Pic Credit: supergoldenbakes.com
Slow cooker Tuscan chicken meatballs with gnocchi is a wonderful slow cooking recipe that combines great Italian flavors. These easy chicken meatballs are cooked gently in the sauce that has elements of the Tuscan cuisine and are served with delicate gnocchi. Ideal for the hectic weeknights or get together parties, this meal dishes are not just simple but also tasty. Now that reader knows what the dish is and why it should be tried out, let’s have a closer look at the ingredients and the way it is prepared.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
- 1 kg ground chicken
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 500 g gnocchi
- 2 cups spinach, fresh
MEASURES & PRECAUTIONS
- Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best result in the slow cooker Tuscan chicken meatballs, always make sure to use fresh produce. Real herbs, vegetables, and meats not only make the dish more delicious, but also add to the preparation of healthy food. For example, to add more spinaches to a dish instead of using frozen spinaches can make a huge difference in the way the food is chewed and tasted.
- Check for Allergens: When preparing this delicacy to feed your guests of even family members, you should consider food allergies. Some allergens that families should be wary of are gluten that is in breadcrumb coatings, dairy from Parmesan cheese and heavy cream, and chicken. They should also consider using other options as a replacement where customers have special dietary needs for instance the usage of gluten free breadcrumbs or dairy cream.
- Adjust Seasoning: It is really important to taste your dish while you are preparing it. This is owed to the fact that our taste buds are unique; some people may not have a problem with big THRILLs like salt or chilli. Use the amounts of salt, pepper and Italian seasoning suggested then add more as per taste. Just bear in mind that slow cooked meals means the spices should be adjusted too because they get even more potent when the food is cooked for hours.
- Monitor Cooking Time: You should carefully count time to cook depending on your particular model of the slow cooker and size of the meatballs. Thus it is reasonable to encourage frequent checking for doneness. Meatballs to be cooked, should measure 75°C (165°F) at their centre. In case you’re using bigger-sized meatballs, they will need extra cooking time.
- Safety First: When handling raw chicken ensure you have good kitchen etiquette. The guidelines also suggest people should clean their hands properly after handling raw meat and all surfaces and kitchen utensils should be washed to avoid contamination. It is important most of all, when one is preparing food for other people.
Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs with Gnocchi
INGREDIENTS NOTES
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Ground Chicken: You can use ground chicken which is healthier and gratest for this recipe. For even more depth of flavor, use ground chicken thighs instead of the breasts; it will make the dish more lubricated.
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Breadcrumbs: In other words, the sort of breadcrumbs used can influence the texture of the meatballs. The difference of the type of breadcrumbs will result in the texture of the final product, for lighter texture use panko. If you want to get closer to classic Italian recipes you should use seasoned breadcrumbs containing herbs and spices.
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Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Besides, use of sun-dried tomatoes retains the powerful and intense taste as well as introduces an exquisite sense of sweet in the dish. The richness of the sauce may be improved by the addition of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. If you are using dry sun-dried tomatoes they should first be rehydrated by soaking in warm water or broth for about 30 minutes before adding.
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Heavy Cream: One addition will make this sauce luxurious and rich and that addition is heavy cream. If you prefer it less greasy, just replace the heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk though this may change the density of the sauce vaguely.
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Spinach: For this recipe fresh spinach is best as they tend to wilt and incorporate color and nutrition in the food. If frozen spinach is all you have, then you need to make sure it’s thawed and any water has been squeezed out before it goes in the slow cooker.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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First, to make the meatballs, mix 1 kg of ground chicken with 1 cup of bread crumbs, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, a 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley, two cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, half teaspoon of salt and one-fourth teaspoon of black pepper in a large bowl.
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After mixing, using your hands, or spatula, make sure to fold everything well in order to incorporate all the ingredients. The mixture should be sticky, but should not be overly wet, it should be stiff so that when you are rolling it into balls it does not lose its shape.
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Secondly, roll the meat mixture into balls that resemble golf balls, ideally, each ball should be around 2 inches round in size. When you are making them, arrange the meatballs on a plate or a baking tray to group them as you cook the slow cooker.
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If you wish to increase the intensity of the flavors you can fry the meatballs in a skillet and then transfer to the slow cooker. To do this, heat a little olive oil in the skillet and set stove at medium heat. Stir fry it in batches – don’t put too many in the pan at one time.
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After that Sauté them around for at least 3-4 minutes just until they are nicely browned and done. Once browned place them in the slow cooker. This step improves flavor and is optional though if one has little time left they may skip this step.
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As always, it is time to get ready your slow cooker if you have one or use similar appliance. Place all the browned (or raw) meatballs in a single layer over the bottom of the slow cooker pot. This makes that all the meatballs taste the same and all come in contact with the flavors from the sauce.
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In another bowl, pour 2 cups of the chicken broth and 1 cup of heavy cream, stir to combine the two compounds. This must be poured over the meatballs before they are cooked in the slow cooker. Next stir in 1 cup of chopped sundried tomatoes first on top without stirring so that can release their flavors into the sauce.
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Place the slow cooker lid over your slow cooking dish and turn it to low, in this case you should cook for approximately 4 hours or put it on high and let cook for 2 hours. When cooking use the method of not lifting the lid frequently as this reduces heat and increases cooking time.
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It’s recommended that 30 minutes to preparation time, 500g of gnocchi should be added gently to the slow cooker. Ensure that they are immersed in the sauce for correct cooking; then use the lid and let them soften.
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The last few minutes of cooking should be when it’s incorporated 2 cups of fresh spinach and it shrinks. This introduced colorful and wonderful appearing nutrient into the food without affecting the feel of the food.
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Once all the ingredients are tender and flavors are nicely developed reduce the heat of your slow cooker and let it sit for approximately 10 minutes before serving. From this resting period, the flavors have further time to develop and settle, which is much better for your palates.
RECIPE TIPS & VARIATIONS
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Add Vegetables: Increase nutrition even more by adding diced bell peppers or zucchini when the dish is being cooked. The above vegetables accompany this meal well without distorting its tastes and flavors.
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Cheese Variation: For those people who have a preference for sharp flavoured cheese replace Parmesan with Pecorina Romano or mozzarella if you prefer a chewy cheese when melted.
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Herb Substitution: For those who may wish to use different herbs or try out a change of taste, fresh parsley may be replaced with fresh basil to give foods an aromatic Italian appearance.
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Spice it Up: For those who want extra hot meals, add them according to ones tolerance when adding the other ingredients or even sprinkle them on top of the meals.
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Make Ahead: For those of you who don’t have a lot of spare time in the week, prepare the meatballs in advance and freeze before cooking. Perfect for slow cooker meals as you can take frozen meatballs and place them into your slow cooker with the sauce ingredients!
EQUIPMENT
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Slow Cooker
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Mixing Bowl
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Skillet
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Measuring Cups and Spoons
Note
SERVING TIPS 💡
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Serve hot directly from the slow cooker for a cozy meal experience.
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Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley before serving.
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Pair with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal.
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Offer extra sun-dried tomatoes on the side for those who enjoy more flavor.
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Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
If you're looking for a quick and flavorful meal, check out this easy One Pot Greek Chicken & Lemon Rice recipe.
