Description
Juicy garlic butter chicken balls served over creamy Parmesan pasta. A rich, flavorful, and easy-to-make dish perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients:
For the Garlic Butter Chicken Balls:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta:
- 12 oz pasta (fettuccine, spaghetti, or penne work best)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for spice)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- Chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken Balls
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Mix well until fully combined, then form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken balls and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, turning occasionally until golden brown and cooked through.
- Pour melted butter over the cooked chicken balls and toss to coat evenly. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
3. Make the Creamy Parmesan Sauce
- In the same skillet used for the chicken balls, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine.
- Add Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce.
4. Combine Everything
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Place the garlic butter chicken balls on top of the pasta.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh garlic – Freshly minced garlic adds a more robust flavor than pre-minced garlic.
- Don’t overmix the chicken – Overmixing will make the meatballs dense instead of juicy.
- Brown the chicken balls properly – This enhances their flavor and gives them a nice texture.
- Reserve pasta water – This is key to achieving the perfect creamy sauce consistency.
- Adjust the spice level – If you prefer mild flavors, skip the red pepper flakes.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan – Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well and may alter the sauce texture.
- Prep Time: 15minutes
- Cook Time: 25minutes