Dairy Free Chicken Meatballs

Total time35 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time20 min

4.6

(6)

These juicy, golden-seared meatballs are the kind of weeknight dinner that feels way more impressive than the effort involved. Ground chicken gets packed with minced garlic, fresh parsley, Dijon mustard, and a warm blend of oregano and onion powder, so every bite is layered with flavor from the inside out. The key move is a hard sear in olive oil before a quick braise in chicken broth — you get that irresistible caramelized crust on the outside while the inside stays tender and cooked through to a safe 165°F. A final squeeze of lemon juice brightens the whole pan and gives the sauce just enough acidity to pull everything together. Meatballs can be a minefield when you're avoiding dairy, since parmesan or milk-soaked breadcrumbs sneak into so many classic recipes — here, dairy-free breadcrumbs do the binding work without any compromise on texture. This recipe makes about 18–20 meatballs and serves four, so it's just as good for a family dinner as it is for meal prep. Scatter a little extra parsley on top and serve straight from the skillet while everything is still sizzling.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the meatballs

1 ½ lb ground chicken
⅓ cup dairy free breadcrumbs
1 large egg
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

For cooking

2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup chicken broth
1 tbsp lemon juice

For serving

1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, Dijon mustard, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix with your hands or a fork until just combined — do not overwork the mixture or the meatballs will be dense.
2
Roll the mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter (roughly 2 tablespoons each), placing them on a rimmed baking sheet as you go. You should get about 18–20 meatballs.

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