Whether you buy store-bought ground chicken or, like me, grind your own chicken and keep it in the freezer, this is such an easy and delicious recipe. It’s also one of Mark’s favorites! ❤️
I like making ours a little smaller and thinner because they get wonderfully crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside. And that final minute or two in the air fryer really takes them over the top! 😋 Note: You can cook them completely in the air fryer if desired but I find they dry out a bit.
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Asiago-Romano or Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (regular, panko, or a combination of both) I season my own with s&p and Italian seasoning
- Olive oil spray
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Marinara sauce, for serving microwaved to heat
- Cook pasta
if desired
👩🍳 Directions
- Prepare the chicken mixture. In a bowl, combine the ground chicken, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and grated cheese. Mix until well combined. Form into 4 large meatballs or 6–8 smaller ones. We prefer the smaller ones because they make thinner, crispier patties. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease it.
- Bread the patties. Coat each chicken ball in flour, then gently press it into a thin oval patty, about 1/2 inch thick. Dip each patty into the beaten egg, then coat well with breadcrumbs, gently pressing the crumbs into the chicken. Place on the prepared baking sheet and spray the tops with olive oil. ✨
- Bake for 8 minutes, then flip the patties and give them another light spritz of olive oil. Return to the oven and bake for another 6–8 minutes, until browned, crispy, and the chicken is cooked through.
- Add the mozzarella. Sprinkle mozzarella over each patty. For an extra-crispy finish, transfer the patties (foil and all) to the air fryer for 1–2 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly. 🧀 If you don’t have an air fryer, place them under the oven broiler for about 1 minute, watching closely so they don’t burn.
- Serve hot over pasta with marinara sauce spooned over the top or on the side for dipping. 🍅❤️
Tip: Making the patties thinner gives you more of that crispy, cheesy coating in every bite—and that’s definitely how we like them! 😋




