Pull up a chair and let’s unwind, shall we? And how ’bout we do it over mini nibbles…Mini Baked Chicken Meatballs with Peperonata to be exact, a glass of wine, wonderful company and good conversation?
I was introduced to meatballs paired with peperonata just a few weeks ago while visiting Chels in California. Right after Thanksgiving, Dom attended a conference in San Diego; I went along, and together, we got to extend our holiday celebration with Miss Chelsea. Now that she’s living on the west coast, we plan to take advantage of any opportunity we have to spend time with her.
During our final evening, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner in Santa Barbara. In typical fashion, we ordered a couple appetizers to share, and I (no surprise) ordered the meatballs. So predictable.
While nibbling away I got to thinking that this dish would make a nice appetizer for the holidays.
Though meatballs are oh so perfect on their own…or swimming in marinara…or rolled in a crust of bread – there’s something special about luscious little meatballs cradled in a stew made of bright bell peppers, sweet onions and tender tomatoes that makes my heart skip a tiny beat.
The flavors that make up peperonata are intense, and the technique for making it, simple. I’m planning to prepare a double batch over the weekend and refrigerating until Christmas Eve. A lovely thing about peperonata is that the longer it sits, the deeper its flavor becomes, making it a nice choice for a dish that can be made ahead of time. We have everybody who’s in town coming over this year and I’m excited to share this dish with them.
Peperonata can be served wherever you might dish up tomato sauce or maybe even beyond. It’s easy to be creative with a dish that’s so versatile. We’re pairing it with chicken meatballs today but I could imagine it over chicken breast, under scrambled eggs, mixed with fried potatoes or aloft spicy cappicola on a crusty ciabatta roll. The possibilities are endless.
I don’t normally make chicken meatballs but the idea to do something a little different appealed to me. I used my recipe for meatballs but added a little more cheese. The chicken brings a nice light flavor, however, if you’re partial to a traditional beef-y meatball – that would be gorgeous (tasting), too.
I know I’m making a case for this dish as an appetizer, but it would also make for a charming dinner. A crisp side salad, a buttered Italian roll, a glass of vino, a little Sinatra – lovely…
Have a great weekend, my friends!
Buon Appetito!
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Mini Baked Chicken Meatballs with Peperonata
- Category: Appetizer
Ingredients
- Peperonata
- 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
- 1 sweet onion, sliced thin
- 1 large garlic clove, sliced
- 4 bell peppers, cut into strips
- 2 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 1 tsp. red wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 2 – 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
- Meatballs
- 2 lbs. ground chicken
- 3/4 cup grated Romano cheese
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- For the peperonata, in a large fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil.
- Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the bell peppers and cook until just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and cook until the peppers are tender and the sauce thickens, about 25 minutes more.
- Add in the vinegar and red pepper flakes and stir.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with parsley.
- Set aside.
- In the meantime, combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs in a large mixing bowl.
- Shape the mixture into small rounds and place them on a very lightly oiled baking sheet.
- Bake for roughly 20 minutes.
- Serve meatballs with the peperonata and sliced Italian bread.
Ciao!
Annie, you’re meatballs look divine! I’m always searching for a new meatball recipe to try and this fits the bill!
Wonderful! Thank you so much, Ali! If you try them, I’d love to know how you liked ’em! 🙂
Oh yay! So glad you and Dom got some Chels time in! I know how much you love and miss your mini me! 😉 And, I’m sure glad you were predictable and ordered the meatballs then decided to recreate them! I love peperonata and paired with juicy tender chicken meatballs sounds amazing! These would be a fab XMas appetizer, but honestly I could eat just this as a meal! Pinned! Cheers, Annie! Xoxo
These are some of my favorite flavors! So happy you like them, my dear! 🙂 As always – thank you for your kindness and the pin! xoxo
I really like your idea of having this with a crusty piece of bread, some wine, and Sinatra music in the background. I close my eyes and I’m there! I think I’ll have to make this for a New Year’s meal. It looks so inviting!
Enjoy, my friend! Get the wine flowing and the tunes going! Happy holidays, Amanda! 🙂
Oh, Annie. You are speaking my love language. I just want you to cook for me, OK? I will bring the chocolate liqueur and wash all the dishes.
You have a deal! But you always have a deal – with or without the liqueur and dish washing! 😉 xo
I’m on my over…I hope you still have some of these meatballs and a glass of wine for me! I’m hungry after seeing these delicious meatballs!
For you? A new batch! Come on over, my dear – the wine is poured!! 🙂
This dish is perfect for holiday entertaining, Sunday game day eats (hello super bowl!), and also after the holidays when I go on a major diet because I’ve eaten too much of everything! Love that they are made with chicken too. Perfect, just like you Annie 😉
Ahhhh…Yesss! Game day eats – you think of everything! Thank you, dearest! xoxo
First of all, I’m so glad you got to spend some time on the west coast with your Chels! Santa Barbara is so beautiful and it has been so long since I’ve been there. These meatballs will be a perfect little dish to bring out for the holidays! Happy times and holidays, friend!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rachelle! Happy holidays to you and yours, my friend!
This looks so delicious I want to reach through the screen, if only…., lol. I started using chicken in my meatballs a few years ago for something different and it stuck. Chicken really takes on all the flavors so nicely. Pinned. Take care.
That’s so true…chicken does take on all the flavors so nicely… Thanks for your kind words, Stacey!
My dad goes nutso for meatballs and I’m sure he’d love it if I made these for the holidays – as would I! They look amazing 🙂
Nothin’ like a good meatball! Thanks, Rachel!! 🙂
These meatballs are stunning, Annie! So flavorful and the color from the bell peppers is so bright and pretty! So glad you get to visit your daughter often too 🙂
Awh! Thanks, hon! Have a great weekend, my friend! 🙂
I haven’t had meatballs in a while! These look mouthwatering! Glad you had nice time in California! Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Mira! Enjoy your weekend, my friend!
These look so dee-lish! I would easily eat the entire plate. No problem.
Wow if I had known you were to be in San Diego I would have taken you to Little Italy and we could have met, sipped espresso and had a cannolli!
Ahhhhh! Hold that thought! We’ll be making more trips, my friend! I’ll certainly reach out to see your availability! I would love that! 🙂
I’ve never heard of pepperonata! Sounds amazing 🙂
I think you’d like it, Medha! 🙂
You had me at “buttered Italian roll.” Seriously, I always want the meatballs, too! And this looks so beautifully colorful!
I know! Everything’s made better with a buttered Italian roll – and a little Frank! Thanks, friend! 🙂
You have saved me from my world of Christmas cookies. One more ‘sweet’ thing I don’t need. I love the colors and simplicity of this and the fact that I don’t have to wonder (at 5 p.m.) what I’ll be making for dinner. I’ll definitely be making this over the weekend. Thanks.
Ohhhh – and see – I’d love to need saving from a world of Christmas cookies! hahaha! Grass is always greener, right? I hope you enjoy the peperonata, my friend!! 🙂
I decided to make this for lunch today – it’s a beautiful, lazy, slightly cool day in Southeast Georgia and it seemed perfect to indulge ourselves. My husband and I just loved this dish. So much so, that my husband asked that I put this recipe in a special place so we can have it again soon. Thanks again for sharing.
That warms my heart! So happy you guys enjoyed it! Thank you so much for letting me know! 🙂
Annie, this dish is stunning!!! We love meatballs! and all the bell peppers, so beautiful!
I can never pass on a good meatball! Thanks, friend! 🙂
I diiiiiiiid it MYYYYYY Way!!! Oh! Excuse me I’m thinking about Frank serenading me with my chicken meatballs and peperonata! Mamma would make peperonata all the time and why I don’t, I don’t know. Your dish is so beautiful with its colors and I can just imagine the taste. Great inspiration. Grazie mille.
Well, you better get on that, girlfriend! Thank you so much! And speaking, I mean singing of doing it myyyyy way – your pina colada biscotti are a creative departure that I need to try! 🙂
I have not eaten meatballs for ages to be honest because I didn’t know how to make them. Now I know and I really going to start implementing them in my diet :).
Awh! I love that this recipe inspired you to make meatballs! It’s one of my favorite foods in the world! Thanks, friend!
I love meatballs of any kind, but the peperonata sounds like the perfect way to eat them! Perfect thing to have hanging around in the fridge since it’s so versatile!
It really is a great dish to keep around…I love these peppers on sandwiches… Thanks for stopping by, Keri! 🙂
These mini meatballs look fantastic, Annie! I would love to order these for an appetizer too. What a delicious dish to devour!
Thanks, Gayle! You know I can’t ever resist a new meatball! 🙂