Ground Chicken Meatballs with peanut sauce (dinner or appetizer recipe)

Ground Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Peanut Dipping Sauce

I’m pretty sure I was born in the wrong decade. I prefer real paper books and check out movies from the library. I write all important dates on my spiral-bound calendar and send people cards in the mail. I read magazines and rip out DIY projects or travel destinations that look interesting. These are all neatly filed away in my handy accordion folder, of course. Eh, what’s that… Pinterest? You’ll have to speak up. Apparently I’m 50 years older than I appear.

My favorite is ripping out recipes that sound good. I have them stacked on my desk and stashed in my recipe binder (for the love, I still have a recipe binder). My husband used to get excited when he saw a stack of new recipes, thinking I was going to make that 6-layer chocolate cake before he got home from work the next day. He quickly learned that ripping recipes is way easier than actually making them.

I finally got around to this chicken meatball recipe from a 2011 Rachael Ray magazine. It was a hit, instantly promoted from file folder to recipe binder. Instead of writing it out on a recipe card and slipping it in the mail for you, I thought I’d just go ahead and share it on The Internet.

These meatballs are seriously addictive: so cute and tiny and delicious. I guarantee you will be popping them in your mouth while they are still piping hot. You might regret that decision, but I feel your pain. It’s hard to wait. They are moist and flavorful and DRIZZLED WITH SWEET PEANUT SAUCE. Unless you have a severe peanut allergy or are a hardcore vegetarian… you will love these meatballs.

With only 7 simple ingredients, they come together quickly and are cooked in a skillet on the stove top. Ground chicken doesn’t go on sale too often, for some reason. Ground turkey does and would also work in this recipe. I personally buy chicken breasts on sale, then make my own ground chicken (similar to grinding hamburger meat) with my KitchenAid Grinder Attachment (Amazon). It takes all of 5 minutes.

Serve these tasty little meatballs over rice or noodles for a fast weeknight meal or tumble them onto a platter with a side of dipping sauce for a simple appetizer. In less than 20 minutes, you could be sitting down to dinner or out the door with an appetizer in hand.

Pin this recipe! Or just print it out and stick it in your recipe binder (that’s what I would do). Whatever you do, make some meatballs soon.

Double the batch of peanut sauce and use it for these delicious Rice Bowls with Chicken Satay!

Ground Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Peanut Sauce
adapted from a Rachael Ray recipe

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground chicken
1/4 c. chopped cilantro or parsley
1/4 c. dried breadcrumbs (learn how to make your own here!)
1/4 c. grated onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
2 T. avocado oil (or your favorite cooking oil)

Sweet Peanut Sauce
adapted from my favorite Cooking Light sauce. You could also stick with the RR version.

1/3 c. peanut butter
3 T. honey (raw honey is AMAZING)
3 T. hoisin sauce
2-3 T. water
2 t. fresh lime juice
1/8-1/4 t. crushed red pepper

Chopped peanuts, for garnish

Directions/Assembly:

1. Mix chicken, cilantro/parsley, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, salt and pepper; roll into 1-tablespoon balls.
2. In medium skillet (use one of Rachael Ray’s skillets to really bring this all home), heat oil over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook, shaking pan often, until cooked through (6-8 minutes).
3. Meanwhile, whisk remaining ingredients (except peanuts) together in a small bowl and warm in microwave.
4. Toss meatballs with half of sauce and sprinkle with peanuts.
5. Serve meatballs with remaining sauce, spoon over rice for a main dish or set out on a platter with toothpicks for an appetizer.

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In my past life, I used to watch Rachael Ray’s tv show. I actually loved her cooking segments. Yes, she is super perky and throws way too much salt around her kitchen STOP! JUST STOP THROWING THE SALT! but other than that, I am a fan. I have subscribed to her magazine and cooked many of her recipes over the years but never owned any of her books. Checking out Rachael Ray’s Look + Cook (Amazon) just might change that. This would also make a great gift for the amateur or aspiring cook on your list this year!

“Just when you thought Rachael Ray couldn’t make preparing dinner any easier, she offers a book of 100 simple main courses, all illustrated with step-by-step photos. Cooks who aren’t quite sure what dishes are supposed to look like along the way will gain confidence from the six images that accompany each entry, highlighting ingredients, techniques, and in-progress recipes.”

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