Sage Onion Chicken Balls (Printable Version)
Aromatic sage and onion chicken balls—baked golden and tender, ready in 45 minutes; gluten-free option available.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground chicken, preferably thigh meat
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium onion, finely diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
→ Herbs & Spices
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped or 1 tablespoon dried sage
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - Pinch of nutmeg, optional
→ Binders
09 - 3/4 cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if preferred)
10 - 1 large egg, lightly beaten
→ For Baking
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Set aside to cool slightly.
03 - In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, cooled onion and garlic, sage, thyme, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg if using.
04 - Incorporate breadcrumbs and the beaten egg into the chicken mixture. Blend gently until ingredients are just combined; avoid overmixing.
05 - Using damp hands, portion the mixture into balls with about 1 heaping tablespoon each. Place balls evenly spaced on the prepared tray.
06 - Drizzle or brush the tops of the chicken balls with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
07 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden and fully cooked (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
08 - Serve hot alongside your preferred dip or incorporate as desired into a meal.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They’re impossibly juicy inside thanks to a gentle hand and a spike of egg.
- I discovered these make even picky eaters go back for seconds—plus they’re fuss-free for sharing or meal prep.
02 -
- Once I overmixed the meat and ended up with rubbery balls—be gentle and stop as soon as it’s combined.
- Baking on parchment makes clean-up a breeze and prevents unwanted sticking; trust me, I learned the hard way.
03 -
- Damp hands make shaping easy and prevent sticky messes.
- Brushing with olive oil instead of just drizzling ensures that every surface gets golden and crisp.