1-First Step: Get Everything Ready Start by preheating your oven to 400°F if you’re baking, or heat a skillet over medium with a bit of olive oil for pan-frying. Chop your herbs, mince the garlic, and grate that onion to get organized. Pop your 1 pound of ground chicken into a big bowl and season it with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper right away.

2-Second Step: Mix It Up Now, add in 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 beaten egg, 1/4 cup milk or yogurt, the grated onion, minced garlic, and herbs. Gently combine it all with your hands or a fork don’t overdo it, or your meatballs might turn out too tough. For a lighter feel, mix in 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or some grated zucchini if you have it on hand.

3-Third Step: Shape Them Wet your hands a little to keep the mixture from sticking, then roll it into 1 to 1¼-inch balls for even cooking. Lay them out on a parchment-lined tray so they’re ready to go. Keeping them the same size helps everything cook at the same rate, which is handy for different versions of the recipe.

4-Fourth Step: Brown on the Stove For pan-frying, get your skillet hot and brown the meatballs in batches for 2-3 minutes per side. Turn them to get that nice sear all around, but don’t pack the pan too full. Once browned, lower the heat, cover, and cook for another 6-8 minutes until they hit 165°F inside.

5-Fifth Step: Bake in the Oven If baking, set your meatballs on a lightly oiled rack or sheet and pop them in at 400°F for 12-18 minutes, based on their size. This method is great for cutting down on oil and makes it easy for bigger batches always check with a thermometer to hit that 165°F mark. Here’s a quick table to guide your cooking times based on meatball size:

6-Sixth Step: Add Sauce If You Like For extra flavor, drop your browned or baked meatballs into a simmering sauce like marinara or broth and let them cook on low for 8-12 minutes. This step helps them soak up flavors, and it’s simple to make it gluten-free or vegan by checking your sauce ingredients.

7-Final Step: Let Them Rest Give your meatballs a 3-5 minute rest to keep them juicy, then finish with fresh herbs or a lemon squeeze. Serve them up with pasta, rice, or salad for storage tips, check out our section on how to keep them fresh. This whole process, from prep to plate, takes právě about 30 minutes and makes around 4 servings at 215 calories each.