Rustic Chicken Piccata Meatballs Are a Delicious Take on a Classic

One of my favorite things about cooking is that if a sauce tastes good on one thing, it will probably taste good on others too. Every time I make something that turns out well, it’s like unlocking six to eight other recipes just by making a few calculated substitutions. Chicken piccata is a classic, but that lemony, buttery, caper-filled pan sauce is not just for chicken cutlets. These rustic chicken meatballs are a fantastic variant that’s as bright and briny as the original, with the added benefit that you can eat them with a toothpick. 

The meatballs are a classic chicken meatball recipe. Combine ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, and egg in a bowl. The author suggests putting all the ingredients except the meat into the bowl and combining them, then add the meat and mix gently until the ingredients are just combined. Mixing the meatballs that way makes it easier to combine the ingredients without overmixing the meat and making the meatballs dry and crumbly. 

Sear the meatballs in a pan until they’re golden-brown on the outside, then set them aside. You’ll finish cooking them in the sauce, so they’ll get even more of that bright lemon flavor. 

Melt butter in the skillet, then add minced garlic and let it cook for about 30 seconds. Add a bit of flour to help thicken the sauce, then pour chicken broth into the pan. Keep whisking it and make sure to scrape any leftover browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Next add freshly squeezed lemon juice and capers and bring everything to a simmer. Put the meatballs back in the sauce while it simmers. The chicken should cook through in about five to seven minutes, and the sauce should thicken nicely. Melt some more butter into the sauce, then add freshly chopped parsley on top for a garnish. 

You could eat these with a toothpick at a party, or serve them over pasta, rice, grains, or whatever you like. The piccata sauce tastes great on pasta, or just with a slice of good, crusty bread for dipping. 

Get the recipe: Rustic Chicken Piccata Meatballs from Little Spice Jar

• Cheesy Skillet Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
• How To Make Better-than-IKEA Swedish Meatballs
• Sheet Pan Gnocchi, Meatballs, and Giardiniera

Kitchn’s Delicious Links column highlights recipes we’re excited about from the bloggers we love. Follow along every weekday as we post our favorites.