Juicy and flavor-packed meatballs for your next meal prep. Baked BBQ chicken meatballs are the tastiest protein for easy dinners or lunches. You’ll also love my gluten-free chicken meatballs, chicken Swedish meatballs, and spinach artichoke chicken bake.
Table of Contents
- Why you’ll love BBQ chicken meatballs
- What makes them healthy?
- Ingredients in BBQ Chicken Meatballs
- What’s the healthiest BBQ sauce for this recipe?
- Dietary restrictions
- How to make BBQ chicken meatballs
- What to serve with BBQ chicken meatballs
- How to store
- Common questions
- More healthy dinner ideas
- Shop this post
- BBQ Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Juicy, flavorful, and actually good for you. These BBQ chicken meatballs are everything you’ve been searching for in a delicious and protein-packed meal prep recipe.
Meatballs are the secret for tasty meal prep protein that keeps well in the fridge. Even better: this easy recipe is ready in less than 30-minutes and prepped in one bowl. Your whole family will love these moist and satisfying meatballs for easy dinners.
Scroll down to learn how to make this recipe, and what to serve with BBQ chicken meatballs for a balanced and filling meal. This is sure to be a new protein favorite.
Why you’ll love BBQ chicken meatballs
- Ready in under 30-minutes with minimal prep
- Moist and never rubbery
- Simple and inexpensive ingredients
- Packed with protein to keep you full and support fitness goals
- Perfect for meal prep since they re-heat beautifully
What makes them healthy?
As a Registered Dietitian, I designed this BBQ chicken meatball recipe to maximize nutrition and flavor.
Here’s what you need to know about this recipe:
- Made with lean ground chicken for maximum protein and fewer saturated fats
- Baked not fried for less cooking oil and fewer calories
- Uses oats instead of breadcrumbs for some extra fiber and no gluten
Ingredients in BBQ Chicken Meatballs
- Lean ground chicken — you could also use turkey
- Grated sharp cheddar cheese — I like Balderson aged white cheddar
- Quick oats
- Garlic
- Green onions
- Egg
- BBQ sauce — look for one with less added sugar if possible
- Salt
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Freshly cracked black pepper
What’s the healthiest BBQ sauce for this recipe?
This recipe uses store bought barbecue sauce, which may be high in sugar.
Rather than recommending a specific brand of BBQ sauce, I suggest you compare nutrition labels. Simply pick the option with the least added sugar that still fits within your budget. I don’t always love the taste of “low sugar” BBQ sauces, so I use Stubb’s Original.
Or, you could try sugar-free options like G Hughes or Walden Farms. But remember, everyone’s taste buds are different, so make sure you pick a sauce you genuinely enjoy. Personally, I don’t love the taste of the sugar-free stuff.
Dietary restrictions
Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats, and make sure to check your country’s guidelines on oats if you have Celiac disease. Use a certified gluten-free BBQ sauce too.
No sugar added: Use a sugar-free barbecue sauce.
Low sodium: Omit the added salt or cut it in half. Try to use a lower sodium BBQ sauce too.
How to make BBQ chicken meatballs
Position your oven rack to the middle and pre-heat to 400 F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients for your BBQ chicken meatballs using 1/3 cup of the barbecue sauce. Using a gloved hand or wooden spoon, mix until ingredients are well-distributed. Be careful not to over-mix your meat.
Use a 2-Tbsp cookie scoop to form meatballs. Add meatballs to the lined sheet pan, making sure they aren’t touching. Repeat until all meat has been used.
Bake for 14-17 minutes, or until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 F and the bottoms are golden brown.
When your meatballs are done cooking, add them to a clean mixing bowl with the remaining 1/3 cup of barbeque sauce. Toss until coated, adding more barbecue sauce as desired.
Serve with rice and vegetable of choice. Enjoy!
What to serve with BBQ chicken meatballs
- Vegetables. Serve BBQ chicken meatballs with a simple arugula salad, pre-made salad kit, steamed vegetables, roasted vegetables, or whatever other veggies you enjoy.
- Carbs. This recipe will be extra satiating paired with a source of carbs for energy. Serve with rice, chickpeas, lentils, or even inside a BBQ chicken meatball sub (melty cheese is a must).
- On their own. I also love these meatballs as a simple snack by themselves!
How to store
Fridge: Keep in a food-safe container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Freeze your BBQ chicken meatballs before tossing in extra sauce. When you’re ready to eat, defrost and coat with 1/3-1/2 cup BBQ sauce when heating. They’ll stay good for up to 3 months.
Re-heating: I recommend re-heating in the microwave with a little extra BBQ sauce or a splash of water, to keep your meatballs moist. You can also chop them up and heat them stovetop, if needed.
Common questions
Yes! You can swap oats for breadcrumbs if desired. Or if you don’t have quick oats, use old fashioned.
There are about 5 meatballs in each serving, but it depends on your hunger levels and nutritional needs. Always feel free to adjust the serving size to you.
Yes, you can freeze this meatball recipe. For best results, freeze before tossing in extra BBQ sauce. Then, defrost your chicken meatballs before re-heating. Heat with 1/3-1/2 cup BBQ sauce.
More healthy dinner ideas
Healthy orange chicken with broccoli
Philly cheesesteak pasta recipe
High protein minestrone soup
Easy taco baked potatoes
Ground turkey fried rice
Bell pepper nachos
Turkey enchilada casserole
Crockpot chicken pot pie soup
Creamy slow cooker chili
Shop this post
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- 1.5-Tbsp cookie scoop
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Silicone mat (to replace parchment paper — make sure to select the size that fits your baking tray)
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BBQ Chicken Meatballs
Equipment
- 1.5-Tbsp cookie scoop
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground chicken
- ⅔ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese, I like Balderson white cheddar
- ⅓ cup quick oats
- 1 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 green onions, diced small
- 1 large egg
- ⅔ cup barbecue sauce, divided
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Position your oven rack to the middle and pre-heat to 400 F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients for your BBQ chicken meatballs using 1/3 cup of the barbecue sauce. Using a gloved hand or wooden spoon, mix until ingredients are well-distributed. Be careful not to over-mix your meat.
- Use a 1.5-Tbsp cookie scoop to form meatballs. Add meatballs to the lined sheet pan, making sure they aren't touching. Repeat until all meat has been used.
- Bake for 14-17 minutes, or until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 F and the bottoms are golden brown.
- When your meatballs are done cooking, add them to a clean mixing bowl with the remaining 1/3 cup of barbeque sauce. Toss until coated, adding more barbecue sauce as desired.
- Serve with rice and vegetable of choice. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We made these tonight and they were SO GOOD. Served with brown rice, cooked in bone broth (for extra protein). And a side of steamed green beans. The meal was so satisfying that I clapped at the end. I will absolutely be making these again.
Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed. Thank you so much, Allison!! Love the rice cooked in bone broth too — what a great idea for a protein boost.