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Paleo & Whole30 Chicken Zucchini Poppers from One Lovely Life

Chicken Zucchini Poppers

4.94 from 133 votes
Emily Dixon, One Lovely Life
My MOST POPULAR RECIPE EVER! These chicken meatballs are squeaky clean, but not short on flavor! Gluten free, Paleo, and Whole30 friendly!
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Print Pin
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 203kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chicken breast (raw)
  • 2 cups grated zucchini (leave peel on and squeeze out some of the liquid with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel)
  • 2-3 green onions sliced
  • 3-4 Tablespoons cilantro minced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin optional
  • Optional if pan-frying: avocado oil, for cooking (or coconut oil, or ghee)

Instructions

  • Prep Zucchini. If you haven't already, place grated zucchini in paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Squeeze all the excess moisture out of the zucchini. (You don't want it wet!) 
  • Combine. In a large bowl, mix together chicken, zucchini, green onion, cilantro, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin (if using). Mixture will be quite wet.
  • Scoop & Shape Meatballs. Next, scoop meatballs with a small scoop or heaped tablespoon and gently smooth with your hands. I can usually get around 20-24 poppers. You may be able to get more or less, depending on how large you size them.
  • To Cook On The Stovetop: Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium pan over medium-low heat. Cook 4-5 at a time for about 5-6 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook an additional 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown and the centers are cooked through.
  • To Bake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle a bit of olive or avocado oil onto a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake at 400 degrees 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through. If desired, place under the broiler for an additional 2-3 minutes or until browned on top.
  • Serve & Store. Enjoy warm with guacamole, salsa, ranch, or your favorite dip! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days. 

Notes

  • CHICKEN: If you can't find ground chicken breast, you can grind your own. Simply weigh out 1 lb. chicken breast and pulse it in your food processor to "grind" until no large pieces remain. You can also easily substitute ground chicken thighs, ground turkey, ground pork, etc. Use what you like and what you can find!
  • ZUCCHINI: Don't be tempted to skip drying out your zucchini a bit with a paper/kitchen towel. Zucchini has a lot of moisture, and if you don't squeeze it out beforehand, your meatballs may stick more to the pan if you're pan-frying and have a bit more trouble holding together during baking.

Video

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, chicken meatballs, chicken recipes, chicken zucchini poppers, gluten free, paleo, whole30, zucchini poppers

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25Recipe (5-6 poppers) | Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.3g | Protein: 25.9g | Fat: 10.1g | Saturated Fat: 1.7g | Cholesterol: 82.7mg | Sodium: 635mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.3g

Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.