Oven-Baked because when it comes to chicken wings – they are equally delicious prepared in the oven as they are deep fried. And well….New Years resolutions!

Of Love! It just sums up how we feel about these finger-licking good crispy chicken delights!

If you’ve ever had Bang Bang Shrimp then you know how crazy good this crispy sweet heat combination is! There was a time when I’d crave these shrimp and have to make a trek to the nearest Bone Fish Grill. Now we make them at home without sacrificing flavor!

The wings are tossed in a mixture of panko and cornstarch, then layered on a rack lined baking sheet and baked for an hour at 400 degrees F.

The magic happens when the wings are tossed in the heavenly Quick & Easy 4-Ingredient Bang Bang Sauce. It has just the right balance of tangy sweet heat and comes together quickly.

Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love make the perfect crowd-pleasing Game Day treat!

Have you got a favorite flavor pairing? I’m always on the lookout for new chicken wing inspiration. We’re thinking Dill Pickle should be next up!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Pin It For Later

Print

Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love!

Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love make the perfect crowd-pleasing Game Day treat!

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Oven-Baked Wings

• 1 pound chicken wings flats & drums separated
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF version)

For the Bang Bang Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1 Tablespoon sriracha hot sauce
• 1 Tablespoon honey

Instructions

For the Oven-Baked Wings

• Preheat the oven to 400° F. Place a rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a large bowl combine cornstarch and panko. Toss wings in mixture then place on rack in a single layer. Bake for 1 hour.

For the Bang Bang Sauce

• In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Place baked wings in a large bowl, add sauce and toss to coat.

The post Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love! appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Super cheesy, ultra creamy, with a little something special to make them go hmmmm.

Macaroni & Cheese Basics

The “Macaroni” Pasta

I LOVE Cavatappi (translated to “corkscrew” in English) or Cellantani (“whirl” in English).

These whirling twirling double elbow hollow pastas are THE BEST at holding on to cheese sauce. And isn’t that what makes a great macaroni and cheese?!!

The White Sauce

For those of us who took home economics in Middle School you’ll remember learning how to make this, the most basic of the five mother sauces.

I always start my cheese sauce by making a white sauce, also known as Béchamel Sauce.

Classically a white sauce is made with the following ratio:

• 2 Tablespoons of butter
• 2 Tablespoons of flour
• 1 cup of whole milk
• salt & pepper to taste

For this recipe, I finish my white sauce with a little seasoning of dry mustard and cayenne. Do not over salt the sauce as the cheeses bring that nice saltiness to the finished dish.

The Cheese

As the title of this post declares – we’ll use three cheeses in this recipe.

• Sharp Cheddar – great melting cheese that brings a deeper flavor profile than the milder varieties
• Gruyere – super creamy, excellent melting cheese with a slightly nutty flavor
• American or better yet, White Queso Dip – that’s right! American cheese gives this cheese sauce it’s incredibly creamy consistency and if your Queso has a little jalapeño kick, even better!

While it will take you a few minutes longer, grate your own cheese. The pre-packed shredded cheese is coated with preservatives like potato starch to keep it from sticking together. This coating changes the consistency and melting qualities.

Plus you get far more for your money when you invest a little elbow grease and grate your own!

Recipe Note: each 8 ounce block of cheese will yield about 3 cups of shredded cheese.

The Crumb Topping

Melted butter, panko breadcrumbs, and shredded parmesan cheese combine to make the most heavenly crumb topping!

Yes, I am squarely on team Crumb Topping. I love a good buttery crispy layer on top of my mac ‘n’ cheese. And my squash casserole. And my cassoulets.

However, for this recipe, if crumbs aren’t your thing (or your kids aren’t fans) then by all means replace the crumb with a little more shredded cheese on top before baking!

Things that make you go hmmm

I’ll never forget the first time I added queso dip to my macaroni & cheese. We were having a family dinner with the kids, a few significant others, and my sister Sarah.

Slowly as everyone began to take bites of the various dishes on their plates I could see a little mac ‘n’ cheese lovefest beginning to brew.

“This is really good mac ‘n’ cheese”

“It’s so creamy and cheesy….I love it”

“Omgeee is there queso in this? It’s sooo good!”

“Mom, this is the best mac ‘n’ cheese you’ve ever made.”

The truth is I’ve never made two the same in my life. Sure, there are certain similarities but I always manage to change it up.

Yesterday I had a neighbor ask for the recipe. Insert the emoji with big wide eyes.

So nearly 10 years after creating Lemony Thyme I’m finally putting the recipe in print! Wishing you a little mac ‘n’ cheese lovefest at your house!!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Pin It For Later

Print

The Best Three Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese

If you want to deliver comfort, bring them The Best Three Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese. It's super cheesy and ultra creamy, with a little extra love.

Course Entree, Side Dish

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Three Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese

• 1 pound dried Cavatappi or Cellentani pasta
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt to taste
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated, divided
• 4 ounces gruyere cheese freshly grated
• 16 ounces White Queso Dip or sub small cubed white American cheese

For the Crumb Topping

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Instructions

For the Three Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
• Prepare the pasta according to package instructions. Drain.
• Meanwhile, prepare the white sauce by melting butter in a medium heavy bottom pan over medium heat. Once melted and bubbly, whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Mixture should be smooth and bubbly. Gradually whisk in milk. Continue whisking for another minute until fully incorporated and smooth. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently. Continue cooking until mixture has thickened, about 5-7 minutes. Season with mustard powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
• Reduce heat to low and begin adding grated cheeses and queso, reserving 1/2 cup grated cheddar for assembly. Whisk to combine after each addition, until all cheese is melted and smooth. Pour cheese sauce over cooked pasta and stir well to fully combine.
• Pour half of macaroni mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese. Top with remaining macaroni.

For the Crumb Topping

• Melt butter in microwave or in small pan on stovetop. Remove from heat. Stir in panko and parmesan and mix to combine. Sprinkle crumb topping over mac 'n' cheese. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.

Notes

Recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator and bake at 350° F. for 30 minutes or until heated through.
Remove baking sheet from refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to baking for more even baking/heating.

The post The Best Three Cheese Mac ‘n’ Cheese appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Yes, I referenced the holidays. They will be here in no time and this year we’ll be ready! We’ll have a whole line up of appetizers queue’d up and ready to go!

It just so happens this warm & cheesy dip is also game day worthy!

For this oven baked dip think bacon-wrapped, cheese-stuffed jalapeño popper flavors! Fresh jalapeños, 3 kinds of cheese, bacon-love, and a buttery crisp topping make this dip a fan favorite.

Jalapeño Popper Dip Ingredients

• For the Dip
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 5-6 jalapenos, roasted & diced
• 6 slices bacon, cooked crispy & chopped
• For the Topping
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 4 Tablespoons butter, melted

How to Assemble the Dip

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place a rack in a rimmed baking pan lined with aluminum foil
• Arrange bacon slices and jalapenos on rack and bake for 20 minutes (or until bacon is crispy)
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the remaining dip ingredients
• Chop bacon and jalapenos (discard stems and seeds), mix into dip
• Transfer dip to an 8×8 baking dish coated with cooking spray
• In a small bowl, combine Topping ingredients and spread on top of dip
• Bake for 20 minutes
• Garnish with crispy bacon and sliced jalapeno
• Serve with favorite chips or crackers

Recipe Tips

• You can adjust the ‘heat’ on this dip by adding more jalapenos or including the seeds. I used 5 average sized jalapenos (about 4″ long) and discarded the seeds. The result was mild on the heat meter.
• Cooking the bacon in the oven makes for easy cleanup.
• Roasting the jalapenos first mellows them out a bit and adds a nice smoky flavor.

For my college cooking kids, this Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe is right up your alley! You can even assemble it the day before and just pop it in the oven before serving.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Pin It For Later

Print

Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe

This Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe is perfect for holiday entertaining and a great addition to your game day spread!

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Dip

• 6 slices bacon
• 5-6 jalapenos
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
• 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese shredded
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

For the Topping

• 4 Tablespoons butter melted
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten free for GF version)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese shredded

To Serve

• garnish with reserved crispy bacon & sliced jalapeno
• serve with favorite chips or crackers

Instructions

For the Dip

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Place a rack in a foil lined rimmed baking sheet. Arrange bacon slices and jalapenos on rack. Bake for 20 minutes or until bacon is crispy.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine remaining Dip ingredients. In a small bowl, combine Topping ingredients.
• Remove bacon and jalapenos from oven. Allow to cool slightly. Dice jalapenos, discarding stem and seeds. Chop bacon, reserving 2 Tablespoons for garnish. Add remaining bacon and diced jalapeno to dip. Transfer mixture to an 8×8 baking dish. Spread topping over dip. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Garnish with sliced jalapeno and crispy bacon. Serve warm from oven with favorite chips or crackers.

The post Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Lemon and feta and fresh spinach and herbs all playing so nicely together.

Ground chicken is such a wonderful canvas for painting big bold flavors and that’s exactly what we’ve done on this Greek Meze platter.

Meze (or mezze) pronounced Meh-ZEH, simply means small plates or an assortment of finger foods and appetizers. Welcome to my happy place.

I could have paired these Greek Chicken Meatballs with a side of rice and it would have been a delicious meal.

But when I have the chance to make an assortment of dishes to be shared with my favorite people, I’m all in.

A nice Greek salad, tzatziki sauce, hummus, assorted olives, pita bread and Greek chicken meatballs make a flavorful Mediterranean inspired board.

How to Make the Meatballs

These meatballs are loaded with flavorful aromatics and come together so quickly.

Simply combine all ingredients except your chicken and mix well. Then add in the chicken and mix until just combined. Form into meatballs, I like these on the larger size – about 1 1/2-inches in diameter (15 meatballs). Then into the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend Recipe

The Results

Greek Chicken Meatballs, inspired by my Greek Chicken Meatloaf, are super flavorful and juicy. They are a wonderfully healthy lunch or dinner option and they reheat beautifully.

If you’re interested in serving these as a Meze, consider pairing them with some of these options.

Greek Salad

Tzatziki Sauce

While I have attempted Homemade Pita Bread (no pockets but makes a tasty flatbread), I recently discovered this Gluten Free Pita Bread by BFree and it’s pretty tasty!

Hummus

Tabouleh & Coucous Salad

Pork Souvlaki

Lamb Gyro

Baked Shrimp {with Feta & Herbs}

That my friends concludes our March Meatball Madness!

For a look back at all the recipes shared over the past month check out Our Favorite Meatball Recipes {and a food truck fantasy}.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Greek Chicken Meatballs {with Spinach & Feta}

Greek Chicken Meatballs are super flavorful and juicy. They are a wonderfully healthy lunch or dinner option and they reheat beautifully.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (use Gluten Free for GF version)
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup fresh spinach rough chopped
• 1 scallion thinly sliced
• 1 Tablespoons fresh oregano (and/or parsley) chopped
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend see recipe link in post
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

To Serve

• Greek Salad Recipe link in post
• Hummus Recipe link in post
• Tzatziki Sauce Recipe link in post
• Pita Bread
• Assorted Olives

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all ingredients except chicken and mix well. Add in ground chicken and mix just until combined. Form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes until meatballs are firm to the touch.

To Serve

• Serve meatballs with Greek Salad, Hummus, Tzatziki Sauce, assorted olives and warm Pita Bread.

The post Greek Chicken Meatballs {and a Meze Platter} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Through all of this March Meatball Madness I have received several requests through social media (some subtle, some not) to share more vegetarian options.

This veggie-loving lady is happy to oblige!

I have shared before how fortunate we are to have two outstanding (and gigantic) year-round indoor Farmers Markets less than 30 minutes away ~ Buford Highway and Dekalb.

Both carry a wonderful selection of produce, so many varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs that I find myself googling how to incorporate them into recipes.

The Process

For this Eggplant Meatball recipe I oven roasted one pound of eggplant cubes at 450 degrees F. for 25 minutes.

Then I pulsed them in the food processor a few times before incorporating them into the remaining ingredients.

For added flavor I used both fresh parsley and fresh basil along with garlic and parmesan cheese.

Then egg and Panko breadcrumbs to bind the mixture.

You should be able to get a dozen nice sized meatballs.

Eggplant Meatballs have a wonderful texture that is both ‘meaty’ and moist with fresh herbs smiling throughout.

We enjoyed them over pasta with tomato sauce and even had enough to share the love with our favorite over-the-fence neighbor Ms. Pat :)

Who in kind, returned the love by sending us two delightful Negroni cocktails.

No doubt the past twelve months have been difficult and for some heart breaking and tragic.

Cooking is my love language and being able to share that love, even if there’s a fence between us, fills my heart.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Eggplant Meatballs

Eggplant Meatballs have a wonderful texture that is both 'meaty' and moist with fresh herbs smiling throughout. Delicious served over pasta with tomato sauce or as an appetizer with a side of marinara.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound eggplant cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF version)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1/4 cup fresh herbs (parsley and basil) finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

To Serve

• 1/2 pound favorite pasta prepared according to package instructions
• 1 cup favorite tomato sauce
• parmesan cheese
• fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Preheat the oven to 450° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss eggplant cubes in olive oil and spread in single layer onto baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn over cubes and bake an additional 10 minutes. Cool slightly before transferring to bowl of a food processor; pulse 2-3 times.
• Reduce oven to 400° F. In a bowl, combine eggplant with remaining meatball ingredients. Form into 12 meatballs and place on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

To Serve

• Serve meatballs over favorite pasta with tomato sauce and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil. Also wonderful as an appetizer with a side of tomato sauce.

The post Eggplant Meatballs appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

It’s the kind of dish you deliver to a friend when they need a little reassurance that everything is going to be O.K.

For these Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, we’re going to stuff balls of fresh mozzarella into perfectly seasoned meatballs. Fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and garlic all shine through.

Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend

There are a few pantry staples that I try to always have on hand.

THIS Hemis’fares Fusilli Bucati Lunghi pasta is amazing. It’s bucatini (with a hole down the middle) meets fusilli and it cooks up perfectly.

I’m pretty sure most pasta lovers have already discovered RAO’s sauces. If I find them on sale, I’m definitely stocking up. These are the ingredients in their Marinara: ITALIAN WHOLE PEELED TOMATOES (PEELED TOMATOES, TOMATO PUREE, SALT, BASIL LEAF), OLIVE OIL, ONIONS, SALT, GARLIC, BASIL, BLACK PEPPER, OREGANO. Nothing chemical here.

And lastly, most of my meatball recipes include Panko Breadcrumbs. Which in our house always means Ian’s Gluten Free regular or Italian Style. They are perfect and allow me to eat all the meatballs I desire. Winning!

I used all three of these favorite ingredients in our Chicken Parmesan Meatball Bake. Aka great big pan of love!

This family friendly meal comes together quickly and is ready to put on the table in no time.

Serve with an Italian Tossed Green Salad and Parmesan & Herb Bread Knots and you’ll be pushing HERO status!

If you love this Pasta Bake, you might also love our Chicken Parmesan Meatball Sliders!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs {over Bucatini}

This is the kind of dish you deliver to a friend when they need a little reassurance that everything is going to be O.K.

Course Main Course

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF version)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
• 1 large egg
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/4 cup fresh basil finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon Garlic & Herb seasoning see recipe link in post
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 15 mini-fresh mozzarella balls

For the Pasta Bake

• 1 pound Hemis'fare Fusilli Bucati or favorite bucatini pasta
• 1 jar 32 ounce RAO's Marinara or favorite pasta sauce
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
• fresh basil to garnish

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Lightly coat 9×13 baking dish with olive oil. In a bowl, combine all meatball ingredients except mozzarella balls. Form mixture into 15 meatballs press a mozzarella ball into the center of each and roll to encase. Place in baking dish. Bake for 12 minutes until meatballs are firm to the touch.

For the Pasta Bake

• Reduce oven temp. to 350° F. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions. Drain and toss with marinara sauce. Pour pasta/sauce into baking dish with meatballs. Nestle meatballs around pasta. Top with grated parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.

The post Chicken Parmesan Meatballs Over Bucatini appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Savory beef meatballs stuffed with provolone cheese, nestled on a bed of sautéed onions, mushrooms and peppers all under a blanket of provolone cheese sauce.

I mean!

The meatball ingredients are pretty straight forward.

I know that the classic Philly Cheesesteak does not necessarily have sautéed onions – you can order ‘wit’ (with) or ‘wit-out’ (without) fried onions.

I’m definitely a ‘wit’ onions girl, so I sautéed some fine diced onion and put them right into the meatballs.

Along with cubes of provolone cheese.

Yes, I stuffed a 1/2″ cube of cheese inside each of the meatballs before baking them at 400 degrees F. for 15 minutes.

These Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs fresh from the oven were melt in your mouth delicious! Nice and juicy with an oozy cheesy center.

But we didn’t stop there.

The meatballs alone would make a dynamite appetizer served with a provolone cheese dipping sauce.

But load them into a hoagie roll with some sautéed onion, mushrooms and peppers and drizzle of cheese sauce and you’ll think you’ve died and gone straight to Philadelphia!

Which I’ve had the pleasure of doing several times.

What a great city!

Lovely architecture, loads of history, Philly Cheesesteaks of course, and a great street culture scene painted with colorful murals.

If you haven’t been to Philadelphia I hope you get the chance one day.

Until then, you can get a taste of it by making Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs at home!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs

These Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs fresh from the oven were melt in your mouth delicious! Nice and juicy with an oozy cheesy center.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup onion fine diced
• 18 1/2 inch cubes provolone cheese about 2 ounces
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF Version)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 1 large egg
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic & Herb Seasoning recipe on blog
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound ground beef

For the Cheese Sauce

• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 Tablespoon flour (or arrow root for gluten free)
• 1 cup milk
• 6 ounces provolone cheese grated
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
• salt & pepper to taste

For Serving (optional)

• 4 hoagie rolls or party toothpicks
• 1 medium onion sliced
• 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
• 3 Italian long hot peppers or 1 green bell pepper sliced
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil for sauteeing vegetables

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Saute onion in olive oil over medium high heat, just until beginning to brown. Cut provolone into 18 – 1/2-inch cubes.
• Combine remaining meatball ingredients, except ground beef. Fold in ground beef and mix just until combined. Form into 18 meatballs, pressing a cheese cube into the center of each, and rolling with hands to encase. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

For the Cheese Sauce

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour, continue whisking until flour is bubbling 1-2 minutes. Whisk in cold milk and continue to stir until sauce comes to a low boil. Add in shredded provolone and parmesan cheese. Stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

For Serving (optional)

• Saute mushrooms, onions and peppers in olive oil until begining to caramelize. If serving as hoagies, toast rolls. Fill with sauteed veggies, meatballs and drizzle with cheese sauce. If serving as appetizer meatballs, place sauteed veggies in serving bowl, topped with meatballs and cheese sauce. Serve with party toothpicks.

The post Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Chicken Satay Meatballs were my sister Sarah’s call. In fact Sarah had several suggestions for March Meatball Madness. Let’s just say she has a vivid imagination and extreme creativity when it comes to food and I love her for it!!!

After all those colorful suggestions we landed on Chicken Satay Meatballs with Peanut Dipping Sauce. It was a great choice!

For the meatballs, I incorporated many of the ingredients you would use in Chicken Satay marinade. I combined ginger, garlic, chili crisp, sesame oil, peanut butter, turmeric and basil with Panko breadcrumbs and an egg, then folded that mixture into the ground chicken.

I decided to serve these as lettuce wraps so I made them a little larger, almost 2 inches (15 meatballs). Because ground chicken is soft and these meatballs are very tender before they’re cooked, I prefer to bake them at 400 degrees F. for 12 minutes or until firm to the touch.

If you’re late to the game like me or haven’t been introduced to Chili Crisp Oil yet, I mean….it’s a spunky jar of flavor wow and you’re missing out!! I’ve come to love it so much I making my own. And I will say that I’m a bit of a spicy food whimp, but there’s something about this blend of garlic and shallot and pepper flakes and oil…..addicting!

And then there’s the Peanut Dipping Sauce. It’s the right balance of sweet and savory and very peanut-y. The perfect dipping partner for these Chicken Satay Meatballs! They make a great appetizer or wrap them up in lettuce leaves and you’ve got a deliciously healthy, flavor-packed meal.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Chicken Satay Meatballs {with Peanut Dipping Sauce}

Chicken Satay Meataballs make a great appetizer or wrap them up in lettuce leaves and you've got a deliciously healthy, flavor-packed meal.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF version)
• 1 egg
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 Tablespoon ginger finely grated
• 1 Tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon chili crisp or sriracha chili crisp recipe link in post
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon dried basil

For Peanut Dipping Sauce

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup coconut milk or more for thinner sauce
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 teaspoon chili crisp or sriracha

To Serve (optional)

• fresh cilantro leaves
• crushed peanuts
• thinly sliced scallion
• lime wedges
• bibb lettuce cups

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all the meatball ingredients in a bowl and then add the ground beef. Mix just until incorporated. Form into 1 1/2" meatballs, place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until firm to the touch.

For the Peanut Sauce

• Add all dipping sauce ingredients to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat just until bubbling. Turn off and allow to cool slightly before serving.

To Serve

• Serve meatballs with peanut dipping sauce and as many optional garnishes as you like. Enjoy!

The post Chicken Satay Meatballs {with Peanut Dipping Sauce} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

My fantasy of owning a Food Truck featuring meatballs is always in the back of my mind, whirling and twirling with endless possibilities.

As with all of my meatball recipes, start by gathering all of your ingredients. Combine everything except the protein, in this case the salmon. Then gently fold in chopped salmon and form into meatballs. This will keep them tender and juicy.

Asian Salmon Meatballs would definitely be a food truck hit!

There’s just the right balance of fresh cilantro and ginger paired perfectly with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.

And there’s a little kick from our new favorite Chili Crisp Oil.

Every bite is so full of flavor that they’ll become a fan favorite.

If you love perfectly seasoned salmon then you’ll love these meatballs. They’re bursting with aromatic flavor that keeps you coming back for more!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

We’re always looking for new meatball recipes. Have any recipe inspiration you’d like to share in the comments below? Your feedback keeps me motivated in the kitchen :)

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Asian Salmon Meatballs

Asian Salmon Meatballs with just the right balance of fresh cilantro and ginger served with a sesame soy honey ginger dipping sauce that has a nice little kick.

Course Appetizer, Entree

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For meatballs…

• 2/3 lb. Salmon filet skin removed
• 3 scallions thin sliced
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves rough chopped
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1 tsp. soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tsp. sriracha or chili crisp oil recipe link in post
• 1 tsp. red curry paste
• 3 Tbl. panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF Version)

For sauce…

• 1/4 cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1 Tablespoon sriracha or chili crisp oil
• 1 tsp. fresh ginger grated
• 1/2 tsp. sesame seeds

Instructions

For the meatballs…

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Rough chop salmon in food processor. Combine all remaining meatball ingredients, then add salmon and mix until just combined. Make into 12 – 15 meatballs and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

For the sauce…

• In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a gentle boil. Spoon sauce over meatballs to serve.

The post Asian Salmon Meatballs Over Cauliflower Fried Rice appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

When I decided to share a different meatball recipe for the month of March I needed to enlist my loved ones for some recipe inspiration.

For Nick, we would transform his favorite Beef & Broccoli in a meatball meal.

The results were out of this world!

You know that sweet, salty, slightly spicy sauce that IS Beef & Broccoli, I incorporated that inside our meatballs and then gave them a quick stir-fry in it to glaze them before serving.

Our sauce combined coconut aminos (or soy sauce), honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, chili crisp oil, and black pepper.

The meatballs consisted of ground beef, Panko breadcrumbs, an egg, sliced scallion, and 1/4 cup of our stir-fry sauce. I baked them at 400 degrees F. for 10 minutes before giving them a swirl in the wok with the remaining sauce.

These meatballs are stop-you-in-your-grazing-tracks good!

Without question they are the star of Meatball Beef & Broccoli, however they are now going straight to the top of any appetizer or game-day spread we put out.

The only thing I’d change is to double (or triple) the recipe.

These went way too fast!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Meatball Beef & Broccoli

Without question they are the star of Meatball Beef & Broccoli, however they are now going straight to the top of any appetizer or game-day spread we put out. The only thing I'd change is to double (or triple) the recipe.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Stir Fry Sauce

• 3/4 cup coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger finely grated
• 2 teaspoon chili crisp oil or sriracha sauce recipe link in post
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free Panko for GF version)
• 1 large egg
• 2 scallion thinly sliced, about 1/2 cup
• 1/4 cup Stir Fry Sauce (above)

To Serve

• 2-3 cups broccoli florets blanched
• 1 cup rice prepared according to package
• 1 Tablespoon high heat oil such as avocado or sesame
• 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 scallion thinly sliced

Instructions

For the Stir Fry Sauce

• Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Reserve.

For the Meatballs

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl combine panko breadcrumbs, egg, scallion, and 1/4 cup of prepared Stir Fry Sauce. Add ground beef and mix gently until combined. Form into 1 1/2" meatballs (about 20) and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

To Serve

• While meatballs are in oven, bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch broccoli for 2 minutes. Drain and reserve. Prepare Rice according to package instructions.
• In a wok or heavy skillet, heat 1 Tablespoon of high heat oil. Add meatballs and remaining stir fry sauce. Cook for 3-4 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is slightly thickened.
• Serve in bowls with rice, broccoli, and meatballs. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions.

The post Meatball Beef & Broccoli appeared first on Lemony Thyme.