CRISPY CHICKEN MEATBALLS

Crispy Chicken Meatballs image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 45m

Yield 16 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 13

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1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons whole milk
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, plus 1 cup for breading
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 pound ground chicken, 50/50 white and dark meat
4 ounces mozzarella, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil, for frying
Marinara, warmed, for serving, optional

Steps:

In a large bowl, stir together the Parmesan, parsley, milk, salt, oregano, pepper flakes, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs and 1 egg. Add the chicken and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape the meat mixture into bite-size balls and press a cube of mozzarella in the middle of each, sealing it with the meat around it.
Set up a standard breading station: put the flour in one shallow bowl, the remaining 1 cup of breadcrumbs in a separate bowl and the remaining 2 eggs in another separate bowl. Roll each meatball in the flour, then the egg wash, then the breadcrumbs.
Fill a medium Dutch oven a third of the way with vegetable oil and place over medium heat. Bring the oil to 350 degrees F using a deep-fry thermometer,
Drop in the meatballs a few at a time so as to not lower the temperature, and fry until deep golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and season with a pinch of salt. Continue with the remaining meatballs. Serve warm with marinara for dipping if desired.