Whole30 Approved Flavorful Anti-Inflammatory Chicken Meatballs

Last updated: December 6, 2024

These anti-inflammatory chicken thigh meatballs are one of my quick and simple go-to family meals when I don’t have a lot of time to spend on dinner. They are filling, tasty, and satisfying.

I also find when I eat these Whole30-approved meatballs, I don’t go overboard, which sometimes is easy to do with traditional meatballs. I come from an Italian heritage and meatballs are a staple in our house, but these chicken thigh meatballs give me a new way to serve a classic dish.

I am sharing this recipe with you today because I am wellness coach who has personally struggled with hormonal imbalances and inflammation issues. By changing what I ate using both an elimination and paleo-friendly diet, I was able to balance my hormones and improve my gut health. So, let’s jump right in to how to make these healthy and delicious meatballs.

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Why Chicken Thighs are Good for You

I used to think that chicken thighs or dark chicken meat were “bad” for me. I think somewhere along the road chicken breasts got all the glory and chicken thighs were labeled as something unhealthy. I am here to tell you this is just completely untrue.

Chicken thigh meat whether used ground or whole as your source of protein is so delicious. It stays very juicy and tender, as opposed to breasts that tend to dry out and become tough. Plus, they are a cheap protein coming in on the low-end of price per pound compared to other proteins.

I won’t share the chicken thigh calories or fat grams here because I don’t count those! I let that go a long time ago. If you buy quality chicken thighs that are hormone-free and from responsible farms, then eating a palm-sized piece of chicken thigh is a healthy meal.

Anti-Inflammatory Meatballs Ingredients

2 lb of ground chicken thigh
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 onion finely chopped
3 large cloves of garlic minced
4 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tsp of salt
6 Tbsp of avocado oil

Anti-Inflammatory Meatballs Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
Mix chicken, egg, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt in a bowl.
Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
When the fat is hot, use a cookie spoon scoop to make meatballs the size of golf balls, and carefully drop the meatballs into the oil.
It is going to be a gooey consistency. If your meatballs aren’t perfect, that is okay!
Pan cook for about 30 seconds per side and turning to prevent from burning. Turn consistently browning each side. This should take about five minutes.
Transfer the meatballs to the baking sheet.
Finishing cooking in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until they reach 160 degrees.
Let them rest 3-5 minutes before serving.

Serving: I eat mine with sugar-free compliant ketchup and others love compliant mayo. I love aioli mayo with garlic that is perfect for dipping, make sure you get one that is soy and dairy-free!

Before we move on, if you are interested in eating an anti-inflammatory and Whole30-friendly diet, go ahead and click the button below to get a FREE Anti-Inflammatory Diet Food List!

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Tips I Have Learned from Making Chicken Thigh Meatballs

These chicken thigh meatballs are delicious and EASY, but ground chicken thigh meat is a bit different to work with than your typical ground meat. The chicken thigh meat is much gooier.

So my suggestion is to use a cookie spoon scoop, if you have one, or any spoon will do. Plus, the chicken thighs will stick to your fingers, and you will waste a good portion of your chicken thigh meat if you don’t use a spoon.

Did you make this anti-inflammatory meatball recipe? What did you think?

Please share your thoughts on this recipe in the comments! I hope you love it as much as I do. For more anti-inflammatory recipe ideas, you can check out the posts listed below.