Lemon Chicken Piccata Meatballs with Spaghetti
Air-fried parmesan-breaded chicken meatballs served over spaghetti in a bright lemon-caper sauce. Bone broth and fresh lemon juice create a silky pan sauce finished with capers, shallots, and parmesan. Ready in under 30 minutes for a weeknight dinner with restaurant-quality flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 package parmesan breaded chicken meatballs, frozen
- 1 cup bone brothchicken or vegetable broth1:1
different depth of flavor
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup brined capers, drained and rinsed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound spaghetti
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- 1
Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- 2
Arrange frozen chicken meatballs in a single layer in air fryer and cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 11-12 minutes.
- 3
Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- 4
Add minced shallots and cook until softened, about 1-2 minutes.
- 5
Stir in flour and cook, stirring often, about 1 minute.
- 6
Whisk in lemon juice and broth vigorously and bring to a simmer.
- 7
Add capers and salt.
- 8
Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
- 9
Fill a large pot with water and bring to boil over high heat.
- 10
Cook spaghetti according to package directions and drain.
- 11
Toss cooked spaghetti with roughly three-quarters cup of sauce to coat.
- 12
Serve chicken meatballs over spaghetti.
- 13
Pour remaining sauce over meatballs and spaghetti.
- 14
Garnish with parmesan and parsley.
Tips
Do not thaw meatballs before air frying to maintain texture and ensure even cooking.
Whisk the lemon juice and broth vigorously to prevent lumps when combining with the roux.
Good to Know
Sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not store with cooked pasta.
Prepare sauce up to 1 day ahead and reheat gently before serving. Cook meatballs fresh.
Serve immediately over hot spaghetti while sauce is warm.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip rinsing capers to avoid excessive saltiness in the sauce.
Do not overcook the sauce to avoid becoming too thick and reducing lemon brightness.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
different depth of flavor