These Chicken Parm Pesto Meatballs are a quick and easy yet super flavorful meal that comes together in one pan with the help of some store-bought ingredients. This recipe features tender, juicy chicken meatballs simmered in a marinara and pesto sauce, topped with cheese, and served alone or over pasta. These will become a family favorite for sure!

I have said it before and I’ll say it again: we are big meatball fans in our household.

Meatballs are something I have perfected over the years, whether it’s beef, chicken, pork, or turkey – I know how to meatball.

These Chicken Parm Pesto Meatballs are a family favorite and have made it into our regular rotation.

I love them because they are quick and easy to make, packed with lean protein, and incredibly satisfying. My family loves them because they are scrumptious! My boys gobble these up (and they can be picky). It’s a meal that I can feel good about serving my family, and it’s one that they truly enjoy.

So, we’re all winning when this comes to the dinner table.

I often times serve these as our main protein alongside some veggies and a starch. We also eat these over pasta. They would be delicious in a meatball sub, too!

The possibilities are endless.

I think chicken meatballs get a bad rep sometimes because they can dry out and be rather flavorless. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to prevent this! The resulting meatballs are tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

Ingredients You Need to Make These Chicken Parm Pesto Meatballs:

Panko breadcrumbs – I prefer panko over traditional breadcrumbs because they help keep the meatballs light and fluffy
Seasonings: kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried Italian herbs
Minced garlic
Ketchup – adds moisture and SO much flavor! Purists can trust me when i say that no one will ever know there is ketchup in these meatballs.
Milk
Grated parmesan cheese
Egg
Ground chicken — I recommend chicken breast here for extra leanness, but regular ground chicken also works.
Olive oil
Store-bought marinara sauce
Store-bought pesto
Fresh mozzarella balls (or diced fresh mozzarella)

Ingredients You Need to Make These Chicken Parm Pesto Meatballs:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the panko, salt, pepper, spices, garlic, ketchup, milk, and parmesan cheese. Add the egg and mix well to combine.
Add in the meat last, mixing it into the seasonings gently and until everything is well mixed. If the mixture is too gummy, add a few tablespoons of breadcrumbs and mix again. I sometimes have to add up to ¼ cup of additional breadcrumbs – it really depends on your meat. The mixture should be easy to roll into balls – not too sticky or wet.
Set a large oven-proof skillet or braising dish over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
Form the mixture into 2-inch balls and place them in the pan. Cook the meatballs, shaking the pan every now and then, until they are beginning to brown.
Pour in the marinara, stirring to coat all the meatballs. Dollop or swirl in the pesto.
Once the marinara comes up to a simmer, add the mozzarella to the pan, distributing it evenly. Sprinkle a little additional parmesan over the top and then transfer the pan to the oven to bake for 15 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven, allow to cool slightly, and then serve the meatballs and sauce over pasta or alone while everything is still hot.

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy:

These are simple to make but taste rich and satisfying. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Meatball lovers for life over here.

@yestoyolks ✨CHICKEN PARM PESTO MEATBALLS✨ These are a quick and easy yet super flavorful meal that comes together in one pan with the help of some store-bought ingredients. This recipe features tender, juicy chicken meatballs simmered in a marinara and pesto sauce, topped with cheese, and served alone or over pasta. They taste just like chicken parm but with half the hassle! These will become a family favorite for sure! FULL RECIPE on yestoyolks.com! #foodtiktok #recipes #cookingvideo #cookingtiktok #recipeideas #recipesforyou #chickenrecipe #meatballs ♬ January – Art Music

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