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Basil Chicken Meatballs in Roasted Tomato Basil Sauce


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  • Yield: 4-6 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the meatballs:

  • 1 lb. ground chicken breast
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 Tbsp bread crumbs*
  • 23 Tbsp fresh basil, minced
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder

For the sauce:

  • 1 recipe oven-roasted tomatoes
  • 1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
  • 8oz sliced mushrooms
  • about 1/3c fresh basil, minced (more or less to taste)
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • water, if desired

Instructions

For the meatballs:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, basil, mustard, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic powder with a fork and toss until just combined. Using your hands or a small scoop to form 1″meatballs. You’ll end up with around 20-25 meatballs, depending on how large or small you made them.
  2. Place meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil, careful not to have any of the meatballs touching. Bake at 400 degrees 15-20 minutes, or until just browning and fully cooked through.

For the sauce:

  1. While meatballs are cooking, make sauce by pulsing oven-roasted tomatoes and tomato sauce in a blender or food processor until you’ve reached your desired consistency. I prefer mine to have a bit of texture, but you can certainly pulse till very smooth.
  2. Pour tomato mixture into your largest saute pan or a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add mushrooms and cook until tender, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in basil. Taste sauce and add additional basil, salt, or pepper, as desired. If the sauce seems a bit thick, you can thin it with a little water, adding about 1/2c at a time.
  3. When meatballs have finished cooking, transfer them into the sauce and toss to coat. Serve with pasta, over polenta, or in buns for sandwiches, with additional basil and some fresh mozzarella (skip the mozzarella for dairy-free).

Notes

*For a gluten free version: use gluten free breadcrumbs or make your own by pulsing a slice of gluten free bread in a food processor and using what you need.