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Southern Style Baked Chicken Ricotta Meatballs with Spinach Alfredo Sauce Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 97 reviews
  • Author: Lily
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

This Southern Style Baked Chicken Ricotta Meatballs with Spinach Alfredo Sauce offers a comforting and flavorful dish that combines tender, baked chicken meatballs with a creamy spinach Alfredo sauce. Perfect for a satisfying dinner, these meatballs are baked to perfection and enveloped in a rich, garlicky sauce with fresh herbs adding brightness to each bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 pound Ground Chicken (or substitute turkey for a lighter option)
  • 1 cup Ricotta Cheese (part-skim recommended for a healthier twist)
  • 1 cup Chopped Spinach (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs (whole wheat preferred)
  • 1 Egg (or flaxseed mixture for a vegan alternative)
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil (to grease the baking dish)

Spinach Alfredo Sauce

  • 1 cup Heavy Cream (can use half-and-half or plant-based milk for a lighter version)
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced, roasted garlic optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (fresh basil or oregano can be substituted)
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Herbs (chopped parsley or basil for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s ready for the meatballs.
  2. Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, breadcrumbs, and egg. Mix gently until just combined to keep the meatballs tender, then shape into medium-sized meatballs.
  3. Grease the baking dish: Lightly coat a baking dish with olive oil or butter to prevent sticking and place the meatballs evenly spaced in the dish.
  4. Bake the meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through and nicely browned on the outside.
  5. Prepare the Alfredo sauce: While the meatballs bake, heat a saucepan over medium heat, add heavy cream and minced garlic, and simmer gently for about 5 minutes until the cream thickens slightly.
  6. Finish the sauce: Lower the heat and whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese along with the Italian seasoning until smooth and creamy.
  7. Toss meatballs with sauce: Pour the spinach Alfredo sauce over the baked meatballs in the baking dish, gently tossing to coat them evenly in the sauce.
  8. Bake again: Return the dish to the oven for an additional 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken further.
  9. Garnish and serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh chopped herbs such as parsley or basil, and serve warm for a deliciously comforting meal.

Notes

  • Substitute ground turkey for a lighter meatball option.
  • Use part-skim ricotta and whole wheat breadcrumbs to make the recipe healthier.
  • For a vegan alternative, replace egg with a flaxseed mixture and use plant-based cream substitutes.
  • Roasted garlic in the sauce can add a sweeter, deeper flavor.
  • Fresh herbs on top enhance both flavor and presentation.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Southern American

Keywords: Chicken meatballs, Ricotta, Spinach Alfredo, Baked meatballs, Southern style, Creamy sauce

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Find it online: https://flavorbylily.com/southern-style-baked-chicken-ricotta-meatballs-with-spinach-alfredo-sauce-recipe/