Chicken Piccata Meatballs (Trader Joe's recipe hack)

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As a busy mom, this Trader Joe's chicken meatballs recipe is a game changer. I love a shortcut, easy dinner solution, and this take on the classic Italian dish of browned chicken breasts in a simple lemony pan sauce is ready in a flash.

There are various ways you can "dress up" these Trader Joe's meatballs, but this easy recipe is by far my favorite way. You'll want something to soak up the simple lemon, caper, and butter sauce, so I recommend mashed potatoes or rice (cauliflower rice or mashed cauliflower, for a low-carb option).

Two plates of Trader Joe's Chicken Meatballs with Piccata sauce over mashed potatoes with a side of broccoli, a skillet of meatballs, and a small bowl of Parmesan cheese.

Raise your hand if weeknight meal time is as hectic as ours is. Whether it's the end of the school year, the holiday season, back-to-school, or a random Tuesday night in the middle of soccer season, this quick meal is a go-to for our family.

Often, I'll pick up a couple of packages of TJ's chicken meatballs on a Trader Joe's run and throw them in the freezer for busy nights when I need a meal ready to go in less than 30 minutes. It's quick, it's easy, and it's healthier than take-out.

Large white enameled skillet with light blue handle filled with Trader Joe's Chicken Meatballs and Piccata sauce with a yellow handled serving spoon, a stack of white plates, and a small wooden bowl with parsley.

Many people who know me know that I love a Trader Joe's hack, so if you're looking for more of my favorite recipes that take advantage of Trader Joe's products like these delicious chicken meatballs, I've got you covered.

My Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Browned Butter Sauce may seem fancy, but it's a super easy meal and takes only 20 minutes to make thanks to refrigerated ravioli.This Trader Joe's Vegetable Hash and Sausage Stew is also a favorite, utilizing a great packaged chopped veggie mix from the produce section.

And, these Mediterranean Orzo Bowls with Trader Joe's Greek Chickpeas are on constant rotation in our house. It's a recipe that's easily customizable so it can cater to eaters with different preferences.

Finally, if you're looking for another out-of-the-ordinary meatball recipe, you should try these enchilada meatballs. They're a from-scratch meatball recipe (but in a pinch you can use a refrigerated or frozen version and make the sauce).

Enough about that though--let's make these chicken piccata meatballs!

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Tasty tip
Frequently asked questions
Related
Even more
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Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
Food safety

Ingredients

Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe.

Trader Joe's chicken meatballs
olive oil
salted butter
garlic cloves
all-purpose flour
chicken broth
capers
lemon juice
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese
fresh parsley

(See recipe card for quantities.)

Instructions

Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to get cooking!

Browning chicken meatballs in a large skillet with wooden and blue enamel handle.

First, cook the meatballs in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown. Remove the meatballs from the skillet, reserving the drippings in the skillet.

Cooking garlic in butter in a large skillet with a wooden spoon.

Next, add the butter to the skillet and heat until melted. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds or until tender.

Stirring the chicken broth and lemon juice into the flour and butter mixture until thickened.

Then, whisk in the flour and cook until it's foamy and begins to smell nutty. Slowly stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice and cook 2 minutes or until thickened, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon.

Adding the meatballs and capers to the large skillet of thickened sauce.

Finally, add the capers and return the meatballs to the skillet, stirring gently to coat. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan cheese before serving.

Hint: Round out the meal with steamed broccoli or green beans and hot cooked white rice or mashed potatoes. To save on prep time, I often buy a package of refrigerated mashed potatoes and serve those with the meatballs.

Substitutions

Here are some substitution suggestions in case you need to change things up:

Chicken meatballs - ground turkey meatballs, beef meatballs, and pork meatballs are all great options instead of chicken. You can also use meatless meatballs and vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.
Capers - out of capers? That's okay. While it's no longer "piccata", chopped green olives are a great option too.
All-purpose flour - you can use cornstarch in place of the flour.
Chicken broth - substitute vegetable broth if you'd like.
Parsley - other fresh herbs are also great in this dish. Try fresh basil or oregano to change it up.

Variations

Check out these variations to add a new twist on this recipe:

Spicy - add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce to spice things up
Chicken Meatball Piccata Sub - spoon the meatballs and sauce onto buttered and toasted sub rolls. Top with arugula or baby spinach to make this a delicious sandwich.
Super lemon - are you a lemon fiend? Stir in a little lemon zest (from the lemon you juiced) to make this super zesty.
Kid friendly - my son gobbled these up! I put some meatballs to the side (so they wouldn't get "green stuff", aka parsley, on them). Then, I put the sauce in a little bowl for dipping since he will eat anything when it comes in dip form.

Equipment

For this recipe, you'll need the following equipment:

measuring spoons
chef's knife
liquid measuring cup
cheese grater
large skillet
whisk
wooden spoon
metal tongs

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To freeze, transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Tasty tip

Use a wooden knife to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet while you add the broth and lemon juice. Those bits equal lots of great umami flavor.

Frequently asked questions

Are Trader Joe's chicken meatballs already cooked?

They are, which is why they're a favorite ingredient of mine! They're perfect for busy weeknights because most of the prep is already done.

How do you make store bought meatballs better?

Sure, you could serve these right from the package, heated up according to the instructions. But, I like to make a quick homemade sauce to make them even better. I've cooked these in marinara sauce, tossed them with sweet chili sauce for an appetizer, and even tossed them with barbecue sauce for bbq chicken meatballs. I think the piccata sauce is my favorite new way to serve them though.

Is it better to pan fry or oven bake meatballs?

You could do either, but for this recipe I pan fry them. That way I only have one pan to clean up. Pan frying also creates a delicious brown crust on the meatballs, and that equals more flavor.

Is it OK to reheat leftover meatballs in microwave?

It is, especially since these are cooked in a sauce. To reheat, I microwave on HIGH in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval for even cooking.

How long are chicken meatballs good for?

When stored in an airtight container, these piccata meatballs will last in the fridge for about 3 days.

What are Trader Joe's chicken meatballs seasoned with (in case I can't find them and need to replace that ingredient)?

Trader Joe's chicken meatballs are seasoned with oregano, basil, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder so if you need to swap out another brand, meatballs with Italian seasoning will be the closest.

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Even more

These are more of my favorite recipes:

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