Marry Me Chicken Meatballs with Risoni (Orzo)

The one-pan, no-fuss dinner that’s so good, you might just fall in love with it.

Look, I don’t know who decided to call it “marry me chicken”, but I have questions. Exactly how quickly can a person expect a proposal once this dish has been served? Before or after the washing up? And what if you’re already married? Are your loved one’s days of eating delicious chicken over, and it’s back to sad dry chicken for them? That hardly seems fair. Maybe I should call this STAY MARRIED Chicken Meatballs, because my husband actually loves this dish. And is this dish even allowed for people who have no matrimonial plans on the horizon? BUT I won’t rename it, because that would be messing with a classic … and the very name of this dish has become synonymous with deliciousness.

So why is marry me chicken so good, and why are these marry me chicken meatballs even better? Well, as everyone knows, turning anything into a meatball instantly improves it x 10 (clinical tests pending). Juicy, flavourful, no-fuss meatballs are baked in the oven or air fryer (or on the stovetop if you enjoy the xtreme sport of hot-oil frying), while a creamy, garlicky sauce does its thing on the stovetop. The pasta cooks in the same pan as the sauce, so all you need is one pan and a baking tray.

Marry Me Chicken Meatballs with Risoni (Orzo) looks so fancy, but is actually so easy. There’s minimal chopping, maximum flavour and you don’t even need a side – but if you want one, garlic bread is always the right answer. This zero-fuss meal will have everyone at the table scraping their plates and declaring their eternal love for you. Proposals optional.

What if I don’t have risoni?

No problem! You can use small pasta shapes like stelline, (pastina if you can find it) or macaroni. Just keep an eye on the liquid ratio – add a splash more stock if needed.

What should I serve with this?

This is a full meal on its own, but if you’re feeling extra, a side of garlic bread or a simple green salad never hurts.

Watch how to make Marry Me Chicken Meatballs with Risoni (Orzo)

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Marry Me Chicken Meatballs with Risoni (Orzo)

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5 from 4 reviews

Juicy chicken meatballs meet creamy, garlicky risoni in this one-pan wonder. Marry Me Chicken Meatballs with Risoni (Orzo) is quick, easy and packed with flavour – perfect for a cosy night in. Serve it with extra parmesan (because more cheese is always a good idea).

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 serves 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

CHICKEN MEATBALLS

• 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) minced (ground) chicken
• 1½ cups (90 g) panko breadcrumbs
• 1 small brown onion, finely diced
• 1 tbsp freshly minced garlic
• 1 egg
• ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated parmesan
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• Olive oil spray or 1 tbsp olive oil

RISONI

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 brown onion, diced
• 1 tbsp freshly minced garlic
• 135 g (5 oz) semi-dried (sun-blushed) tomatoes, drained and chopped
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp tomato paste (concentrated puree)
• 2 cups (500 ml) chicken stock
• 1 cup (200 g) risoni (orzo)
• ½ cup (125 ml) thickened (heavy) cream
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp chilli (red pepper) flakes, plus extra to serve (optional)
• ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• ½ cup (125 ml) water
• 2 cups (100 g) fresh baby spinach
• ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated parmesan, plus extra to serve

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Instructions

1. Make the meatballs – Combine the chicken, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, egg, parmesan, milk, paprika, oregano, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together until just combined.
2. Take 1 heaped tablespoon of the mixture at a time, and roll it into balls just a little smaller than a golfball. Wet your hands with tap water if the mixture feels too sticky. You should make roughly 12 meatballs.
3. To oven bake – Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F) (200°C/400°F fan-forced) and line a baking tray with baking (parchment) paper. Place the meatballs on the baking tray ensuring they are not touching. Spray generously with olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes. Turn the oven grill (broiler) to high and grill (broil) the meatballs for a further 3–4 minutes until slightly browned on the edges.
4. To pan-fry – Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large, deep, non-stick frying pan. Cook the meatballs for 8–10 minutes until browned and cooked through. Set aside.
5. To air fry – Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Spray the basket generously with olive oil. Place the meatballs into the basket so they are not touching. (Cook in batches if needed.) Spray the meatballs with the olive oil spray and cook for 6–8 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
6. Make the risoni and sauce – Heat the olive oil in a large, deep heavy-based frying pan over medium–high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2–3 minutes or until softened.
7. Add the semi-dried tomatoes, followed by the red wine vinegar. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds until most of the liquid has evaporated.
8. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1–2 minutes.
9. Add the chicken stock, risoni, cream, oregano, chilli flakes (if using) and black pepper. Cook, stirring regularly, for 5 minutes.
10. Add the water and cook, stirring regularly, for an additional 5 minutes, or until the risoni is tender. (See note 1 for troubleshooting.)
11. Turn the heat off, add the baby spinach and parmesan and stir until the spinach has just wilted.
12. Combine the meatballs and sauce – Add the baked meatballs to the pan and stir to coat them in the sauce.
13. Serve – Serve immediately with an extra sprinkle of chilli flakes (if using) and parmesan.

Equipment

Large Wooden Spoon

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Tongs

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Notes

Note 1 – If the risoni absorbs too much liquid while sitting, just stir in a splash of warm water before serving. Want more sauce? Increase the stock by ½ cup (125 ml) for a creamier consistency.

 

Make Ahead

The meatballs can be mixed and rolled up to 2 days ahead, stored in the fridge in an airtight container, or frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight prior to cooking as per the recipe.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of water or stock to loosen the sauce. Not suitable to freeze (the cream-based sauce doesn’t freeze well).

 

Recipe source

Anna’s Marry Me Chicken Meatball Ozro recipe can be viewed here.

• Author: Nicole
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Chicken, Pasta, One-Pan
• Method: Stovetop, Oven, Air Fryer
• Cuisine: Modern Comfort