This is just one of those dishes that warms you heart and soul. Comfort food at its finest, I tell ya. These Healthy Pesto Meatballs were adapted from this recipe.
Servings : 12 meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 1/2 cups marinara no sugar listed in ingredients, divided
- 1 egg
- 1 cup Pesto no sugar listed in ingredients, see notes
- 1/2 cup 100% whole grain breadcrumbs or almond meal
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 7 oz mozzarella sliced
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Instructions
Meatballs
- Mix 1/2 cup pesto with the marinara. Add 1 cup of the mixture to a 13X9 baking dish. Preheat oven to 350.
- Add chicken, remaining pesto, egg, breadcrumbs or almond meal, and parmesan cheese to a medium bowl. Mix well. Form into 12 (approximately 1-2 inch) meatballs. Arrange meatballs in prepared baking dish. Top with remaining marinara mixture. Arrange mozzarella slices on top of meatballs (like a blanket). Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Freezer Meal
- Follow recipe as directed above, but do not bake. (Feel free to prepare meatballs in a disposable foil baking pan so as to keep your reusable baking dishes free.) Cover tightly, label, and freeze.
- To cook after freezing, there is no need to thaw. Place frozen meal, uncovered, in preheated 350 degree oven. Bake 90 minutes.
Notes
Homemade marinara and pesto is a wonderful way to make this dish even more "from scratch!" Check out our marinara recipe here or here and our pesto recipe here.
For gluten free, use 100% whole grain gluten free breadcrumbs. (Make your own, if you wish, by putting 1-2 slices 100% whole grain gluten free bread in a food processor or blender; process into crumbs.)
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Comments (5)
I can’t wait to try this one! It’s going on next week’s plan.
This looks amazing!!
Oh yes! These were just fabulous!!!!
Make sure if you make this one that you double the recipe and have an extra batch to freeze. So easy to double and makes an easy dinner for the future. Love this recipe!
Delicious! Hubby and I loved these.