I received free product for a recipe contest in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
Delicious stuffed chicken meatballs made tasty with Mahon Cheese will be a tasty addition to your pasta or vegetables.
Who doesn’t love a good meatball? I sure love them and they make a great holiday appetizer as well as a topping to a big plate of pasta. Chicken meatballs are a nice alternative to beef and these were a perfect meatball for some zoodles.
Healthy eating is my goal since the beginning of the year and I purchased an air fryer to help me get to those healthy goals. Substituting ground chicken and turkey for most of my beef recipes made a big difference. So glad I did! I find I’m getting a fresher flavor without sacrificing taste.
Meatballs are the best and they rock as an appetizer and a part of a main dish. I was sent some Mahon cheese to put together a recipe for their contest and meatballs came to mind right away.
Why Mahon Cheese for Chicken Meatballs
Have you heard of Mahon-Menorca Cheese? It was new to me and it’s a cheese (and I’m a big cheese fan) so you know I had to know all about it. Cheese is one of my favorite food groups so I was all over that!!
The simple definition from Wiki is
Mahón cheese is a soft to hard white cheese made from cow’s milk, named after the natural port of Mahón on the island of Menorca off the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Menorca is known for its cheese production and is home to one of the most respected dairy plants in Europe.
This is the perfect cheese to stuff a meatball with right? Check out this recipe using my air fryer and see for yourself.
Cheese Stuffed Chicken Meatballs
Perfectly light for your pasta dishes or an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 5 heaping teaspoon Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 Tablespoons chopped mushrooms
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1-2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2-3 ounces Mahon Mahorca Soft cheese
Instructions
-
Mix together all ingredients except the cheese. Separate into 8-12 portions, depending on how big you want your meatballs. I did 10.
-
Place a chunk of cheese in the middle of each portion and roll it up into a ball with the cheese securely inside.
-
Spray the basket of your air fryer. Place the meatballs in the fryer and spray the tops. Be sure to leave a little space in between.
-
Cook at 350 for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
The beauty of the air fryer is that the hot air that circulates around the meatballs gives them a slightly crispy outside while keeping the meat and cheese moist inside. Plus, all that excess grease goes to the bottom of the basket, not into your food.
I bit into these chicken meatballs and they exploded with flavor! You’ll see why this cheese is perfect for them. There is a nice cheesy surprise in the center, plus the flavor really pairs well with the seasoned ground chicken.
I know you’re ready to go buy some now. Mahón-Menorca Cheese can be purchased nationwide at Whole Foods, and at other fine retailers such as Fairway Markets, Harris Teeter, Saveway, Kroger, Murray’s, Central Markets, Costco, Gourmet Garage, West Side Markets, Zabar’s, Central and Town & Country Markets in Seattle and at the best specialty stores all over the country
Dying to know more? Check out their Facebook page, Twitter feed and their Instagram for more information, recipes and inspiration.
If you like these, try some other meatball recipes
George N. Bryant says
January 22, 2019 at 7:54 amAir fryer is much better than a deep fryer, I have also tried stuffed chicken and pizza with my air fryer and it’s really delicious.
George N. Bryant recently posted…How Good are Air Fryers and What are the Benefits of Air Fryers?
Lori Hart says
January 22, 2019 at 10:25 amI totally agree!!! Never owned a deep fryer so I can’t personally compare the two, but the air fryer is such a healthy option. Makes awesome sweet potato fries too.