Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs

chicken meatballs

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.

chicken meatballs

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!

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.

chicken meatballs

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.

chicken meatballs

How to Make Healthy Chicken Meatballs:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. To a small sauce pan, combine the soy sauce, water, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and cornstarch.
  3. Heat over medium heat stirring continuously until the cornstarch dissolves and thickens up the sauce. Then remove from heat and set aside.
  4. 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).
  5. Mix the meatball mixture together until just combined (too much mixing will make tough meatballs).
  6. Roll out 20 small meatballs, adding to the prepared baking sheet as you work.
  7. Bake the meatballs in the hot oven for 25 minutes, until cooked through and browned.
  8. Add to a large bowl, and pour over the prepared sauce.
  9. 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.

chicken meatballs

Low Calorie Chicken Meatballs (5 Flavors)

Lose Weight By Eating
This easy chicken meatball recipe is just 52 calories, and if you look above in the article you will find 5 additional sauces to toss the meatballs in.
You can easily make these chicken meatballs gluten-free, see the modifications below. And if you prefer, you can use ground turkey.
Special Tip: You can make these meatball appetizers ahead of time and chill or freeze. Then when time to serve, add to a hot oven until warmed through and toss in your desired sauce.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 20 servings
Calories 52 kcal

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

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 52kcalCarbohydrates: 2.8gProtein: 4.6gFat: 2.2gSaturated Fat: 0.6gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 193mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 2.2gCalcium: 4mgIron: 0mg
Keyword appetizer, healthy chicken meatballs, holiday, low calorie chicken meatballs
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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.

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