If you love a good caesar salad but want something more cozy and filling for winter, this Chicken Caesar Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner is about to become your new weeknight staple! Juicy, gluten-free chicken caesar meatballs roast up beautifully alongside shaved brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and chickpeas. It’s finished with a creamy drizzle of greek yogurt mixed with caesar dressing and plenty of grated parm, for a meal that’s packed with protein and fiber, and ready in just 35 minutes!
We are soooo back baby! Sorry I’ve been neglecting the meatball sheet pan dinners lately! They are one of my favorite fun and delicious ways to get in a ton of nutrients…and you guys seem to love them too. Today’s variation is simple but classic, and I truly can’t get enough. So say hello to my chicken caesar meatball sheet pan dinner!
These chicken meatballs are some of the juiciest I’ve ever tried, thanks to the caesar dressing & freshly grated parmesan inside. They are bright and lemony, garlicy and just everything you love about a chicken caesar. But the best part? They get oven-baked on a sheet pan with shaved brussels sprouts, sweet potato and chickpeas for an easy dinner that’s ready in 35 minutes. Minimal effort, minimal clean-up and a biggg reward.
We finish off this nourishing sheet pan dinner with a drizzle of a greek yogurt and caesar dressing combination and more grated parmesan cheese…of course 😉 This meal really is so perfect for the winter when you’re craving all the flavors of a caesar salad, but also need something a bit more warm and cozy. Plussss each serving has33g of protein and 11g of fiber! Can’t wait for you to try it.
Why You’ll Love these Sheet Pan Chicken Caesar Meatballs
- It all comes together on one sheet pan, with just 20 minutes of cook time!
- The chicken caesar meatballs are naturally gluten free yet so moist & juicy.
- Each serving has 33g of protein and 11g of fiber!
- This is the perfect warm and cozy winter substitute for a chicken caesar salad.
- It stores well for healthy meal prep lunches all week long!
What You Need to Make this Chicken Caesar Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
For the Chicken Caesar Meatballs:
- Ground Chicken: I always prefer to use 92% lean so that they aren’t too dry. Feel free to substitute a similar leanness of ground turkey if you prefer!
- Gluten Free Breadcrumbs: My favorite brand is Aleia’s and I just use the plain ones here. If you’re not gluten free, you can simply use an equal amount of normal breadcrumbs.
- Grated Parmesan: Freshly & finely grated is the way to go…if possible! This keeps the chicken meatballs super moist & juicy.
- Caesar Dressing: I’ve only tested this recipe with Primal Kitchen caesar dressing, which is one of my favorites because it’s made with real ingredients and avocado oil. My code NEWYEAR gets you 25% off their website.
- Egg: 1 large egg helps the chicken caesar meatballs bind together.
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced or substitute about 1/2 tsp garlic powder.
- Dried Parsley, Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: The caesar dressing brings most of the flavor here, and we’re just complimenting it with a few more pantry staple spices!
- Lemon Zest: I love things really tangy, so I add the zest from 1 small lemon, but you can reduce this as desired.
For the Sheet Pan:
- Brussels Sprouts: Buy them pre-shaved for convenience, or shave them yourself with a sharp knife or mandolin.
- Sweet Potato: No need to peel the sweet potato — just scrub it well and be sure to cut into small pieces so that it gets tender within the 20 minute cook time.
- Chickpeas: 1 can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained & rinsed. This adds some lovely fiber and volume to the dish.
- Avocado Oil: For coating all the veggies in. Olive oil works too!
- Dijon Mustard: This is optional, but adds some depth of flavor that really compliments the caesar dressing.
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Keeping it simple with the spices, which are inspired by the flavors of caesar.
For the Sauce:
- Greek Yogurt: I love to mix in some greek yogurt with the caesar dressing to make it even creamier, boost the protein and add some probiotics. However, if you’re craving an even stronger flavor, feel free to use all caesar dressing as the drizzle.
- Caesar Dressing: Primal Kitchen caesar dressing is my fav! My code NEWYEAR gets you 25% off their website.
How To Make this Chicken Caesar Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
Toss Veggies in Oil & Seasonings:
First, preheat your oven to 400F. To a large bowl, add the brussels sprouts, chickpeas, avocado oil, dijon mustard and spices. Toss to coat, then spread out onto an extra-large baking sheet (21×15″) or two normal-sized baking sheets. It’s important that there isn’t too much overlap or else it will steam instead of roast.
Prepare Chicken Caesar Meatballs:
Next, wipe out the large bowl and then add in the breadcrumbs, parmesan, caesar dressing, egg, minced garlic, lemon zest and spices. Stir with a fork until combined. Then, add in the ground chicken and use your hands to gently incorporate.
Add Chicken Caesar Meatballs to Sheet Pan & Bake:
Scoop out 2 tbsp of the ground chicken mixture and roll into a ball. Then, nestle the chicken caesar meatballs onto the baking sheet. It should make about 16-18 meatballs. Transfer to the oven to cook for 20 minutes. Optionally, switch to broil for a few more minutes at the end.
Mix Together Sauce Ingredients & Drizzle on Top:
Meanwhile, add the caesar dressing and greek yogurt to a small bowl and stir until combined and smooth. Once the sheet pan dinner is done, drizzle the greek yogurt and caesar sauce on top and garnish with more grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Equipment Recommendations:
If you’ve made any of my sheet pan dinners in the past, you know that I live and die by these equipment recommendations. They are certainly not a requirement per say, but they will make your life easier and yield the best result!
- Extra Large Baking Sheet: This 21″ x 15″ baking sheet is one of my most used kitchen items, and allows you to fit so much without overlap. More overlap = more soggy veggies! If you don’t have one of these, please split the recipe amongst two normal sized baking sheets.
- Cookie Scoop: I always use this 2 tbsp cookie scoop to measure out my meatballs. It ensures that they’re uniform in size which leads to even cooking.
- Pantry Bowl: I always get questions about this gorgeous bowl, and it’s locally made in Vermont by Farmhouse Pottery! This is the size large one.
Substitution FAQs:
- Can I use ground turkey for the meatballs instead? Of course! I recommend using a similar leanness though, NOT one that’s 99% lean.
- Can I make this recipe dairy free? To make this dairy free, you can simply omit the parmesan in the chicken caesar meatballs (although they may be a little less moist) and then substitute your favorite thick non-dairy yogurt in the sauce OR use all caesar dressing instead. If you’re dairy free, be sure to use a compliant brand of caesar dressing like Primal Kitchen.
- I’m not gluten free, can I use normal breadcrumbs? What about panko breadcrumbs? You can use an equal amount of normal breadcrumbs. I have not experimented with panko breadcrumbs, but those should work too! If the chicken meatballs are looking a little too loose/sticky, add a few more tablespoons of panko.
- I don’t have any Dijon mustard on hand, what can I use instead? No worries! You can simply omit the dijon mustard if you don’t have it or don’t like it. It just adds a bit more flavor, but this sheet pan dinner will be delicious regardless 🙂
How Should I Store Leftovers?
This Chicken Caesar Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner is a great option for meal prep, as the leftovers hold up well! Just allow it to cool down fully before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the fridge for about 4-5 days. If you anticipate wanting to warm up the leftovers, I recommend leaving off the sauce and storing it separately. Drizzle it on top after you’ve re-heated your serving of the sheet pan meal.
Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.
Looking for More Sheet Pan Dinners?
- Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Roasted Veggies with Herb Yogurt Sauce
- Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken Meatballs with Cauliflower and Chickpeas
- Fall Sheet Pan Chicken Meatballs and Veggies with Maple Tahini Dressing
- Honey Mustard Salmon Sheet Pan Meal
- Sheet Pan Spinach Feta Turkey Meatballs with Green Goddess Sauce
Chicken Caesar Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
Equipment
- can opener
- cheese grater
- colander
- extra large baking sheet or 2 normal baking sheets
- 2 tbsp cookie scoop (optional)
- small bowl
- spoon
Ingredients
For the Chicken Caesar Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground chicken (92% lean)
- ½ cup gluten free breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese (about 1.2oz)
- 3 tbsp Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing
- 1 large egg
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- zest from 1 small lemon
For the Sheet Pan:
- 1 medium sweet potato (12-14oz), cut into very small chunks
- 10 oz shaved brussels sprouts
- 1 can chickpeas (15oz), drained & rinsed
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- ½ tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Sauce:
- ¼ cup Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing
- ¼ cup full-fat plain greek yogurt or skyr
- grated parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 400F. To a large bowl, add the brussels sprouts, chickpeas, avocado oil, dijon mustard and spices. Toss to coat, then spread out onto an extra-large baking sheet (21×15") or two normal-sized baking sheets. It's important that there isn't too much overlap or else it will steam instead of roast.1 medium sweet potato, 10 oz shaved brussels sprouts, 1 can chickpeas, 2 tbsp avocado oil, ½ tbsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp black pepper
- Wipe out the large bowl and then add in the breadcrumbs, parmesan, caesar dressing, egg, minced garlic, lemon zest and spices. Stir with a fork until combined. Then, add in the ground chicken and use your hands to gently incorporate.½ cup gluten free breadcrumbs, ½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese, 3 tbsp Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing, 1 large egg, 3 garlic cloves, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp dried parsley, ¼ tsp black pepper, zest from 1 small lemon, 1 lb ground chicken
- Scoop out 2 tbsp of the ground chicken mixture and roll into a ball. Then, nestle the chicken caesar meatballs onto the baking sheet. It should make about 16-18 meatballs. Transfer to the oven to cook for 20 minutes. Optionally, switch to broil for a few more minutes at the end.
- Meanwhile, add the caesar dressing and greek yogurt to a small bowl and stir until combined and smooth. Once the sheet pan dinner is done, drizzle the greek yogurt and caesar sauce on top and garnish with more grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!¼ cup Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing, ¼ cup full-fat plain greek yogurt or skyr, grated parmesan
Video
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @munchinwithmaddie_ on Instagram and/or hashtag it #munchinwithmaddie.
I made these for dinner last night and my husband and I loved them! They were so flavorful and filling without being to heavy. I will be making these again.
Wohoo, so glad to hear that! Thank you Raegan 🙂
So yummy, everything comes together so well.
Thank you Gill!!