Chicken Parmesan Meatball Bake with Mozzarella

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-07 · Updated 2026-07-07

Savory chicken meatballs baked in a rich tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella cheese for a low-carb Italian-inspired meal. This italian-inspired keto ready in about 45 minutes pairs ground chicken, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar-free marinara sauce
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground chicken, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup almond flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix until just combined.
2. Step 2: Form the mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs for 3-4 minutes per side until golden but not fully cooked.
3. Step 3: Pour 1 1/2 cups sugar-free marinara sauce over the meatballs, then sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and meatballs are cooked through. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.