01/14/2026
(Recipe of the Week) These pesto chicken meatballs are loaded with flavor, easy to make and packed with protein and healthy fats. A great weeknight meal served over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.
Paleo Pesto Chicken Meatballs
(via: https://bit.ly/3Lhy5fQ)
Ingredients
Paleo Pesto:
1/2 cup raw walnuts or pine nuts, or a combo
3 cloves garlic
4 oz fresh basil leaves packed (you can sub in baby spinach for some of the basil if preferred - about 4 cups)
1/2 cup light flavored olive oil or avocado oil
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp sea salt or to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast for flavor, optional
Chicken Meatballs:
1 lb ground chicken (or preferred ground meat - not too lean)
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp pesto
1 egg
1/4 cup blanched almond flour
2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
For the Pesto:
Combine walnuts or pine nuts, garlic, basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and nutritional yeast in a blender or food processor. Blend or process/pulse until a paste forms (not too smooth, scraping sides as needed.
For the Meatballs:
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and drizzle a large baking sheet with oil or spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp of the pesto, egg, almond flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix with clean hands until well combined, the mixture will be sticky, especially with ground chicken!
Tip - when forming the mixture into balls, wet your hands periodically to make them easy to handle. Chicken meatballs are very sticky! Form the mixture into 12-14 meatballs, lightly wetting your hands as necessary.
Place on the prepared baking sheet 2” apart and bake for 15-18 mins, or until just cooked through.
Serve over cooked Spaghetti squash, Zucchini Noodles, Cauliflower Rice or Roasted Sweet Potatoes, topping with the remaining pesto. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy!
Note: This dish is approved for the 30-Day Metabolic Comeback Challenge. Find all Recipes of the Week on our Pinterest boards: https://bit.ly/3VhrcuT
