Simple Pesto Meatballs - Cookies and Cups

By: Shelly
Posted: Aug 11, 2026

These juicy Pesto Rooster Meatballs are filled with contemporary basil taste, loads of Parmesan cheese, and are available along with only a handful of easy elements. They’re baked as an alternative of fried and prepared in about half-hour making them a simple weeknight dinner or meal prep and filled with protein!

Why You’ll Love These Pesto Meatballs

For those who’re searching for a approach to change my traditional chicken meatball recipe, this one is a keeper.

Prepared in about half-hour
Made with solely 6 easy elements
Tender, juicy texture because of the soaked breadcrumbs
Baked as an alternative of pan-fried
Nice for meal prep and freezing, plus tremendous straightforward to double or triple the recipe to make in bulk!

What Makes These Meatballs So Tender?

The key is soaking the panko breadcrumbs in milk earlier than mixing all the pieces collectively. I take advantage of this methodology, which is named a panade, in my traditional hen meatballs and it makes all of the distinction. It locks within the moisture creating essentially the most tender meatballs, as a result of hen meatballs can positively be dry.

Additionally be sure that to not over-mix the meat combination! That is massively essential when making any meatball recipe. The extra you combine and pack the meatballs the denser they are going to be.

Ingredients for chicken meatballs: ground chicken, an egg, pesto, milk, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan lined up from above. — INGREDIENTS: Egg, Floor Rooster, Milk, Panko Breadcrumbs, and Pesto

Useful Ideas for the Greatest Rooster Meatballs

Use freshly grated Parmesan for the very best taste and texture.
Don’t overmix the hen combination.
A cookie scoop makes portioning a lot simpler as a result of the combination is delicate.
For those who don’t have a scoop, spoon parts onto the baking sheet and gently form them with damp palms.
Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the meatballs attain 165°F with out overcooking.

A fork holding half of a pesto meatball, showing the soft interior.

Serving Concepts

These pesto meatballs are extremely versatile. Listed below are a number of methods to serve them:

Over your favourite pasta with additional pesto
With marinara sauce
Over steamed rice
On creamy polenta
Alongside roasted greens
As an appetizer with toothpicks and further pesto for dipping

Chicken Pesto meatballs in a bowl with white rice and more pesto sauce.

Storage

Retailer leftover meatballs in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Reheat within the microwave or heat them in a coated skillet over low warmth till heated by means of.

Can You Freeze Pesto Meatballs?

Permit the meatballs to chill utterly.
Freeze on a baking sheet till stable.
Switch to a freezer-safe bag or container.
Freeze for as much as 2 months for greatest freshness,
Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat earlier than serving.

Description

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup pesto
1/3 cup contemporary grated Parmesan cheese
16 ounces floor hen

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper and put aside.
In a big bowl mix the panko and the milk and let it sit for 10 minutes to soak up.
Add within the egg, pesto, parmesan cheese and stir to mix.
Add within the hen and blend till simply mixed.
Utilizing a medium scoop, portion out the hen combination and drop it onto the ready baking sheet (see notice).
Bake the meatballs for 23 minutes or till the inner temperature reaches 165°F.
Serve over pasta, rice, or on their very own.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper and put aside.
In a big bowl mix the panko and the milk and let it sit for 10 minutes to soak up.
Add within the egg, pesto, parmesan cheese and stir to mix.
Add within the hen and blend till simply mixed.
Utilizing a medium scoop, portion out the hen combination and drop it onto the ready baking sheet (see notice).
Bake the meatballs for 23 minutes or till the inner temperature reaches 165°F.
Serve over pasta, rice, or on their very own.

Notes

It’s simpler to make use of a scoop for this meatball recipe as a result of the combination could be very delicate. For those who don’t have a scoop you possibly can portion it out with a spoon and gently type together with your palms.

Retailer hermetic within the fridge for as much as 5 days.