Chicken Piccata Meatballs and Orzo Skillet

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 15 minutes
• total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb. ground chicken (454g, $3.72)

½ cup panko breadcrumbs (25g, $0.21)

¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated,, 25g $0.58)

1 large egg ($0.16)

2 garlic cloves (minced,, 2 tsp $0.12)

2 Tbsp fresh parsley (chopped, $0.14)

1 tsp lemon zest ($0.00*)

¼ cup onion (minced,, 30g $0.18)

½ tsp salt ($0.04)

¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.04)

1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.17)

⅓ cup onion (finely chopped,, 50g $0.23)

2 garlic cloves (minced, $0.12)

1 cup orzo (uncooked,, 7 oz., 200g $0.42)

3 cups chicken broth (24 oz., $0.38**)

2 Tbsp capers (drained,, 18g $0.49)

1 large lemon (juiced,, about 3 Tbsp $0.58)

1 Tbsp salted butter (14g, $0.11)

2 Tbsp fresh parsley (chopped, $0.14)

¼ tsp salt ($0.02)

¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.04)

Directions

Gather and prep all ingredients.

Mix

In a bowl, combine ground chicken, panko, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, minced onion, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.

Shape mixture into 20-24 small meatballs, about 1 inch each.

Cook

Heat olive oil in the skillet. Add meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, about 5-6 minutes. Remove meatballs from the skillet and set aside (they will finish cooking in the sauce).

Saute

In the same skillet, add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent and fragrant.

Toast

Stir in orzo and cook for 1-2 minutes to lightly toast.

Simmer

Pour in chicken broth, capers, and lemon juice. Stir and bring to a simmer.

Cook

Return meatballs to the skillet. Cover and simmer until orzo is tender and meatballs are cooked through, about 10-12 minutes making sure to stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Add extra broth if the orzo absorbs too much liquid.***

Serve

Stir in butter and fresh parsley for richness and freshness. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with lemon slices and serve hot, straight from the skillet.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving (¼ skillet, ab
• Calories: 460 kcal
• Total Fat: 20 g
• Sodium: 1479 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 39 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 31 g