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Top High Protein Meals (Meatballs & More Ideas!)

Chicken meatballs
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This juicy high protein meatballs recipe makes a deliciously healthy comfort food meal, served up in a tangy marinara sauce. It’s a hearty meal everyone will love! For vegan, go to Vegan Meatballs with the same sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken meatballs

  • 1 egg
  • 1 pound ground chicken (see Notes for doubling)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free panko; see Notes)
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce or 1 recipe Homemade Marinara Sauce (or see Notes)
  • Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Vegan meatballs

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 
  2. Heat the marinara sauce: In a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat, add the marinara (or stir together the ingredients for the homemade marinara sauce*). Bring to a simmer, then once simmering remove from heat.
  3. Meanwhile in a large bowl, whisk the egg, then stir in the ground chicken, olive oil, panko, Parmesan cheese, garlic, oregano, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Add the chicken and gently mix with your hands until it is well incorporated. Gently form 20 to 21 balls, about 1 1/2-inches [4 cm] wide. Arrange the meatballs in the sauce in the skillet.
  4. Cover the skillet (or use foil if you don’t have a lid). Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes from the heat when the internal temperature reaches 160°F [68°C] (the meatballs will continue cooking in the pan to 165°F [70°C].) **
  5. Using oven mitts, carefully remove the pan from the oven and stir the sauce to coat the meatballs. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Notes

*To double this recipe, pour double the warmed marinara into a 9 x 13 dish and bake as instructed.

**If you can’t find gluten-free panko, you can substitute crushed gluten-free crackers or roughly chopped Old Fashioned rolled oats.

***Alternative cooking methods: Pan fried: In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the meatballs and cook in 2 batches until browned on all sides and cooked through (about 2 minutes each side). Add a little more oil for the second batch, if needed. Baked without marinara: Place the meatballs on a parchment lined sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 400°F, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F [70°C].)

Find it online: https://www.acouplecooks.com/high-protein-meals/