I’ve never been very good at cooking without a recipe. Other people can take whatever ingredients they have in-house and whip up a fabulous meal — no recipe needed. Not me, I need to follow a recipe, step-by-step.
But I just cooked a fabulous dish using no recipe (nod to Sam Sifton’s “no recipe recipes”) and I want to share it with you.
Last week I bought a package of AmyLu Italian-style Chicken Meatballs at Costco (OK, they’re not my family’s traditional meatballs, but they’re really pretty good!) and wanted to do something with them besides just plopping them into tomato sauce and serving over pasta. As an aside, these meatballs are Paleo-friendly, if you’re following that; they have16 grams of protein, are low in fat, calories, carbs, gluten-free, have no added sugars, and the chickens are raised antibiotic-free (I’ve included the nutrition panel for your reading pleasure).
Looking in the fridge, I came up with fresh spinach and baby Bella mushrooms; in the cupboard I had a small package of orzo, and I always have garlic, EVOO, Parmigiano cheese, and fresh basil on hand.
It was so good I made it two days in a row, not just because it was delicious and easy, but, of course, I wanted to test it before posting. I can report now that if you are looking for a terrific dish to serve to your family, one that you can get on the table in less than 45 minutes, this is it. If you’d like to serve wine with it, I recommend a Sicilian white: Anthilia from the wonderful Donna Fugata vineyard, or a Grillo, both are excellent.
Mangia bene!
Italian Chicken Meatballs with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Orzo
Author — Terry Krongold
Recipe serves 2 but can easily be doubled.
Ingredients:
4 TB extra virgin olive oil, halved
4 cloves garlic, sliced
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh spinach (amount left up to you, but IMHO, the more the better!)
Red pepper flakes, optional, to taste
1 C orzo pasta
6–8 baby bella mushrooms, sliced
12 chicken meatballs (pre-cooked), cut in half*
5–6 leaves fresh basil, torn
Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated
Directions:
1. In a large sauté pan, heat 2 TB olive oil. Add half of the sliced garlic and sauté until just starting to become aromatic
(I like to add a few grains of Kosher salt over the garlic as it cooks).
2. Bring a pot of water to boil for the orzo.
3. To the sauté pan, add the spinach, season to taste with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook until just starting to wilt, then remove from pan.
4. Add orzo to the boiling water, cook approximately 7–8 minutes (or according to package directions).
5. Add remaining 2 TB oil and garlic to the sauté pan; add mushrooms, salt and pepper, and cook about 5 minutes until starting to soften.
6. When orzo is cooked, drain and set aside.
7. Add the meatballs to sauté pan, heat thru about 5 minutes.
8. Add orzo and spinach back to pan; toss all pan ingredients together and heat briefly, about 2 minutes.
9. Add handful of grated cheese and the torn basil. Toss everything together.
10. Plate and add a bit more grated cheese (to taste).
*feel free to use homemade pre-cooked meatballs — here is a great recipe from eatingwell.com for them!
//www.cookstour.net/2022/01/italian-chicken-meatballs-with-spinach.html
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Meatballs are often overlooked as a tasty topping or an easy appetizer. Yet, these savory spheres make for some of the most versatile and flavor-filled stand-alone meals. From on top of spaghetti all covered with cheese to a spicy saucy sub, meatballs are good all around.
Contents
- Amylu Cranberry Chicken Meatballs with Jalapeno Peppers
- Lightlife Veggie Meatballs
- Butera’s Spinach & Asiago Cheese Chicken Meatballs
- Aidells Teriyaki & Pineapple Chicken Meatballs
- Applegate Mediterranean Style Turkey Meatballs
- Kirkland Signature Italian Style Beef Meatballs
- Rao’s Homemade Meatballs & Sauce
- Beyond Meatballs from Beyond Meat
- Marie Callender’s Swedish Meatballs Bowl
Mastering the art of the meatball is a simple and impressive skill to add to your ground beef repertoire. Store-bought or homemade, if you’re in a pinch and have to reach into the freezer files for a quick dish, these balls are at the top of the list.
Related Guides
- How to Make Swedish Meatballs
- How to Cook Pasta
- How to Make Spaghetti Sauce
While they may not be as good as your Nonna’s meatball recipe, these meaty medallions go from defrosted to delicious in no time. So to help you get the ball rolling on dinner, we’ve rounded up nine of the best-frozen meatballs on the market.
Amylu Cranberry Chicken Meatballs with Jalapeno Peppers
These chicken meatballs pack a whole lot of flavor into a small bite. The shockingly good sweet and spicy combo of cranberry and jalapeno will have you grabbing these antibiotic and gluten-free balls with both hands.
Lightlife Veggie
Meatballs
These Sicilian-inspired plant-based meatballs are a healthy alternative with zero saturated fat and cholesterol. Toss them in the slow-cooker with your favorite sauce to make a dish that tastes good and is good for you.
Butera’s Spinach & Asiago Cheese Chicken Meatballs
Now you can get the iconic Long Island restaurant’s famous recipe right from your fridge. Made with real cheese and spinach, there’s a reason why meatballs are considered the Butera family jewels.
Aidells Teriyaki & Pineapple Chicken
Meatballs
Known for their artisan flavors, Aidell’s Asian-inspired meatballs live up to the reputation. Filled with real pineapple, teriyaki sauce, and ginger, these balls are bold enough to serve alone but even better when paired with your favorite side dish.
Applegate Mediterranean Style Turkey Meatballs
Thanks to Applegate, meatballs just got a major health upgrade. Chocked full of lentils, spinach, feta cheese, juicy turkey, and big Mediterranean flavor in every ball.
Kirkland Signature Italian Style Beef Meatballs
The classic Costco brand is a staple in the meatball hall of fame. The Italian style makes for a perfect match on a sandwich, with pasta, or as a signature side.
Rao’s Homemade Meatballs & Sauce
Another restaurant favorite, Rao’s mouthwatering meatballs are now available with no reservation required. With a delicious mix of beef and pork, they’re moist on the inside, crispy on the outside, and covered in their award-winning sauce.
Beyond Meatballs from Beyond
Meat
This plant-based brand is changing the protein game with these preformed, you won’t believe it’s not meat, balls. With a perfect texture and seasoning, the taste and health benefits make these balls hard to beat.
Marie Callender’s Swedish Meatballs Bowl
Out of all the meatball dishes, Swedish reigns supreme. This creamy comfort food comes together with noodles and a sour cream sauce that has all the feels of a homecooked meal.
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