These Keto Baked Chicken Ricotta Meatballs with Spinach Alfredo have a rich and creamy texture. We prepare these meatballs with ground chicken, ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, almond flour, and black pepper. This meatball meal contains approximately 520 calories and only about 5 g of net carbs. This dish takes around 50 minutes to cook completely. These Keto Baked Chicken Ricotta Meatballs with Spinach Alfredo are ideal for weeknight dinners, family meals, meal prep, cozy weekends, special occasions, romantic dinners, and holiday gatherings. You can prepare the meatballs earlier and refrigerate them for more than 3 days or freeze them for nearly 2 months. You can serve these meatballs with Garlic Butter Zucchini Noodles, Creamy Cauliflower Mash, Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan, Keto Broccoli Cheese Casserole, or Spinach Avocado Salad.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
STATS:
- Course: Main Course
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Diet: Keto
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cuisine: Italian
- Cook time: 30 minutes
- Portion size: 4 meatballs
- Cooking mode: Oven & Stovetop
- Overall yields: 4
- Level of Difficulty: Medium
- Overall Duration: 50 minutes
TOOLS:
- Bowl
- Sheet
- Baking paper
- Large skillet
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Oven
INGREDIENTS:
CHICKEN RICOTTA MEATBALLS:
- 500g ground chicken
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 3 pieces of garlic
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp almond flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
SPINACH ALFREDO SAUCE:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Pepper
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 pieces of garlic
- Salt
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
INGREDIENT NOTES AND THEIR KETO SUBSTITUTIONS:
RICOTTA CHEESE:
- Ricotta cheese gives a creamy texture and soft richness to the meatballs. Instead, you can use cream cheese or mascarpone for a richer keto fat ratio.
PARMESAN CHEESE:
- We use Parmesan cheese to add a salty, nutty flavor and firm texture. As another option, you could use pecorino romano or aged cheddar.
ALMOND FLOUR:
- Almond flour helps bind the mixture and keeps it low-carb. Alternatively, you can use coconut flour (in half the quantity) or omit it if the mixture holds well.
HEAVY CREAM:
- Heavy cream delivers a smooth & velvety texture to the Alfredo sauce. It can be substituted with coconut cream for a dairy-free keto option.
SPINACH:
- Spinach provides freshness, color, and nutrients in the Alfredo sauce. Instead, you can use kale, Swiss chard, or zucchini ribbons.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Warm the empty oven to 200°Celcius and set the baking paper on a sheet.
- Properly stir the pepper, ground chicken, salt, ricotta, seasoning, Parmesan, almond flour, egg, and garlic in a dish.
- Make equal-sized meatballs from the mixture and put them on the sheet.
- Gently coat them with olive oil and bake till they are perfectly cooked and become golden, for almost twenty-five minutes.
- Gently cook the garlic with the melted butter in a pan till it gets fragrant.
- Include heavy cream and slowly cook it.
- Whisk in the Parmesan cheese till it is thickened and smoother.
- Cook the spinach till it wilts.
- Garnish with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Coat the roasted meatballs perfectly using the sauce.
- Carefully cook them for nearly five minutes, and then serve them warm.
TIPS:
- We utilize high-fat dairy for perfect keto results.
- Refrigerate the meat mixture for almost ten minutes to make shapes easily.
- Gently cook the sauce to get a maximum creamy texture.
- Instead, you can make them by baking to maintain a lighter texture.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
KETO LOW-CARB SIDES:
- Garlic Butter Zucchini Noodles
- Creamy Cauliflower Mash
- Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
- Buttered Asparagus Spears
FRESH SALAD PAIRINGS:
- Avocado Cucumber Salad
- Keto Caesar Salad
- Spinach Feta Salad
- Olive & Tomato Salad
- Arugula Lemon Salad
COMFORT KETO COMBINATIONS:
- Cheesy Keto Broccoli Bake
- Creamed Spinach Skillet
- Cauliflower Alfredo Bake
- Keto Stuffed Mushrooms
- Zucchini Gratin
LIGHT & REFRESHING OPTIONS:
- Lemon Herb Cabbage Slaw
- Dill Avocado Salad
- Greek Keto Salad Bowl
- Cucumber Yogurt Salad
- Pickled Vegetable Medley
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Store these meatballs for nearly four days in a tight box.
FREEZER:
- Store the cooked meatballs individually for longer than 45-60 days.
FAQs:
Will we prepare these meatballs by air-frying?
- Yes, you can air fry these meatballs for almost twelve minutes at 190°Celcius.
How could we maintain the soft texture of the meatballs?
- You can use ricotta and do not stir the meat mixture for an extra time.
Could we prepare these meatballs earlier?
- Sure, you can make these meatballs earlier, as they freeze for almost forty-five to sixty days.
May we prepare these meatballs dairy-free?
- Yes, you can use olive oil, coconut cream, and vegan cheese as an alternative to butter to make these meatballs without dairy.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
NUTRITIONAL FACTS:
Calories: 520 kcal
Sodium: 680 mg
Net carbs: 5g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 2g
Fats: 38g
Proteins: 34g
Portion Size: 4 meatballs
Total carbs: 6g