Description
Golden, juicy garlic butter chicken balls paired with creamy Parmesan pasta—this dish is everything you crave in comfort food. With rich, savory flavors and a luscious, velvety sauce, it’s a perfect balance of protein and carbs that’s sure to satisfy. Whether you’re planning an easy dinner, looking for a cozy meal idea, or want to try something new for your weekly meal prep, this recipe delivers bold flavor with minimal effort. It’s one of the best quick dinner ideas and a crowd-pleasing easy recipe you’ll turn to again and again.
Ingredients
1 lb ground chicken
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for sauce)
8 oz fettuccine pasta
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, 1/3 cup Parmesan, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper until just combined.
2. Shape into 1 to 1.5-inch balls using a scoop or wet hands.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken balls in batches, searing until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter and add minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes. Return chicken balls to the pan and toss in garlic butter for added flavor.
5. Meanwhile, cook fettuccine in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
6. In a saucepan, heat cream over medium-low. Stir in 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, whisking until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
7. Toss cooked pasta in the cream sauce until coated.
8. Plate the pasta, top with garlic butter chicken balls and garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best texture and flavor in the sauce.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet when searing the chicken balls—cook in batches.
Add pasta water gradually to adjust the sauce’s thickness without diluting its richness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 730mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 145mg