Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Juicy oven-baked chicken piccata meatballs served in a vibrant lemon caper sauce is the gluten-free comfort food you didn’t know you needed! Perfect for busy weeknights or meal-prepping.

Why I Love This Recipe

This dish is a favorite of my personal chef clients. Kids and adults alike go crazy for it! And seriously, who can blame them? 

The Parmesan cheese packs these juicy gluten-free chicken meatballs full of flavor and gives them their beautiful golden-brown crust. Meanwhile, lemon slices make the sauce bright and fresh while the capers add a pop of salty bite. The best part is the way the chicken meatballs really soak up the sauce for the perfect medley of flavor in every bite!

Did I mention that everything comes together in 45 minutes or less? Just mix and shape the meatballs, then toss them in the oven. While they bake, simmer your sauce ingredients on the stove, then add the finished meatballs to the sauce for 5-10 minutes to really bring all the flavors together. It’s so easy, and the result is SO GOOD.

What Are Chicken Piccata Meatballs?

Piccata is a popular Italian-American dish that involves slicing, dredging, and cooking meat in a rich sauce made with lemon juice, butter, and capers. The more traditional Italian version uses veal while chicken or pork tend to be more popular in the states.

I decided I wanted to incorporate these rich flavors, but with some tweaks to simplify the recipe, lighten it up a bit, and make it gluten-free. The result: irresistible rustic chicken piccata meatballs!

The trick is to use gluten-free breadcrumbs to bind the meatballs. And instead of flour, we can count on the Parmesan cheese to give them that irresistible golden-brown crust! They’re oh-so-juicy and just perfect in the lightened-up piccata sauce.

Variations for Piccata Meatballs

I always advocate for playing around with your food. Feel free to adapt this recipe so it works best for you!

Want to swap out the ground chicken? Lean ground turkey will give you a slightly different flavor and still work beautifully in the sauce. 

I haven’t tried making these meatballs with pork, but you could always give it a whirl. Just keep in mind that the pork piccata meatballs will be a little greasier than their chicken counterparts.

What to Serve with Rustic Chicken Piccata Meatballs

• Gluten-free pasta — Who doesn’t love juicy meatballs served over a cozy bowl of noodles? Plus, pasta is perfect for soaking up any extra sauce.
• Lemon Parmesan Grilled Asparagus — The secret to this recipe is to grill the lemon to sweeten the juice while adding amazing smoky flavor!
• Mom’s “Anti-pasta” Pasta Salad — Lean in to the Italian-inspired fare with some warm noodles over crunchy veggies with sliced salami or prosciutto in a tangy vinaigrette.
• Steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes — These are my go-to sides when I’m meal-prepping. The combination is so easy but so satisfying!

How to Store and Reheat Meatballs

This recipe is one of my favorites when it comes to meal-prepping lunches for the week! You get big dinnertime flavor packed into a portable, easily-reheatable option. It’s a tasty win-win.

I like to portion the finished meatballs into separate airtight containers with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes. To reheat, I just pop them in the microwave in 30-second intervals until everything is warmed through.

You can also store your piccata meatballs in a single airtight container and then portion out however many you want to reheat at a time. Feel free to use the microwave or the stove to warm them up!

However you store the meatballs, just be sure to keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should be enjoyed within 3-4 days.

Other tasty ground chicken recipes

• Asian Chicken Lettuce Cups
• Chicken Egg Roll Burgers
• Grilled Pesto Chicken Meatballs & Sauce
• Mediterranean Chicken & Mushroom Burger Bowl

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