14 Easy Ground Chicken Recipes Perfect for Weeknight Meals

Ground chicken is a versatile, lean protein that’s perfect for quick, flavorful meals the whole family will love. From crispy baked tacos and kid-friendly meatballs to international favorites like Thai curry, teriyaki, and Greek-inspired dishes, this roundup has it all. These recipes are easy to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or a fun twist on classic favorites. Whether you’re cooking for kids, adults, or both, these ground chicken ideas make every meal satisfying and delicious.

Baked Chicken Meatballs with Veggies & Yogurt Sauce

A bowl filled with several golden-brown baked meatballs, shown close up. — Baked Chicken Meatballs with Veggies & Yogurt Sauce. Photo credit: Chef’s Pencil.

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Vegetables are mixed into the meat for added texture. Baking keeps the meatballs evenly cooked and lightly crisp outside. The yogurt sauce adds a cool, tangy contrast. This pairing works well for plated meals or wraps.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Meatballs with Veggies & Yogurt Sauce

Thai Curry Chicken Meatballs

A skillet filled with meatballs in a creamy orange sauce, garnished with fresh cilantro, sits beside a bunch of cilantro and a green-striped towel. — Thai Curry Chicken Meatballs. Photo credit: The Short Order Cook.

These meatballs cook in a coconut based curry sauce with herbs and spices. The sauce stays smooth and coats each piece evenly. Fresh herbs are often added at the end for brightness. They are usually served with rice or flat noodles.
Get the Recipe: Thai Curry Chicken Meatballs

Juicy Chicken Pesto Meatballs – Kid-Friendly & Delicious

A plate of cooked green herb meatballs garnished with fresh arugula, with a lemon wedge and garlic cloves nearby. — Juicy Chicken Pesto Meatballs – Kid-Friendly & Delicious. Photo credit: Hip Hip Gourmet.

Pesto is mixed into the meat for herb and garlic flavor. The meatballs bake with light browning on the outside. The sauce clings to the surface of each piece. They work well with pasta or simple sides.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Chicken Pesto Meatballs – Kid-Friendly & Delicious

Chicken Ricotta Meatballs

A close-up of spaghetti with tomato sauce and a sliced meatball, garnished with parsley and grated cheese on a white plate with a blue rim. — Chicken Ricotta Meatballs. Photo credit: My Rad Kitchen.

Ricotta keeps these meatballs soft and delicate inside. The outside stays lightly browned after baking or pan cooking. They work well in tomato sauce or creamy pasta dishes. The texture stays tender even after reheating.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Ricotta Meatballs

Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

A bowl of vegetable soup with meatballs, surrounded by a plate of toasted bread, another bowl of soup, and a bowl of cooked grains on a wooden table. — Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Heavenly Spiced.

Small chicken meatballs cook directly in the broth. Greens and tiny pasta add texture to each spoonful. The broth stays light but flavorful. Everything cooks in one pot.
Get the Recipe: Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs

Several browned meatballs garnished with chopped parsley are arranged on a white plate, each pierced with a small wooden pick. — Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs. Photo credit: Trop Rockin Recipes.

This method cooks meatballs evenly with minimal oil. The surface becomes lightly crisp while staying soft inside. They are easy to season in many different ways. Cooking time stays short and consistent.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs

Costco Chicken Meatballs

A plate of cooked meatballs garnished with herbs, with a small bowl of red dipping sauce in the background. — Costco Chicken Meatballs. Photo credit: My Rad Kitchen.

These meatballs are known for their firm texture and mild seasoning. They heat quickly in the oven or on the stove. Many people use them in pasta, wraps, or grain bowls. Their neutral flavor works with many sauces.
Get the Recipe: Costco Chicken Meatballs

Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs

Close-up of glazed meatballs garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, with a spoon lifting one meatball from the sauce. — Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Box.

These meatballs are glazed with a glossy, sweet and savory sauce. The outside caramelizes slightly while staying tender inside. They pair well with rice or can be served on skewers. Extra sauce is often brushed on just before serving.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Meatballs: Easy and Delicious!

A hand holding a pastry with a bite taken out of it. — Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Meatballs: Easy and Delicious!. Photo credit: Dinners Done Quick.

These meatballs cook quickly in circulating heat. The outside becomes crisp while the inside stays juicy. Buffalo style sauce is brushed on after cooking. They are often served with simple dipping sauces.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Meatballs: Easy and Delicious!

Buffalo Chicken Chili

A bowl and pot of cheesy southwest chicken casserole with beans and vegetables; chopped green onions and shredded cheese are in small bowls nearby on a wooden table. — Buffalo Chicken Chili. Photo credit: Homemade In The Kitchen.

This chili combines ground chicken with hot sauce and spices. The broth thickens as it simmers with beans and vegetables. The flavor stays bold and slightly tangy. It is usually topped with cooling garnishes.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Chili

COPYCAT PF CHANG’s LETTUCE WRAPS

Three lettuce wraps filled with seasoned ground meat and diced vegetables are arranged on a white plate, with a small dish of sauce in the background. — COPYCAT PF CHANG’s LETTUCE WRAPS. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

This version recreates the sweet and salty balance found in the restaurant dish. The chicken is cooked until lightly browned before sauce is added. Garlic and ginger build strong aroma in the pan. The filling is spooned into lettuce cups just before serving.
Get the Recipe: COPYCAT PF CHANG’s LETTUCE WRAPS

PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps

Three lettuce leaves filled with a mixture of diced vegetables and cooked ground meat are arranged on a blue plate. — PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps. Photo credit: Entirely Emmy.

This dish features finely chopped chicken cooked in a savory sauce. Crisp lettuce leaves act as the outer wrap for each scoop. Water chestnuts add crunch to the filling. Each bite mixes warm filling with cool greens.
Get the Recipe: PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps

Easy Greek Chicken and Feta Baked Meatballs | Gluten-Free

A bowl of rice topped with chicken meatballs, tzatziki sauce, feta cheese, and a Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions, with drinks and garnishes on the side. — Easy Greek Chicken and Feta Baked Meatballs | Gluten-Free. Photo credit: Hungry Whisk.

These meatballs bake until lightly golden on the outside. Feta melts slightly into the meat, adding tang and moisture. Herbs give the mixture a familiar Mediterranean flavor. They are often served with cucumber sauce or simple salads.
Get the Recipe: Easy Greek Chicken and Feta Baked Meatballs | Gluten-Free

Greek Chicken Meatballs (Easy, Juicy & Delicious!)

A plate of meatballs served on greens with a side of creamy white sauce, garnished with herbs and lemon zest. Metal tongs and small dishes are visible beside the plate. — Greek Chicken Meatballs (Easy, Juicy & Delicious!). Photo credit: Hip Hip Gourmet.

These meatballs stay moist thanks to added breadcrumbs and herbs. Baking keeps them evenly cooked without turning dry. They are often paired with lemon based sauces. Leftovers stay tender after reheating.
Get the Recipe: Greek Chicken Meatballs (Easy, Juicy & Delicious!)