Giada's Mini Chicken Meatballs with Orecchiette is an Italian-inspired dish that combines tender chicken meatballs with a flavorful tomato sauce and delicate orecchiette pasta. This recipe is a perfect blend of flavors and textures, and it's sure to be a hit with family and friends. The meatballs are made with a mixture of ground chicken, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and herbs, then cooked in a rich tomato sauce. The orecchiette, a small ear-shaped pasta, adds a chewy texture to the dish. Together, the meatballs, sauce, and pasta create a delicious and satisfying meal.
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ORECCHIETTE WITH MINI CHICKEN MEATBALLS
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings (about 60 mini meatballs)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Romano cheese, and the salt and pepper. Add the chicken and gently stir to combine.
- Using a melon baller (or a teaspoon measure), form the chicken mixture into 3/4-inch pieces. With damp hands, roll the chicken pieces into mini meatballs.
- In a large (14-inch) skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook without moving until brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn the meatballs over and brown the other side, about 2 minutes longer. Add the chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tomatoes are soft and meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl and add the Parmesan. Toss to lightly coat orecchiette, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Add the meatball mixture, mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of the basil. Gently toss to combine. Garnish with the chopped basil.
ORECCHIETTE WITH MINI CHICKEN MEATBALLS
From Giada De Laurentiis on the Today Show, with a couple of modifications. Prep and cooking times are estimates, but I find that from start to finish I need about 1.5-2hrs to make this dish. Also, I have found the meatball mixture to be too wet when using 2 eggs, but my mom never has trouble with that, so I put a step into the directions to use 1, mix, and check to see if it's too dry before adding the second egg. If you make this earlier in the day, place in a 150-200* F oven and hold for up to 3 hours. The mozzarella gets all melty and delicious. (FYI, any size of mozzarella balls are fine, so long as it's 8oz of fresh mozzarella. I've used bocconcini, 8oz balls, ovoline, and ciliegine.) The prep is a bit intensive (mostly getting the meatballs together and made). This is a popular enough dish in our house that I now make the meatballs ahead and freeze them. If making meatballs ahead, do not add the broth or tomatoes, just brown the meatballs, bag, and freeze. When I use frozen meatballs, I just defrost them, start a pan going with the broth and tomatoes, and then add the meatballs and continue from there.
Provided by EllenMoran
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 2h
Yield 8 , 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Lightly beat one egg.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, egg, milk, ketchup, Romano cheese, salt, and pepper. If too dry, lightly beat and add second egg.
- Add the chicken and combine well.
- Using a melon baller (or a teaspoon measure) to scoop up the mixture, roll the seasoned chicken into ¾-inch mini meatballs.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook without moving until brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn the meatballs and brown the tops, about 2 minutes longer.
- Add the chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil, using a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the tomatoes are soft and the meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl and add ½ cup of the Parmesan. Toss to coat the orecchiette lightly, adding some of the reserved pasta water to help make a sauce.
- Add the meatball mixture, bocconcini, and ½ cup of the basil and combine. Garnish with the remaining ½ cup of Parmesan and the remaining basil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 617.5, Fat 26.9, SaturatedFat 11.7, Cholesterol 142.1, Sodium 972.9, Carbohydrate 51.4, Fiber 3.1, Sugar 4.8, Protein 41.4
ORECCHIETTE WITH MINI CHICKEN MEATBALLS
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Romano cheese, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and combine well. Using a melon baller (or a teaspoon measure) to scoop up the mixture, roll the seasoned chicken into 3/4-inch mini meatballs.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook without moving until brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn the meatballs and brown the tops, about 2 minutes longer. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil, using a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the tomatoes are soft and the meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl and add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Toss to coat the orecchiette lightly, adding some of the reserved pasta water to help make a sauce. Add the meatball mixture, bocconcini, and 1/2 cup of the basil and combine. Garnish with the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan and the remaining basil.
Tips:
- Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all of your ingredients and equipment ready to go. This will help you stay organized and avoid scrambling.
- Season Wisely: Don't be afraid to season your meatballs and orecchiette generously. A good rule of thumb is to taste the meatball mixture and orecchiette as you go and adjust the seasonings accordingly.
- Cook the Meatballs Thoroughly: To ensure that the meatballs are cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check that they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Don't Overcook the Orecchiette: Orecchiette should be cooked al dente, meaning it should have a slight bite to it. Overcooking will make the orecchiette mushy.
- Use Good Quality Ingredients: The better the quality of your ingredients, the better your dish will taste. If possible, use fresh, organic ingredients.
Conclusion:
Giada's mini chicken meatballs with orecchiette is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick and satisfying meal. The meatballs are tender and flavorful, and the orecchiette is cooked to perfection. The combination of the two, along with the flavorful sauce, creates a dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. Whether you're looking for a weeknight dinner or a dish to impress your guests, Giada's mini chicken meatballs with orecchiette is a great choice.
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