Chicken Meatballs with Red Pesto
Chicken meatballs with red pesto is a complete main course where skinless chicken breasts are minced fresh in the Thermomix. The meatballs are steamed above basmati rice and potatoes, then finished with homemade red pesto and grated Parmesan. Juicy meat, tender vegetables and a bold sauce, all prepared in one TM7.
About this recipe
Chicken meatballs with red pesto Thermomix TM7 recipes are exactly the kind of quick weeknight dinner this all-in-one kitchen machine was built for. Skinless chicken breasts are minced directly in the mixing bowl, then combined with gluten-free breadcrumbs, fresh parsley and grated Parmesan into tender, flavourful meatballs. While they steam gently above basmati rice and potatoes, you blend a rich red pesto that coats everything with its savoury sun-dried tomato depth. Because the TM7 minces, grates, mixes and steams in a single appliance, you avoid raw chicken on your chopping board and spare yourself a tower of washing up. Serve it when you want a complete, gluten-free main course that satisfies both children and adults, with juicy meat, fluffy rice and a bold homemade sauce that tastes far more elaborate than the effort it takes.
Preparation tips
- For evenly shaped chicken meatballs, wet your hands with cold water before rolling; the minced chicken mixture with gluten-free breadcrumbs is slightly stickier than regular mince, and damp hands prevent it clinging to your palms.
- Serve the meatballs and red pesto over the basmati rice with the steamed potatoes on the side, then scatter extra grated Parmesan and torn parsley over everything just before bringing it to the table.
- If you want to prepare ahead, shape the chicken mixture into meatballs in the morning and keep them covered in the fridge; the parsley and Parmesan flavours deepen, making the dinner even tastier after a few hours of resting.
Recipe variations
- Make it dairy-free by replacing the Parmesan in both the meatballs and the red pesto with nutritional yeast; the potatoes and basmati rice keep the meal gluten-free, giving you an allergy-friendly version everyone at the table can enjoy.
- For a festive autumn variation, add roasted cubed pumpkin to the Varoma alongside the potatoes and swap half the basmati rice for wild rice, which turns this chicken meatball dinner into a colourful seasonal platter.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Mincing the skinless chicken breasts in seconds, the TM7 delivers fresher meatballs than ready-bought mince with no additives. [Multi-Function]
- Thanks to precise steaming, the meatballs cook gently above the basmati rice so they stay juicy rather than dry. [Precision Control]
- Weighing the gluten-free breadcrumbs directly in the bowl guarantees the chicken mixture binds properly every single time. [Time Savings]
- Grating the Parmesan cheese finely in moments, the Thermomix melts it evenly through both the meatballs and red pesto. [Multi-Function]
- Chopping the fresh parsley uniformly, the TM7 spreads its bright flavour through the mixture without large wet leaves. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- water
- fine sea salt
- basmati rice
- potatoes
- Parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley
- chicken breasts, skinless
- ground black pepper
- breadcrumbs, gluten free
- garlic clove