Chicken Meatballs with Orange

Name: Chicken Meatballs with Orange
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 42
Ingredients: Chicken breast minced 1.1 lbs; Orange peel 2; Orange juice 3; Grana Padano PDO cheese 2.8 oz; Homemade bread 2.3 oz; Whole milk warm 0.4 cup; Eggs 1; Extra virgin olive oil 3 tbsp; Fine salt to taste; Type 00 flour to taste

it de fr es br

339

Calories per serving

Energy Kcal 339
Carbohydrates g 20.8
of which sugars g 5.6
Protein g 31.6
Fats g 14.4
of which saturated fat g 4.76
Fiber g 1.7
Cholesterol mg 115
Sodium mg 471

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Makes: 42 pieces
Cost: Average

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Luisa Orizio

So here's the thing: straight from the heart of Southern Italy, these chicken meatballs are a fun twist on the classic 'polpette al sugo'. Really good stuff. Instead of the usual beef or pork, these meatballs use chicken, making them lighter and tender. And the sauce? The real twist is the orange—fresh orange juice is mixed in, giving each bite a burst of sweet and tangy flavor. This isn’t your average meatball dish; it’s a modern take that feels like real comfort food. And listen, down south, in regions like Campania and Sicily, pairing citrus with meat is common. You'll see why once you try this. Whether you’re using ground chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken, the result is super juicy and full of personality.

With these orange chicken meatballs, you get a moist, flavorful center and a sauce that’s just the right amount of creamy and bright. Pretty much the best. It's the kind of dish that stands out on the table yet feels familiar, like something you grew up eating. Italian cooking is flexible—people swap in different meats or even add things like pears, cheese, or tuna when making meatballs. The orange sauce isn’t just for show; it soaks into the meatballs, making everything extra tender and zesty. So so good. You get that comforting vibe but with a punch of citrus that really wakes up the dish. Try it with roasted potatoes or fresh bread, and you’ll see how this riff on classic chicken meatballs brings something new and exciting to Italian home cooking. Whether you’re after something cozy or just feel like mixing up your usual meatball routine, these orange-glazed meatballs are sure to hit the spot. For real, they may even inspire you to experiment with your own favorite flavors. Plus, using leftover chicken is not only practical but also a nod to the Italian tradition of reducing waste in the kitchen, making this dish both innovative and sustainable. Really, cannot go wrong.

How to prepare Chicken Meatballs with Orange

To prepare the chicken meatballs with orange, first place the cubed bread in a bowl along with the warm milk 1 and let it soften. In another bowl, add the ground chicken 2 and the orange zest 3.

Season with the grated cheese 4, then add the egg 5 and the soaked bread 6.

Salt 7 and mix the ingredients together 8 with your hands until you obtain a homogeneous mixture 9.

Take a small portion of the mixture and form a meatball about the size of a walnut 10. Place the meatballs on a tray lined with parchment paper 11. Now roll each meatball in flour 12.

Once finished 13, heat the oil in the pan 14, place the meatballs 15 and cook for 5 minutes.

Turn them on all sides and when they are nicely browned 16, deglaze with the orange juice 17, cover with the lid 18 and cook on low heat for about 10 minutes.

Finally, remove the lid and adjust the salt if necessary 19, raise the heat for another 5 minutes to finish cooking 20 and serve the chicken meatballs with orange hot 21.

Storage

We recommend consuming the chicken meatballs with orange immediately; if there are leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for a couple of days, sealed in an airtight container.