These Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs make great appetizers for holiday gatherings and get togethers year around. They are just 52 calories and can easily be made gluten-free. I’ve supplied you with the gluten-free modifications below.
And best of all, they come with 6 different sauces. So you can choose your favorite, or make one big batch of meatballs, and toss them in different sauces for several appetizer varieties.
I like to make 2 different flavors. The spicy teriyaki (shown) is my favorite, and I often also make the hot honey sauce with it, as I need many (but not all) of the same ingredients. This gives my guests lots of options, and makes them think I’ve been working all day, when in fact the two appetizers are just one recipe.
Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs
I did my best to keep this article short and to the point, but there was a lot to share with you. So if you want to skip ahead there are no hard feelings, I have even supplied you with the following jump ahead links.
Just keep in mind, there are 5 additional sauces and glazes to check out… I wouldn’t want you to miss those!
What You’ll Find in this Article:
Ingredients for Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs
Depending on the sauce/glaze you want to make, your ingredients might change. That is why I separated out the chicken meatball ingredients and the teriyaki glaze ingredients.
If you want to skip ahead to the 5 Additional Glazes, Click HERE.
Shopping List for Skinny Chicken Meatballs:
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce:
- Low-sodium soy sauce (or gluten free Tamari)
- Honey
- Light brown sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Toasted sesame oil
- Fresh ginger
- Garlic
- Cornstarch
Homemade Meatballs:
- Ground chicken (or use turkey, beef, or pork)
- Egg
- Panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free panko)
- Green onions
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Please note, there are 5 more sauces that you can use below. This is why I separated out the sauce and the meatballs. If you want pesto meatballs, hot honey meatballs, or arrabbiata meatballs you will find those sauces below.
How to Make Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs
The key to making these appetizer meatballs easy, is the parchment paper. It ensures that your meatballs won’t stick, and also makes clean up easier.
If you don’t have parchment paper, oil the baking sheet before you add the meatballs to avoid sticking.
How to Make Healthy Chicken Meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To a small sauce pan, combine the soy sauce, water, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and cornstarch.
- Heat over medium heat stirring continuously until the cornstarch dissolves and thickens up the sauce. Then remove from heat and set aside.
- To a large bowl combine the ground meat, egg, panko breadcrumbs, green onions, and 2 tablespoons of the homemade teriyaki sauce (if using a different sauce or glaze from above, use that instead).
- Mix the meatball mixture together until just combined (too much mixing will make tough meatballs).
- Roll out 20 small meatballs, adding to the prepared baking sheet as you work.
- Bake the meatballs in the hot oven for 25 minutes, until cooked through and browned.
- Add to a large bowl, and pour over the prepared sauce.
- Toss well, then move the meatballs to a serving platter, sprinkle with pepper flakes, and skewer (if you like) with toothpicks for easy snacking.
5 Sauces for Healthy Chicken Meatball Appetizers
You can make these appetizer meatballs many different ways, with any glaze or sauce you like. Here are my 5 favorite sauces to add to them. Choose your favorite, or make a big batch of meatballs and toss a few in each sauce for many different meatball appetizers.
The Best Chicken Meatball Glazes/Sauces:
Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs Recipe
If you skipped ahead to the recipe card, you may have missed the 5 additional sauces you can toss these meatballs in. You can jump back up to that section HERE.
More Low Calorie Appetizer Recipes:
Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs (5 Flavors)
Equipment
Ingredients
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce:
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce or gluten free Tamari
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger grated or minced
- 2 cloves of garlic grated or minced
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Homemade Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken or use turkey, beef, or pork
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs or gluten-free panko
- 2 green onions minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To a small sauce pan, combine the soy sauce, water, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and cornstarch.
- Heat over medium heat stirring continuously until the cornstarch dissolves and thickens up the sauce. Then remove from heat and set aside.
- To a large bowl combine the ground meat, egg, panko breadcrumbs, green onions, and 2 tablespoons of the homemade teriyaki sauce (if using a different sauce or glaze from above, use that instead).
- Mix the meatball mixture together until just combined (too much mixing will make tough meatballs).
- Roll out 20 small meatballs, adding to the prepared baking sheet as you work.
- Bake the meatballs in the hot oven for 25 minutes, until cooked through and browned.
- Add to a large bowl, and pour over the prepared sauce.
- Toss well, then move the meatballs to a serving platter, sprinkle with pepper flakes, and skewer (if you like) with toothpicks for easy snacking.
Nutrition
Nutrition and Calories in Chicken Meatballs
The nutrition is based off 1 meatball, using ground chicken and the homemade teriyaki sauce above.
Important Note: As a reminder, at Lose Weight By Eating the goal is to make healthier, all-natural versions of your favorite recipes… not all will be “diet worthy” depending on the diet you are on. But they will be healthier versions to help curb your cravings.
What to Read Next:
Lose Weight By Eating Cookbooks
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Article History:
- Originally written and published November 16, 2022 by Audrey Johns
- Updated on May 4, 2023 by Audrey Johns
- Updated on September 14, 2023 by Audrey Johns
