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Delicious firecracker chicken meatballs served with creamy cilantro coconut pineapple rice, garnished with fresh cilantro and sliced green onions.
Alyssa

Firecracker Chicken Meatballs

Incredible firecracker chicken meatballs made with flavorful spices and served with a creamy cilantro coconut pineapple rice.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 582
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound 93% lean ground chicken or lean ground turkey
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs sub gluten free panko breadcrumbs if GF
  • 2 green onions very finely diced
  • ⅓ cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeño seeded and finely diced
  • ½ tablespoon hot sauce of choice
  • 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce or tamari or coconut aminos
  • 1 ½ tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups jasmine or basmati white rice don’t use brown rice
  • 1 15 ounce can coconut milk full fat or lite will work
  • 1 ¾ cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup frozen or fresh pineapple chunks
  • 1 red bell pepper julienned
  • ¼ cup freshly diced cilantro
  • sliced green onion green part of green onion only

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, add the ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, hot sauce, soy sauce, coconut sugar, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Use clean hands to mix and form into 16 golf ball sized meatballs.
  3. Place a large dutch oven (or 3.5 quart braiser) over medium-high heat and add in olive oil. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides, about 5-6 minutes total.
  4. Transfer meatballs to a plate and set aside.
  5. Reduce the heat to medium and add in the coconut milk, chicken broth, and pineapple. Stir in the rice and bell pepper until evenly coated, then add the meatballs back in.
  6. Increase heat to medium-high heat and bring to a nice simmer. Cover the pan, transfer to the oven and bake until the rice is tender about 25 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven, add cilantro over rice and meatballs. Serve immediately. Garnish with scallions and serve with hot sauce.

Notes

These healthy firecracker chicken meatballs are spicy, sweet, savory and make an incredible one pan meal. Easily made gluten free and perfect for meal prep!