Description
These Ranch Chicken Meatballs are a flavorful, easy-to-make appetizer or main dish featuring ground chicken seasoned with ranch mix and herbs. Quickly pan-fried to juicy, tender perfection, they make a perfect crowd-pleaser for parties or weeknight dinners, served with ranch dressing for dipping.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning mix (1 standard packet)
- 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, finely minced (dried parsley may be substituted)
- 1 teaspoon minced dried onion
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
For Cooking
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil (avocado oil or another favorite oil may be substituted)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, egg, ranch seasoning mix, parsley, dried onion, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Use a wooden spoon or clean hands to lightly mix everything together, taking care not to overmix to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Using a medium-sized scoop (about 1 to 1½ inches in diameter), portion out even amounts of the meat mixture. Roll each portion gently in your lightly greased or moistened palms to shape them into uniform meatballs. You should make approximately 18-20 meatballs depending on size.
- Cook Meatballs: Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook for about 10 minutes total. Rotate and flip the meatballs after 5 minutes and continue turning as needed to ensure even cooking on all sides. Use a thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- Serve: Serve the cooked ranch chicken meatballs with bottled ranch dressing or prepare additional ranch seasoning mix as a dipping sauce to enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Do not overmix the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm meatballs reach 165°F internally for safety.
- Uniform sizing ensures even cooking.
- You can substitute dried parsley for fresh if needed.
- Use avocado or your preferred oil in place of olive oil.
