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If you need an easy, cozy dinner that even picky eaters will love, this Chicken Meatballs with Wheel Pasta is it! Tender chicken meatballs simmer in a garlicky tomato sauce, then get tossed with pasta and melty mozzarella balls for a comforting, cheesy, crave-worthy meal.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
This easy meatball pasta recipe is always a hit with family and friends. It’s a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner that comes together quickly, perfect for busy weeknights. Pair it with a simple veggie side like Crispy Broccoli or Roasted Brussels Sprouts or a fresh green salad, and you’ve got a complete meal in minutes. The best part? You can prep the meatballs and sauce ahead of time, then just cook the pasta when you’re ready to eat. I love tossing in the tiny mozzarella balls at the end. They melt into the warm pasta and sauce, creating the most irresistible, gooey bites!
The Ingredients
- Seasoned breadcrumbs: Help bind the meatballs and add flavor.
- Egg: Keeps the meatballs tender.
- Ground chicken: Lean and mild, it pairs perfectly with the sauce and cheese.
- Garlic: Just a couple of cloves adds so much flavor.
- Tomato sauce: A 28-ounce can is just right for coating everything.
- Bocconcini mozzarella balls: These mini mozzarella balls melt into perfect cheesy pockets.
- Small shaped pasta (like piccolini or wheels): Fun shapes work great here, especially ones that hold onto sauce!
*See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.*
Variations and Substitutions
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for some heat.
- Use another pasta shape: If you don’t have wheel pasta or can’t find it, no worries! This recipe works great with other similar shaped pasta like penne, rigatoni, or farfalle.
- Swap the cheese: Don’t have bocconcini? Tear up fresh mozzarella or use shredded if that’s what you’ve got.
- Try a different protein: Ground turkey or beef can be used in place of chicken if that’s what you have on hand.
How to Make Chicken Meatballs with Wheel Pasta
Step 1: Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta 1 minute less than package directions call for. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Step 2: Form the Meatballs: Mix the bread crumbs, ground chicken, egg and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. With wet hands use 1 teaspoon of the ground chicken mixture to roll into each tiny meatball.
Step 3: Cook the Meatballs: Heat a large pot with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Cook the meatballs for 3 minutes turning occasionally. Add the garlic to the meatballs and cook for 1 minute.
Step 4: Make the Sauce: Add the tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and basil and continue to cook the meatballs and sauce for 8 minutes over low heat.
Step 5: Finish the Pasta: Add the cooked pasta and mozzarella balls to the pot with the sauce and cook until the cheese and pasta are heated through, about 2-3 minutes.
Tips and Tricks
- Wet hands for easy meatball rolling: The mixture is sticky, so damp hands make it easier to shape those tiny meatballs.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Boil it a minute less than the package says. It’ll finish cooking in the sauce.
- Make-ahead friendly: You can prep the meatballs and sauce up to 2 days in advance. Just cook pasta fresh and toss everything together when ready to serve.
- Gently stir in mozzarella: Add the cheese right before serving and stir gently to keep the melty bites intact.
FAQs
Chicken meatballs are done when they’re firm to the touch, no longer pink in the center, and reach an internal temperature of 165°F. If you’re unsure, cut one open to check. It should be fully cooked through (no pink) and juicy, not dry.
More Easy Meatball Recipes
My kids have always loved meatballs. They’re easy to eat and absolutely delicious. Bonus fun points for serving them with little toothpicks! Here are some of my favorite meatball recipes on Weelicious:
Chicken Meatballs with Wheel Pasta is a delicious, easy and kid-friendly meal that can be enjoyed any night of the week. Let me know what you think by leaving a rating and comment below!
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Chicken Meatballs with Wheel Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28 ounce can tomato sauce
- 8 ounces bocconcini mozzarella mini balls
- 1 pound wheel pasta (or other small shaped pasta)
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, julienned
Instructions
- Cook the pasta 1 minute less than package directions call for. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Mix the breadcrumbs, ground chicken, egg and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl.
- With wet hands use 1 teaspoon of the ground chicken mixture to roll into each tiny meatball.
- Heat a large pot with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Cook the meatballs for 3 minutes turning occasionally.
- Add the garlic to the meatballs and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and basil and continue to cook the meatballs and sauce for 8 minutes over low heat.
- Add the cooked pasta and mozzarella balls to the pot with the sauce and cook until the cheese and pasta are heated through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Serve.
Notes
- Wet hands for easy meatball rolling: The mixture is sticky, so damp hands make it easier to shape those tiny meatballs.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Boil it a minute less than the package says. It’ll finish cooking in the sauce.
- Make-ahead friendly: You can prep the meatballs and sauce up to 2 days in advance. Just cook pasta fresh and toss everything together when ready to serve.
- Gently stir in mozzarella: Add the cheese right before serving and stir gently to keep the melty bites intact.
Made this tonight, and we thought it was delicious. Thank you! I made a double batch of meatballs (to freeze), but then realized that I couldn’t fit them all into the pot! I wanted the extra sauce too, so I had to basically just cook the recipe twice. (There might have been a better way, but I couldn’t think of it in a hurry.) Thankfully, the recipe was simple enough that it wasn’t a huge deal.
will this work with turkey?
Its Such a quick and easy meal!! Best part even though quick its healthy and my 5 year old loves it!!
Great looking recipe however, I would def find an alternative to the canned sauce!! First there’s BPA. Secondly, there is quite a bit of sodium in it as well. Thanks