Savor the Cheesy, Juicy, and Flavorful Delight of Meal Prep Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs with Cauliflower Rice! These chicken meatballs, designed for meal prep, harmoniously blend ground chicken, garlic, cheese, and spices. They’re keto-friendly, low carb, paleo, and gluten-free. Learn how to effortlessly create these mouthwatering delights, perfectly paired with steamed cauliflower rice for the ultimate meal prep lunch. Get ready to indulge!
Ingredients for Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs Meal Prep:
- 1 lb (450g) ground chicken (or turkey)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese of your choice (mozzarella, cheddar, provolone…)
- 4 cloves garlic, grated + 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red crushed chili pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 crumbled bouillon cube (optional)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- Salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley (or cilantro)
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce of your choice (e.g., Sriracha)
- 1 medium cauliflower head, grated (or a packet of riced cauliflower)
Directions:
1. Preparing the Chicken Meatballs Meal Prep:
- Create cauliflower rice using a large grater or food processor.
- Transfer it to a shallow plate with 1/2 cup of water and cook it covered in the microwave for 4 minutes.
2. Crafting the Chicken Meatballs:
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, cheese, grated garlic, Italian seasoning, crumbled bouillon cube, red chili pepper flakes, chopped parsley (or cilantro), and black pepper.
- Mix well with your hands or fork and shape medium-sized balls. Arrange them on a plate and set them aside.
3. Cooking the Chicken Meatballs:
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
- Cook the chicken meatballs for 8–10 minutes on all sides until they turn brown and cook through.
- While cooking, baste the meatballs with the mixture of butter and juices.
- Remove them to a clean plate and set them aside.
4. Preparing the Flavorful Sauce:
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter.
- Add lemon juice, chicken stock, hot sauce, minced garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes (if desired).
- Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly until the sauce has reduced slightly.
- Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and garnish with more cilantro or parsley if desired.
5. Assembling Your Meal Prep:
- Divide the cauliflower rice into meal prep containers.
- Top with the chicken meatballs and garnish with lemon slices.
- Drizzle a bit of the sauce over the meatballs and cauliflower rice or keep the sauce in small containers.
- Reheat your chicken meatballs meal prep quickly in the microwave when ready to eat. Enjoy!
Tips for Your Chicken Meatballs Meal Prep:
- Customize your meal prep by varying your veggies with one portion featuring cauliflower rice and another with zucchini noodles.
- You can use ground turkey instead of ground chicken to create the meatballs.
Freezing Your Chicken Meatballs:
- You can freeze the chicken meatballs either cooked or uncooked.
- For uncooked meatballs, freeze them individually on a tray for about an hour, then transfer to a Ziploc bag to prevent sticking together. Uncooked meatballs will stay fresh for three to four months.
- For cooked chicken meatballs, let them cool completely, then store them in the freezer using the same method for two to three months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
Reader Reviews:
- “Ah-mazing. Made mashed potatoes instead of cauliflower rice. Next time I will add some chopped caramelized onions to the potatoes. Lovely, wholesome meal!” – Candace
- “This turned out really good…instead of cauli rice I sautéed my zucchini noodles in the sauce and served the meatballs on top with a little sprinkle of parm.” – Alyssa
- “Awesome meatballs! Added a little soy sauce. Didn’t make the cauliflower rice. But DELICIOUS. Sent it as a packed lunch.” – Maira Theresa
- “The meatballs turned out amazing, there were no leftovers! I made jasmine rice instead of cauliflower rice.” – Hannah
Bon Appétit, and Happy Meal Prepping!
| Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs with Cauliflower Rice |
| Ingredients | Directions |
|---|---|
| For the Meatballs: | 1. Preparing the Chicken Meatballs: |
| 1 lb (450g) ground chicken (or turkey) | – Create cauliflower rice using a large grater or food processor. |
| 1/2 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, provolone) | – Transfer cauliflower rice to a shallow plate with 1/2 cup of water and cook it covered in the microwave for 4 minutes. |
| 4 cloves garlic, grated + 2 cloves garlic, minced | 2. Crafting the Chicken Meatballs: |
| 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning | – In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, cheese, grated garlic, Italian seasoning, crumbled bouillon cube, red chili pepper flakes, chopped parsley (or cilantro), and black pepper. |
| 1/2 teaspoon red crushed chili pepper flakes (optional) | – Mix well with your hands or a fork and shape medium-sized balls. Arrange them on a plate and set them aside. |
| 1 crumbled bouillon cube (optional) | 3. Cooking the Chicken Meatballs: |
| 1/2 cup chicken stock | – Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. |
| Salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste | – Cook the chicken meatballs for 8–10 minutes on all sides until they turn brown and cook through. |
| 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley (or cilantro) | – While cooking, baste the meatballs with the mixture of butter and juices. |
| 3 tablespoons butter, divided | – Remove them to a clean plate and set them aside. |
| Juice of 1/2 lemon | 4. Preparing the Flavorful Sauce: |
| 1 tablespoon hot sauce (e.g., Sriracha) | – In the same skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter. |
| 1 medium cauliflower head, grated (or a packet of riced cauliflower) | – Add lemon juice, chicken stock, hot sauce, minced garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes (if desired). |
| – Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly until the sauce has reduced slightly. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and garnish with more cilantro or parsley if desired. | |
| Meal Prep Assembly: | 5. Assembling Your Meal Prep: |
| – Divide the cauliflower rice into meal prep containers. | – Divide the cauliflower rice into meal prep containers. |
| – Top with the chicken meatballs and garnish with lemon slices. | – Top with the chicken meatballs and garnish with lemon slices. |
| – Drizzle a bit of the sauce over the meatballs and cauliflower rice, or keep the sauce in small containers. | – Drizzle a bit of the sauce over the meatballs and cauliflower rice, or keep the sauce in small containers. |
| – Reheat your chicken meatballs meal prep quickly in the microwave when ready to eat. Enjoy! | – Reheat your chicken meatballs meal prep quickly in the microwave when ready to eat. Enjoy! |
