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Baked rosemary chicken meatballs on a plate with creamy tomato orzo and spinach, topped with crispy rosemary leaves and parmesan cheese.
Alyssa

Baked Rosemary Chicken Meatballs with Tomato Orzo

Baked rosemary chicken meatballs over creamy tomato orzo & spinach.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz fresh italian bread, diced
  • ½ cup warm water
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp granulated garlic
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 ½ lbs ground chicken thigh
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in olive oil)
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato olive oil
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup orzo
  • 2 ¼ cups chicken stock
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 2 oz fresh spinach
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the diced bread in a large mixing bowl and pour the warm water over top. Let soak, submerged, for at least 5 minutes.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium heat, melt butter, and add minced shallot and garlic. Cook until softened. Add granulated garlic and red pepper flakes.
  3. Add the chicken, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary, parsley, salt, and shallot mixture to the bowl of bread. Mix until incorporated and form into meatballs.
  4. Place meatballs on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cooked through.
  5. In the same skillet, melt butter and sun-dried tomato oil. Cook shallots and garlic, add tomato paste and red pepper flakes, then stir in white wine and add orzo. Simmer wine and add chicken stock.
  6. Add heavy cream, spinach, and parmesan, stirring until thickened and spinach wilts. Season with salt as needed.
  7. Serve meatballs over orzo and garnish with crispy rosemary leaves, more parmesan, and chopped parsley.

Notes

Serve hot for the best flavor.