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Credit: Celia Funderburk
Ever since Justin Bieber released the song “Go Baby,” with the lyrics, “That’s my baby, she’s iconic; iPhone case, lip gloss on it,” I can’t help but mentally sing it when I think about Hailey Bieber. She is iconic, and she is very good at starting a trend. While you might think her makeup brand Rhode’s aforementioned lip gloss phone case is her most recent trend, she’s also been making waves in the kitchen.
She recently posted a photo on her Instagram story, stating the following: “I’m sorry but my chicken meatballs with tomato sauce, cottage cheese, and Parmesan is seriously to die for and one of the favorite things I make.” I (along with half of the internet) just had to try them for myself. She ended up posting her recipe for them later, and I made them to find out if you should, too.
Southern-Style Buttermilk Biscuits How to Make Hailey Bieber’s Chicken Meatballs
Make the meatballs. In a follow-up Instagram story Bieber posted, she said that she eyeballs all of her measurements. In a bowl, combine ground chicken, Italian seasoning, ricotta cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, gluten-free Italian breadcrumbs, and one egg. Roll the mixture into balls.
Cook the meatballs. Once you form the meatballs, add them to a pan with a little oil and cook until crispy on the outside. Cover with tomato sauce of your choice and let the meatballs finish cooking.
Plate the dish. Add the meatballs to a plate and spoon any extra tomato sauce on top. Then, dollop a scoop of cottage cheese on top and grate some Parmesan cheese over it all as well.
My Honest Review of Hailey Bieber’s Chicken Meatballs
I have never met a meatball that I haven’t enjoyed, and Mrs. Bieber’s chicken meatballs were no exception. The meatballs themselves were super simple, but still delicious. I know there were a lot of comments online about how basic this recipe was, but sometimes we all need a touch of simplicity in our meal plans.
I find that ground chicken can get dry in recipes because it’s very lean, so adding in the ricotta cheese was smart because it kept the meatballs super-moist (even when reheating). I also loved cooking the meatballs in a pan so the bottom and sides get crispy. I normally cook my meatballs in the oven, but getting them crispy in the pan before finishing them in the sauce adds a great texture. And any excuse to use a jar of tomato sauce that’s packed with slow-simmered flavor without me doing a lot of work is also a win in my book.
Credit: Celia Funderburk
Adding garlic powder and Italian seasoning to dress the meatballs up was very smart, but I would also add red pepper flakes for some heat the next time I make this recipe. The real reason I was so interested in this dish was because I was curious about Hailey’s choice to top the meatballs with cottage cheese. It was actually so delicious: When the cottage cheese combined with the warm tomato sauce, it reminded me of a rich lasagna filled with ricotta. Meanwhile, you’re getting a lot more protein in. I don’t know why I haven’t used cottage cheese in more Italian dishes before this. I will be making these again.
Tips for Making Hailey Bieber’s Chicken Meatballs
Blend your cottage cheese. If you have a problem with the texture of cottage cheese, I would suggest blending your cottage cheese (or even buying a pre-blended tub) so it’s super-smooth like ricotta.
Skip the sauce. Bieber says that she also loves to eat these meatballs without the tomato sauce and only topped with fresh Parm and cottage cheese. I don’t know if I will be trying that out because I love a red sauce, but it’s always another option.
Further Reading
20 One-Pot Dinners for When You Don’t Feel Like Doing the Dishes
12 Slow Cooker Drop Dinners That Practically Make Themselves
