One Chicken Meatball Recipe - 4 Easy Dinners
Meal prep | Freezer Friendly
Can we stop pretending meal prep has to mean eating the same boring thing four days in a row?
Because no thank you. This is my answer: one all-purpose chicken meatball recipe that turns into four completely different dinners.
Make the protein once. Change the sauce. Change the vibe. Dinner solved.
And honestly? This might be one of my favorite smart-cooking tricks.
These gluten-free chicken meatballs are juicy, simple, packed with flavor, and ridiculously versatile – plus I added more protein, because you know we can’t stop talking about more protein – plus they freeze great so double or triple the recipe!
This is the kind of recipe that saves your week.
✔ Make once, use four ways
✔ High protein meal prep win
✔ Gluten free
✔ Reheat beautifully
✔ Great hot or cold
✔ Weeknight shortcut gold
The All-Purpose Chicken Meatball Base
The beauty is in the base. Simple seasoning. Big flexibility.
Ingredients
- Ground chicken
- Garlic
- Onion powder
- Oregano
- Salt + pepper
- an egg
- Cottage cheese (secret weapon for tenderness)
- Olive oil
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs
That’s it. No complicated ingredients. Just a really solid meatball.
More Meatball Recipes!
1. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
A little spicy. A little tangy. Very addictive.
Toss with Primal Kitchen buffalo sauce and serve:
- over rice
- in lettuce wraps
- with roasted veggies
- or dipped in ranch
Weeknight comfort food.
2. Greek Chicken Meatballs
Fresh, bright, and one of my favorites. Basically a bowl I’d eat on repeat.
Serve with:
- Rice or cauliflower rice
- Cucumber tomato salad
- Feta
- Tzatziki
- Turn into a salad for lunch too!
Here is the recipe:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 heaping tablespoon fresh parsley, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 heaping tablespoon shallot, minced
- 1 large pinch sea salt
Put all ingredients in a glass container or any small container with a lid. Shake for 6 seconds – so good!
3. Sesame Thai Chicken Meatballs
Huge flavor. Minimal effort.
Use your favorite store-bought sesame dressing or Thai-style sauce (hello shortcuts).
Serve with:
- Jasmine rice
- Stir-fried or raw veggies
- Slaw
- Or tucked into a bowl – yum!
4. Chimichurri Chicken Meatballs
This one feels fancy and takes almost no work.
Homemade chimichurri + warm meatballs = elite.
Serve with:
- Roasted potatoes
- Rice
- Salad
- Grilled vegetables
So good.
Here is the recipe:
- 1 punch fresh parsley (like the entire bunch from the grocery store)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon (very small sized shallot) shallot
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- juice and zest from 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- large pinch of salt – add more at the end after you taste test.
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (or more if you like it spicy)
Put everything in your blender and blend until smooth! Soooo freaking good.
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I use all of the products that I link and reccommend them because they are high quality products that I trust.
Homemade + Store-Bought = Balance
I love this setup because it’s real life.
Two sauces homemade.
Two store-bought.
Because not everything has to be from scratch.
(Yes, I said it.) Use the help.
Meal Prep Shortcut I Love
Make a double batch. Freeze some in a ziploc bag for easy grab and reheat nights.
Use them all week:
- Monday → Buffalo bowls
- Tuesday → Greek bowls
- Wednesday → Sesame stir fry
- Thursday → Chimichurri plates
Same protein. Different dinners.
Even Better the Next Day
These reheat beautifully. And they’re also surprisingly good cold.
- Add to salads
- Toss into lunch bowls
- Stuff into wraps
You will love these recipes too!
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One Chicken Meatball Recipe, 4 Easy Dinners
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 15 1x
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Description
These gluten-free chicken meatballs turn into 4 easy dinners with buffalo, Greek, sesame, and chimichurri sauces. Perfect for meal prep and weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- a pinch or a couple turns on a pepper mill of black pepper
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450F. Drizzle about 1-2 teaspoon olive oil on a baking sheet tray and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix all the meatball ingredients together. I like to use a fork but you can use your hands if you like. Combine until everything is fully incorporated.
- Using a small cookie scoop – about 1 tablespoon – scoop the meatball mixture onto the prepared baking sheet tray. Once all the mixture is made into meatballs – lightly roll and press the meatballs between both of your hands to smooth them out and compact them slightly. Repeat until all meatballs are formed.
- Place in your oven and back for 8 minutes – I put on the top rack of my oven so they get browned on the tops. Or finish with 1 minute on broil. Remove from the oven and let sit or serve right away with whichever sauce you like.
Notes
These meatballs cook great in a air fryer – less than 8 minutes since they are mini.
- Prep Time: 8
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Hi, I'm Kat.
Thanks for being here.
Hi, I’m Kat — a Colorado-based Personal Chef and the heart behind White Sparrow Food Company. As a business owner, a soccer Mom to two daughters and always being asked “What’s for dinner?” – I get the challenges of everyday life.
Here, I share the same easy, wholesome, gluten free recipes I cook for my clients, made simple for real life at home. All recipes that YOU can make in your kitchen.
Take a look around, get inspired, and stay awhile — I’m so happy you’re here.
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