They may be small in size, but these whole 30 chicken and zucchini meatballs are PACKED with loads of flavor and perfect for meal prep!
You all know I love a good make-ahead meal – esp for the days when I have to work in the office versus at home. A few weeks ago I made a batch of Turkey Burgers with Zucchini from Skinnytaste, modified. The only problem was that I didn’t bring a knife, and after eating lunch with a coworker, I didn’t know how to graciously eat a burger patty without looking like a crazy woman. I actually find myself in silly situations like that quite often; forgetting a prominent utensil, napkin, or the like. I am one heck of a meal-planner but in the morning, I just forget the other necessities. Mornings, aren’t really my fave – which is why I love meal prep.
So I decided to make meatballs! I actually prefer ground chicken over beef for meatballs at lunch. They’re lighter in taste, and calories. I omit breadcrumbs; a common ingredient used for binding in these recipes. I have learned that egg works just as well at not only holding my balls (I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry), but keeping the chicken moist, which is super important when you’re cooking with a lean meat. If you have kiddos going back to school, this recipe is perfect for them, as well! I like to think this recipe is perfect for “kids” of all ages, really. It’s a good way to also hide a bit of veggie without truly detecting it, if you have picky eaters at home.
These Whole 30 Chicken and Zucchini Meatballs can be made ahead of time; they’re paleo and low-carb, and light in calories! I think they may be the perfect food, really. You can add these meatballs to Feel free to pasta, zoodz, wraps, or simply by themselves! Currently, I gave them a comforting side of mashed cauliflower and pistachio pesto, and they did not disappoint.
A note when making a batch of these Whole 30 Chicken and Zucchini Meatballs: because ground chicken is so lean and delicate, the heat from your hands could make it difficult to form into balls you may need to pop your mixing bowl into the freezer for 10-ish minutes half-way through forming into balls. It just depends.
items used to make this recipe:
- baking sheet
- mixing bowl
- grater [for zucchini]
chicken and zucchini meatballs
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup red onion, minced fine
- 1 medium-sized zucchini, grated
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 lb ground chicken
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper (or foil, and non-stick spray)
- Mince garlic, dice onion, and shred zucchini. Combine all ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Form mixture into approx 1-inch balls. Arrange meatballs on baking sheet.
- Bake 20 minutes, until done.
Notes
Nutrition
other meatball recipes:
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YUM this sounds like a perfect meal! I just started making turkey meatballs (where have I been, right?!) and they are so delicious!
Meg, Borrowed Heaven
I love this idea! Meatballs are always good, but you just made them healthy enough to eat every day!
Thanks, Courtney!
Whoa! Love this!!!
Thanks, chickie!
Your meatballs look so moist and delicious!
yum these look delish!! nothing wrong with quick and easy meal, start now and when kids come along you will have a repetoire of meals to pick from
These look so good. I am pinning this for sure. I am so glad you used chicken. Yum!
YUM!!! This looks SO good!
That’s a GREAT way of getting rid of our excess zucchini!
Totally, Sarah..shred all the zucchini, right?!
This looks absolutely amazing! The meatballs pretty much have me drooling over here. And thank you for the round up of so many recipes!! Off to sort through them!
You’re welcome! Enjoy 🙂
What a great way to use up the last of summer’s zucchini crop!
Thanks, Shaina! I totally agree 🙂
Looks like a great, healthy recipe. Saving to try! Congrats on the Foodgawker selection, too! Which photo got picked? Several seem like contenders.
Thanks, David! The first photo in this post was the one I submitted; I’m stoked! I hope you enjoy this recipe.
Nice! I was curious in part b/c we just recently got a new camera in part hoping to upgrade our blog photos and potentially get them accepted at sites like foodgawker.
Will try the recipe at some point w/o the egg, as my son is allergic. Will let you know how it comes out.
Your chicken zucchini meatballs look really goo!
Thanks, Carrie!
Oh, you’re a woman after my own heart!! I’m in love with this recipe! I’m pretty obsessed with my spiralizer and make zoodles all the time…best gadget ever!! I can’t wait to try this dish. Yummo!
Thanks, Amee! I use my spiralizer weekly!
I love adding zucchini into the mix – agreed: it helps keep those lean meats moist, light, and fluffy!
Glad you agree!
This look so yummy. I love making turkey burgers and sneaking some veggies in them, although my family doesn’t like them as much as I do.
In all honesty, I am not the biggest fan of zucchini, and sneaking them in helps me (at thirty! hahaha) eat them 🙂
Meatballs are always so comforting, and I love how you lightened this up. Perfect!
Thanks, Erin! I like to add a homemade marinara for true comfort; sooo good!
This dish is right with our plan of eating healthier and simpler. Great recipe.
Thanks!
Gosh, these sound amazing! Must try!
Thanks, Nanci! I would assume they are also low in WW points too!
I have to make this very soon, looks wonderful! What did you use to shred the auk?
Hi Gwen! I just used a veggie spiralizer (I had to buy mine on Amazon, but now I see them in stores for less than $15!).
Ooh love Zoodles and your meatballs look so cute!!Would love to try this!!Great minds think alike don’t they 😉
They sure do, Soni!
Wow, this is the kind of lunch or quick snack one could get addicted to. Healthy, gorgeous and tasty!
Thanks, Christy! I am quite addicted myself 🙂
This is a sure way to sneak veggies into a great ball of flavor! I love what you served on them too I’m making this ASAP!
Even though I am an adult, I have to sneak veggies in to eat em too 🙂
I love meatballs and another great recipe to use the zucchini from my garden!!
Absolutely!
I love chicken sausage meatballs, but I gotta tell ye, these are now on my list to try. Oh and by the way, I forget things like utensils to bring to work all the time.
Glad I am not alone, Marlene! That’s just one more thing to think about, you know?
I can’t resist a good meatball. I love you added zucchini and can’t wait to give these a try! Thanks for sharing! Loving the zoodles too – yummm
Thanks, Marion! I love adding the zucchini in these meatballs!
These chicken + zucchini meatballs are great for kids of all ages and this ‘kid’ can’t wait to give them a try!
Glad you agree with me, Betsy!
Mmmmmm….what a delicious, healthy lunch! Your meatballs look terrific!!!
Plus, healthy means I can have a few more…right? 🙂
I’m definitely going to make these! I often make Ottolenghi’s turkey zucchini meatballs but I never thought to serve them over “zoodles.” I love this idea! Looks so delicious and healthy.
I throw these meatballs in seriously everything!
Hello, Thank you for the recipe, how many meatballs does this usually make / about how many individual meals?
(Serving with zoodles)
Hi Bee! This will make approx 20-24 meatballs. If you roll them at around 1-inch, you should get 20. Hope that helps, and that you enjoy!
Thank you! I made these yesterday, they were good!