Mozzarella Stuffed Caprese Chicken Meatballs

Your taste buds will thank you when you cut open one of these and see the oozing cheese! Not to mention they are made from ground chicken and baked! You can certainly make them with ground beef or turkey but I loved the flavors of these. I made them in a Caprese style. They are very impressive to serve to guests. 

1 lb ground chicken

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup fresh spinach, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 shallot, minced

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

1 egg, beaten

fresh mozzarella balls

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients with the exception of the mozzarella.

Separate the meat mixture into about half a dozen equal parts. I used an overflowing tablespoon for each. Take a mozzarella ball, and evenly wrap your meat mixture around it and then form a ball between your hands. Lay onto a very lightly greased cookie sheet.

 

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Rotate the bottom to the top of each meatball and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. Don't bake them too long or the cheese will leak out!

I made a fresh tomato "sauce" to spoon over them.

6 small vine Roma tomatoes

1/4 cup white cooking wine

1 Tsp olive oil

1/2 Tsp sugar

Slice the tomatoes into bite sized pieces and heat in a small skillet with the oil. After about 5 minutes, add the wine and sprinkle sugar on top. Cook just until the tomatoes start to get transparent and most of the liquid is soaked up (about 10 minutes).