Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Meatballs Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

RPR

Delicious and easy recipe! Instead of frying I baked for 20 min. at 400 and they came out perfectly (and minimized the kitchen mess!). Tossed some zucchini on the same baking sheet and it was an easy side. Flavors are wonderful and this will definitely be a weeknight staple. For those asking about a nondairy alternative to the sauce - I’ve made a coconut yogurt tzatziki before with great success; this is a very similar sauce so it will probably be an easy swap.

modificatioms

Recipe came out great as is. A few possible modifications for next time:Omit the garlic from the yogurt sauce, it’s really strong.Bake the meatballs in the oven after browning them or make them into little patties instead of balls because they took a long time in the pan and got a little too dark. Serve with lots of fresh mint.

Kevin S

Delicious weeknight meal! We used ground turkey instead of chicken because that’s what we had on hand. Also opted to bake for 20 minutes @ 400° like some others suggested and they turned out great.

Karen

I think a tahini and lemon juice sauce would go nicely.

Michelle

Delicious. I baked them, too. Next time, I’m punching up the spice, either cayenne or I’m adding scallions, or both! I had leftover tabouli and tzasziki sauce and made a salad to go with. Pinot blanc is a nice plus ;)

Miss Pickers

Tahini sauce would be a great alternative as would serving on/with hummus. Will try as part of a larger mezze platter with tabbouleh, stuffed vine leaves, fattoush etc.

Lori

I substituted tahini for the yogurt and cilantro for the parsley. The result was delicious. It’s a keeper!

Dan

Meatballs took longer to cook than anticipated but was delicious.

Ilene Africk

I broiled the dark meat chicken meat balls for 7 minutes. Then flipped them and broiled for another 8 minutes. I add them to my chicken soup for additional flavor.

randi

Skipped the yogurt part to save time and just added 1/3 cup of prepared tzatziki to mixture. Used GF panko Also baked at 400 for 25 minutes. Delicious!

chrissy

This is my new favorite weeknight dinner recipe. I used a combination of ground chicken and turkey and they turned out incredible. As always, I double the amount of prescribed spices. You definitely want the cinnamon to come through on this one. I doubled the recipe for 5 people and had some left overs. I paired this with a chickpea “potato” salad. DIVINE.

melissa

Replying to myself...Yes, Melissa, the labne was a wonderful sub, as was the cauliflower rice in place of panko. I baked them for convince, slightly higher temp to adjust for altitude in Colorado, 415 for 20 minutes, and they were so good had them 2 nights in a row. :)

Josh B

I added pomegranate seeds to the meat mixture which added overall sweetness and flavor to this already amazing recipe.

Jill

Delicious! I make them smaller to serve as appetizers. A few notes: very salty, next time will cut to only 1tsp salt. I also skip the sugar - no need. And I followed other’s suggestions to bake at 400 rather than fry and they came out beautifully. Speed convection helps them brown.

Liz

Very good and easy. As others mentioned, I baked these at 400 degrees for 20 minutes and they came out perfect. I was too lazy to put fresh garlic and parsley in the meatballs, so I used a dash of garlic powder and about a teaspoon of dried parsley instead. Good served with rice and roasted veggies.

nick

Use ground lamb and added 1/4 tsp cayenne to the meatball mix, but a little too much (more than the recipe called for) panko…Would definitely make again with the directed amount of panko.Had with couscous and a tomato-cucumber-red onion salad…delicious!

DAN

Was Delicious! Took the recipe and instead of making them into balls I made them into patties and threw them and the sauce on a bun with some goat cheese. Was really easy to make and could easily substitute meat with impossible or falafel if needed!

chris

Bake at 400 for 20 mins.

bill

A favorite. Like most meatballs you can adjust as you see fit. The sauce is key. Tweak with grated garlic, lemon juice, white vinegar etc.

sarah notes

Could make more but don’t have to.

Noah

These are so good that I’ve made them 3 times in 3 weeks

emysue

Fantastic! Didn’t change a thing. But did make the meatballs patties. This will be a regular dish I make.

Toni

This is delicious! And also beautiful. I served it with a green salad in a simple garlic vinaigrette with feta/radishes/arugula/mixed greens/cucumber. Love the presentation on yogurt/garlic base. I also really liked baking the meatballs. Easy enough to prep ahead for guests too.

Mallory

These are absolutely phenomenal. Very easy receipt. We did them in the air fryer to cut down on any frying mess and speed up the time. 10 minutes in there at 375 and they were perfect. We made a cucumber/onion/tomato/parsley/lemon juice salad and cous cous on the side. Excellent meal that is now in the regular rotation.

EJ

I prepped these and ate them all week. They are amazing. I used the air fryer instead. I subbed ground turkey and they were amazing!

Rahul

Incredibly delicious! Made some slight alterations: I added minced onion to the mix and then put it in the air fryer at 380 for 15m (shake halfway). So, so good.

New Weeknight Go-To!

Delicious, fast, and easy meal. Instead of pan frying, I baked the meatballs at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, added minced fresh dill to the sauce, and served with couscous. I know this dish will become a weeknight staple in my house!

Joanna R

Fantastic recipe! I followed it exactly and it turned out great.

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Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep meatballs from getting tough? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Why are my chicken meatballs mushy? ›

Because the role of eggs in meatballs is primarily structural, the amount of eggs you use does matter. You want enough to keep the mixture stable and easy to handle, but too many will make the mixture overly soft.

What is the secret to firm meatballs? ›

Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked. Parmesan: My secret ingredient for the best meatballs! Parmigiano-Reggiano adds flavor and salt to our mixture.

Is it better to use milk or water in meatballs? ›

The Key to Tender Meatballs

Here, we're soaking fresh or dried breadcrumbs in a little milk until the bread becomes soggy, then mixing that right into the meat. This binder (aka panade) helps add moisture to the meatballs and also prevents the meat proteins from shrinking and becoming tough.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

How do you keep chicken meatballs from falling apart? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

Do meatballs get softer the longer you cook them? ›

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

How do you make meatballs more solid? ›

How to make meatballs that won't fall apart
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture, but not too many breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

Why do my meatballs come out tough? ›

Too much time spent forming the balls can also make them tough, and you're more likely to overwork them if you can't get them off your hands. To avoid this sticky situation, keep a dish of cold water next to you as you work, and dip your fingers in as you make the balls.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook? ›

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

What makes meatballs less dense? ›

You guessed it, a little water or stock. You can take any meatball recipe and add a tablespoon or two of water or stock as a first step and see how it lightens your recipe. I like to add water or stock as a first ingredient and mix it thoroughly and then add the egg and mix it in the same way.

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