Description
Cranberry & goat cheese chicken meatballs dance with zesty lemon garlic orzo, creating a Mediterranean-inspired symphony of flavors. Savory, tangy, and comforting, this dish promises a delightful culinary journey you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground chicken
Filling and Cheese:
- 1/3 cup (53 grams) dried cranberries, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup (57 grams) goat cheese, crumbled
Binding and Seasoning:
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal meatball roasting.
- Craft the meatball foundation by gently blending ground chicken with tangy cranberries, creamy goat cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, aromatic garlic, zesty Dijon mustard, earthy thyme, and seasoning until ingredients are just integrated.
- Shape the mixture into uniform 1-inch spheres, carefully arranging them on the lined baking sheet and lightly drizzling with olive oil for enhanced golden coloration.
- Roast the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, ensuring they develop a rich golden exterior and reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Simultaneously, prepare orzo according to package instructions, cooking until perfectly tender yet firm, then drain and set aside.
- Create a luxurious sauce base by melting butter in a large skillet, introducing minced garlic and allowing it to release its fragrant essence for approximately one minute.
- Incorporate the cooked orzo into the skillet, elevating the dish with bright lemon zest, tangy lemon juice, and complementary seasonings, then finish by folding in Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
- Plate the herbed orzo as a luscious bed for the warm meatballs, optionally garnishing with additional crumbled goat cheese and a sprinkle of parsley for visual and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Gently mix meatball ingredients to prevent tough texture, ensuring a light and tender result.
- Use fresh cranberries for a burst of tartness or substitute dried cranberries for a sweeter profile.
- Opt for gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the recipe celiac-friendly without compromising taste.
- Consider using ground turkey as an alternative protein if chicken is unavailable, maintaining similar flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg