep and batch-cooking friendly
• Freezer friendly
• They are CHICKEN. (Turkey is also a great option, too.)

Ingredients and Substitutions

Chicken meatballs are a spinoff of the typical beef, pork, or lamb meatballs that you’d find in many parts of the world. The one main advantage of chicken meatballs is they are lower in fat when compared to beef or pork meatballs (albondigas). 

We’ve kept this recipe paired down to just 5 ingredients (plus seasoning), but keep reading to discover how to enhance your chicken meatballs. 

Ground Chicken or Turkey (Minced Meat)

The good news is ground chicken is not only lower in fat compared to beef, or lamb, but chicken is also high in protein and relatively low in calories. And if you’re after protein-rich food, then turkey is an even better option. Here’s a comparison of chicken vs turkey:

Ground Chicken Nutrition Facts (per 100g/3.5 oz.)

• 40.5 Calories
• 0g Carbs
• (0g net carbs)
• 2.3g Fat
• 4.9g Protein

If chicken is not your thing, or you’d like to have a protein boost, we suggest using ground turkey mince meat. Ground turkey meat is comparable in flavor (there’s only a subtle difference), inexpensive, and can be purchased at any supermarket or fresh food store. The most notable difference between ground turkey and chicken is that turkey contains almost 4x the amount of protein! Take note that all that extra protein comes with a tradeoff as turkey meat is much higher in fat and calories. 

Ground Turkey Nutrition Facts (per 100g/3.5 oz.)

• 148 Calories
• 0g Carbs
• (0g net carbs)
• 7.7g Fat
• 19.7g Protein

Breadcrumbs 

Never buy packaged breadcrumbs again with this classic tip from the Spanish Radish HQ. Simply keep any bread ends or stale bread and pop it into the freezer. When needed, grate the frozen bread with a box grater. That’s it! So easy! If you don’t usually keep bread in the house then using store-bought bread crumbs is fine. 

Panko Breadcrumbs

Panko breadcrumbs are a good option for making meatballs when frying them. Panko is a specific type of breadcrumb that is made with crustless white bread that has been dried and flaked. It is great for fried foods as it gives a lighter texture as it absorbs less oil. 

Olive Oil

We always prefer to use olive oil with our cooking, in particular extra virgin olive oil which is the most nutritious. For this recipe, we add just a splash of olive oil to the other ingredients to make the meatballs moist and juicy. When preparing the meatballs, check the mixture sticks together easily when cupped in the palm of your hand. If the mixture looks dry, add some olive oil. 

Manchego Cheese

Manchego is one of the most popular cheeses in Spain and hails from the Castilla-La Mancha region. Manchego is made with the milk of sheep from the Manchega breed (from the La Mancha plateau). The cheese is aged anywhere from 60 days to 2 years and has a firm consistency and rich flavor that works oh so well with this meatball recipe. 

We use younger Manchego cheese (aged 60 days) for this recipe. It is lighter in flavor and usually cheaper compared to the more mature varieties. Manchego is not too difficult to source outside of Spain and has a distinctive zig-zag pattern (known as pleita) on the rind that is somewhere between yellow to brownish-beige in color. 

Can’t find Manchego where you are? No worries. You can use another cured or semi-cured hard cheese of your liking.

Optional Ingredients

Here are a few ideas for ingredients to help boost the flavor of your chicken meatballs. 

Onion – Add half of an onion that is finely diced or ½ teaspoon of onion powder (fine powder, not the flakes). 

Garlic – A clove of chopped garlic will add a little zing. If fresh garlic is too strong for your taste, use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.

Fresh parsley – Fresh chopped parsley is a great way to add a little color to your chicken meatballs. We suggest using around a small handful of fresh parsley (around 2 tablespoons once chopped). 

What Sauces to Serve with Chicken Meatballs

This chicken meatball recipe is ideal for serving as a party snack or tapas. They’re great on their own, or when served with a sauce. A creamy almond sauce works well, as does romesco sauce, or even a spicy mojo sauce for those who like it hot! 

• Almond sauce
• Romesco sauce
• Mojo Rojo, Verde, and Picon

Chicken Meatballs: FAQs

How long do chicken meatballs take to make?

• Prep time. 10 minutes
• Cook time: 21 minutes
• Cooling time. 5 minutes
• Ready in: 36 minutes

Can extra spices be added to this 5 ingredient recipe?

Yes! If you want to add a little spice and step outside the 5 ingredient rule, consider adding around 1 teaspoon of smoked Spanish paprika. Another great option is a teaspoon of garlic powder (or fresh crushed garlic). And if you want spicy chicken meatballs, add some ground cayenne pepper or your favorite chili powder of choice.

Can I use ground turkey for these meatballs?

Ground turkey is a great option. When using ground turkey meat, use the dark meat cuts for more flavor. Allow an extra 5 minutes of cooking time when using ground turkey meat. 

What sauces go with this chicken meatball recipe

We love to serve this recipe with a tasty smoky romesco sauce or almond sauce. Another great option is a spicy Canarian mojo sauce (check out our easy Canarian mojo sauce recipe).

What other tapas dishes should I serve with these?

Other tapas recipes that work well with these include: Catalan roasted vegetables, ensalada Rusa (potato salad), fried Padron peppers, spicy patatas bravas, and Spanish chorizo cooked in cider. This would give you a nice cross-section of flavors and ingredients. But the world is your oyster and you could keep it purely meat-focused or even just serve your meatballs as the star of the show with a sauce or two. 

Nutrition Facts