Chicken Meatballs – Bake or BBQ, it’s up to you

Here’s something a little different… oven baked chicken meatballs! Don’t worry, you can cook them just as well (if not better) in your favourite smoker or BBQ.

These are one of the easiest things I’ve ever cooked, simply mix, roll and cook – and they make for the perfect snack, hors d’oeuvres or make a meal out of them by using in chicken meatball spaghetti!

Please, if you try this recipe out, comment below with your thoughts and feedback.

Ingredients:

• 1kg chicken breast mince
• 2 large eggs
• 4 tablespoons Johnny Mac’s Crazy Chook
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tablespoon mixed herbs
• salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Making these chicken meatballs couldn’t be much easier, simply place all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly (I find it easiest to do this with my hands – gloves on).

Now roll the chicken mix into medium-sized meatballs, a little smaller than a table-tennis ball.

Cooking in an oven:

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).

Place the chicken meatballs on a lined baking tray, and bake for 25-30 minutes until they’re starting to brown on the outside.

Cooking in a Smoker or BBQ

With your pit running between 220-280°F (nobody cooks low and slow in °C right?) place the chicken balls on a wire rack inside a baking tray (alternatively, you can place them straight onto the rack in your pit, but getting them in and out becomes a slow process and you don’t want to compromise the heat in your pit).

After 45mins check the internal temperature of the chicken meatballs, once it’s over 165°F they’re “officially cooked”, personally I prefer to take them to 170-180°F.

Taking your chicken meatballs to the next level

While these chicken meatballs are already amazingly simple, and really tasty, you can always step things up. Try covering them in a sweet sauce or glaze and returning to the heat for 10 minutes to set this – you’ll have the shiniest, tastiest balls in town!