09.20.22

Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Y’all already know I am a big chicken piccata fan, so I had to turn those wonderfully bright flavors into a skillet meatball. Enter — Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata Meatballs!

Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata Meatballs

What is there not to love about chicken piccata? A luscious white wine sauce that’s brightened even more by lemon juice? Yes, please! 

Chicken Piccata Meatballs

For these Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata Meatballs, ground chicken is simply flavored with a few spices, lemon zest, and parsley then formed into meatballs. They are browned to golden perfection then set aside while you make your piccata sauce.

Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Just like the meatballs, your piccata sauce will come together easily with very few ingredients with all your classic piccata flavors. With a little butter, white wine, fresh parsley, capers, and a few other ingredients, your sauce will be ready in no time to then add your meatballs to it for a quick simmer to finish cooking. And while this sauce does use butter, you could easily substitute it with vegan butter to keep this recipe gluten-free and dairy-free!

I know this recipe is going to be a star on your weeknight dinner rotation and I can’t wait to see y’all cook this in your own kitchens! 

For more piccata recipes…

whole30 skillet chicken piccata

the best sheet pan chicken piccata

crockpot chicken piccata

halibut piccata

Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Chicken Piccata Meatballs
Serves: 4
Print
5 from 11 votes
Total Time30 mins

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

  • 1 ½ pounds ground dark meat chicken
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
  • ¼ cup gluten-free panko
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Zest of ½ a lemon
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

For the Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons butter (sub vegan butter for dairy-free)
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoons cassava flour sub all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons capers drained
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley leaves more for serving
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice about 1 lemon
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Prepare the Meatballs:

  • In a large bowl, mix to combine the ground chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, panko, egg yolk, lemon zest. Once well combined, form into 1 ½-inch meatballs. Damp hands will make this easier as the chicken can be sticky.
  • In a large deep non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs in a single layer, working in batches as needed. Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. The meatballs do not need to be cooked through as they will finish cooking in the sauce. Once browned, set aside on a plate and continue until all the meatballs are browned.

Make the Sauce:

  • In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium-low and melt the butter. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, cassava flour. Stir, toasting the flour, for 1 minute.
  • While whisking, pour wine into skillet to combine. Continue whisking and add the chicken broth until well combined. Add the capers, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine then increase heat to a rapid simmer.
  • Reduce heat to a light simmer then nestle the meatballs back into the sauce. Cover and cook until the meatballs are cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Serve with additional parsley.

Notes

Photography and styling by Eat Love Eats.

50 Comments

  • Reply
    April
    March 15, 2023 at 10:56 am

    5 stars
    Cooked as stated and they were delicious!! Thanks for helping me look good around the dinner table, Alex!

  • Reply
    Meredith
    February 7, 2023 at 1:17 am

    5 stars
    These are amazing!!! So delicious and easy! I accidentally added the oil to the meat mixture one time and they still turned out totally fine haha! I make these almost weekly!!

  • Reply
    Karen Rector
    January 3, 2023 at 7:39 pm

    Is there a decent substitution you would suggest for the white wine?

    • Reply
      Alex
      January 4, 2023 at 6:25 pm

      You can sub in more broth and just bump up the lemon to 4 tbsp!

  • Reply
    Penny reed
    January 3, 2023 at 3:06 am

    I’d like to make them as appetizers, so smaller balls. Freeze then day of party fry, but finish in saucepan with the sauce
    I’m making so many thugs I’d like not to be frying at last minute.
    What do you suggest? Thank you

    • Reply
      Alex
      January 3, 2023 at 1:35 pm

      I think this would work just fine! Meatballs freeze very well, so a very good strategy to save some time.

  • Reply
    Sujari Duerr
    November 9, 2022 at 1:09 am

    5 stars
    These meatballs are delicious! I ended up mixing light chicken meat with dark turkey meat and they turned out great. I also doubled the sauce as others did and served over angel hair pasta. Can’t wait to make it again!

    • Reply
      Alex
      November 9, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      So glad you loved these!

  • Reply
    Ryen Brumbeloe
    November 4, 2022 at 3:09 pm

    5 stars
    Just made these last night and they were incredible. I swapped the cassava flour with arrowroot and panko with almond flour to keep it a little lighter in carbs. Still perfection. Doubled the sauce as some suggested to put on pasta for my husband. I poured sauce over mine and some broccoli rabe. Love how I can make all of these recipes with a few small swaps to accommodate my husband’s and I’d differing food lifestyles. Alex your recipes are always a hit.

    • Reply
      Bree
      February 13, 2023 at 8:46 pm

      Did you use the same measurements the recipe calls for with your arrowroot and almond flour swap?

  • Reply
    Grace
    November 3, 2022 at 9:51 pm

    Hi! Recently made this recipe and LOVED it! Already planning to make it over the holidays. Any chance we could beg you for the crockpot version/technique of these?! Would be so perfect as an app or main over the holidays. Thank you for all of the amazing recipes you provide!

    • Reply
      Alex
      November 11, 2022 at 2:23 pm

      Hi Grace!!
      This recipe will be fine if kept warm/finished cooking on low in a crockpot! Similar to the recipe I linked below! You’ll need to brown the meatballs and place them in a crockpot. Then make the lemon-caper sauce, pour over the meatballs. They’ll finish cooking on low and then just keep them warm to serve at a party! I don’t think they’d need much time on low, maybe just 1-2 hours.
      https://thedefineddish.com/crockpot-chicken-piccata/

  • Reply
    Andrea
    October 24, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    If I can’t find ground dark meat chicken, would you recommend ground chicken breast or ground turkey?

    • Reply
      Alex
      October 26, 2022 at 3:07 pm

      I would go with ground turkey!

      • Reply
        Andrea
        October 31, 2022 at 6:42 pm

        5 stars
        I didn’t see your response in time (my fault) and went with ground chicken breast. Happy to report it was absolutely fantastic! It’s a flawless recipe. Already planning to make it again ASAP!

  • Reply
    Mary Kathryn Reed
    October 17, 2022 at 10:58 pm

    This was DELISH!!!!! I doubled the sauce, used almond flour in place of panko and served over GF noodles. YUM!!!!!

    • Reply
      Alex
      October 18, 2022 at 1:04 am

      yay! so glad you loved it!!

  • Reply
    Jackie
    October 17, 2022 at 3:03 am

    This looks and sounds so good. I saw someone asked about baking the meatballs, and I was wondering the same thing. Any idea how long to bake and at what temp? 350? Thanks!

    • Reply
      Alex
      October 18, 2022 at 1:08 am

      Since they are made of chicken– I recommend searing them in the skillet then letting them finish cooking in the sauce like I did here for best results. The oven method I worry will dry them out– and this skillet method prevents that from happening 🙂

  • Reply
    Brittany
    October 11, 2022 at 3:30 am

    5 stars
    This was delicious!!! I doubled the sauce recipe but honestly I could’ve quadrupled it and drank it through a straw. I wasn’t able to find dark meat ground chicken, but the extra sauce kept our meatballs from getting too dry.

  • Reply
    Caroline
    October 5, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    LOVE the sauce. Sharing a mistake I made – despite clear instructions – so others don’t follow. I made with ground white meat chicken breast, instead of dark meat and I expect that caused them to be a bit dry. Would 100% make again with the right meat

  • Reply
    Michelle
    October 3, 2022 at 11:37 pm

    5 stars
    Made these tonight and they were a hit! Love the lemon flavor! We doubled the recipe and it filled our 12” cast iron skillet perfectly.

  • Reply
    Rosemary
    October 3, 2022 at 12:50 am

    5 stars
    These are stellar!! I love & good meatball situation & this is such a fun twist on chicken piccata! Minimal prep, one pan, & super simple. We paired these with the Whole30 Mashed Potatoes recipe but you could eat these a number of ways. Another TDD winner!!

  • Reply
    Bri
    September 29, 2022 at 8:50 pm

    These were a hit! Thank you so much!

  • Reply
    Melissa
    September 28, 2022 at 8:14 pm

    This looks delicious! Is there a substitute ingredient if you can’t eat eggs? Thank you!

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 29, 2022 at 5:05 pm

      A tablespoon or so of plain greek yogurt would work I think best here.

  • Reply
    Emily
    September 28, 2022 at 2:24 am

    5 stars
    This was incredible! Far surpasses a regular chicken piccata. This recipe is next cookbook worthy.

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 28, 2022 at 10:40 am

      omg amazing! thank you!

  • Reply
    Erin
    September 27, 2022 at 11:05 pm

    5 stars
    Chicken piccata is a favorite of mine, so I had to try this right away. I followed the recipe exactly and doubled the sauce to have plenty to serve over linguini. I served with a side salad, and it was a delicious meal! What I appreciate most about the Defined Dish recipes (which I make at least twice a week from the website and both cookbooks) is that not only are the recipes so flavorful, but the directions are thoughtful and precise. Thank you, Alex! 🙂

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 29, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      Thank you so much, Erin!! I so appreciate your comment and review on the recipe! xoxo

  • Reply
    Chelsea Buchanan
    September 27, 2022 at 2:06 am

    Can this be a crockpot meal? Should I make the meatballs before hand and heat on low in the crockpot?

  • Reply
    Blair
    September 25, 2022 at 4:18 pm

    Could the meatballs be made ahead of time (and stored in the fridge) and then the rest of the recipe later in the week?

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 26, 2022 at 2:42 pm

      Yes that could definitely work here! Just make the sauce the day of and let the meatballs reheat in the sauce.

  • Reply
    Peggy
    September 25, 2022 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    Another winning Defined Dish recipe that will be on repeat for sure…my husband loved it! Made it with exact gluten free ingredients and added a bit more chicken broth to the sauce. Could not find dark meat chicken so I used ground Turkey. Thanks Alex!

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 25, 2022 at 1:25 pm

      yay! Thank you, Peggy!

    • Reply
      Lisa
      September 25, 2022 at 9:16 pm

      I was going to ask if anyone made this with turkey, thanks for posting

  • Reply
    Holly
    September 24, 2022 at 12:24 am

    Could I just bake the meatballs?

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 25, 2022 at 1:27 pm

      Sure!

  • Reply
    Amanda
    September 23, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    To make whole 30, I’m thinking; sub the Panko for almond flour and white wine for more broth? Or a better suggestion?

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 29, 2022 at 5:12 pm

      Yes!! That would work pretty close– and you’ll maybe need more lemon to brighten up the dish since the wine is out!

  • Reply
    Catherine Firmin
    September 23, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    This looks so amazing that I’d love to make it tonight! Where do we purchase ground dark meat chicken?

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 23, 2022 at 6:32 pm

      I can typically find it at Central Market or Whole Foods! You can also ask the butcher to grind up chicken thighs for you!
      Ground Turkey thigh also works in this recipe.

  • Reply
    Jenn
    September 23, 2022 at 3:57 pm

    Looks delish… any idea what the nutritional info on this is?
    Calories/protein/carbs!?
    Im assuming eliminating butter would be the best way to lighten it up.

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 23, 2022 at 6:31 pm

      I just added nutritional facts to the notes section for you 🙂

      • Reply
        Angela
        September 25, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        How many meatballs should this make? Just trying to understand serving size. Thanks!!!

        • Reply
          Alex
          September 26, 2022 at 1:48 am

          It makes about 16 meatballs!

  • Reply
    Teghan
    September 23, 2022 at 1:25 am

    Love this! Any suggestions for what to serve them with?

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 23, 2022 at 11:55 am

      I love to serve with a starch of some sort to enjoy more of that sauce/soak it up: mashed potatoes, pasta, or steamed white rice! and then I usually do a roasted asparagus or simple side salad! Enjoy!

  • Reply
    Jen
    September 22, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    Could you make this as a freezer meal?

    • Reply
      Alex
      September 23, 2022 at 11:56 am

      Yes!! This should freeze very well!

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