Pumpkin Chicken Meatballs
Tender baked pumpkin chicken meatballs made with ground chicken, pumpkin purée, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic, sage, parsley, and Italian seasoning. This easy healthy dinner is perfect with pasta, marinara sauce, rice, roasted vegetables, or meal-prep bowls.
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Chicken Meatballs
- 1½ pounds ground chicken
- ½ cup plain pumpkin purée
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup finely grated yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage or ½ teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Olive oil spray or 1 tablespoon olive oil for the baking sheet
Optional Serving Ideas
- 2 cups marinara sauce warmed
- Cooked spaghetti rigatoni, rice, or polenta
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil
- Roasted vegetables or a green salad
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray it with olive oil.
- Add ground chicken, pumpkin purée, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, grated onion, parsley, sage, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to a large bowl.
- Mix gently with a fork, spoon, or clean hands only until the ingredients are combined. Do not overmix.
- If the mixture is very soft, refrigerate it for 15 minutes to make shaping easier.
- Wet your hands lightly with water or rub them with olive oil. Shape the mixture into about 24 meatballs, using approximately 2 tablespoons of mixture for each one.
- Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between them.
- Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden and the center of the largest meatball reaches 165°F.
- For serving with marinara, warm marinara sauce in a skillet or saucepan. Add the baked meatballs and simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Serve with pasta, rice, polenta, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad. Garnish with extra Parmesan and parsley if desired.