How to Prepare Hailey Bieber’s Popular ‘Chicky Meatballs’ at Home

Cottage cheese keeps popping up in unexpected dishes: smoothies, brownie batter, pasta sauce, and now featured on Hailey Bieber’s viral chicken meatballs.

“I’m sorry, but my chicken meatballs with tomato sauce, cottage cheese, and parmesan are absolutely to die for and one of my favorite creations,” she shared in an Instagram Story, as reported by Vogue. The recipe is intentionally vague; Bieber prefers to “eyeball everything” with no precise measurements, as highlighted in a fan-made TikTok video showcasing her instructions.

Ingredients: ground chicken, Italian seasoning, ricotta cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, gluten-free Italian breadcrumbs, and one egg.

The process is equally straightforward:

1. Combine the ingredients.
2. Shape into meatballs.
3. Sauté in a pan until golden brown on the outside.
4. Add your preferred tomato sauce.
5. Top with a dollop of cottage cheese and sprinkle with grated Parmesan.

Bieber also noted she often skips the sauce entirely, enjoying just the meatballs with cottage cheese and Parmesan. Regardless, the cottage cheese topping is what truly differentiates this chicken meatball recipe.

Why Cottage Cheese Is the Secret to Hailey Bieber’s Chicken Meatball Recipes

This topping isn’t merely a quirky choice; cottage cheese adds significant nutritional benefits.

A half-cup serving of low-fat cottage cheese provides around 12 grams of protein along with vitamin B12, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, according to the Food Network. It’s also a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids.

This nutritional profile contributes to the transformation of cottage cheese from a food people merely tolerated to a staple ingredient in many meals. Registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick shared with the Cleveland Clinic that it can be incorporated into smoothies, pancakes, pasta sauce, and even desserts.

“We know that it contains healthy bacteria that support our microbiome. It’s an excellent protein source and is considered clean by many of my patients because it’s not ultra-processed,” she stated.

Cleveland Clinic also mentions that cottage cheese is rich in casein, a protein that digests slowly. One caveat: sodium levels can be relatively high, so it’s wise to compare labels between brands.

You Can Swap the Ricotta for Cottage Cheese Too

Bieber uses ricotta in her meatballs while topping them with cottage cheese, but cottage cheese can serve both purposes. It effectively replaces ricotta in numerous recipes, although its chunkier, wetter consistency requires draining excess moisture when texture matters.

If curds deter you, blending can solve that problem. Registered dietitian Abbey Sharp highlighted that blending cottage cheese can be a “game changer” in a conversation with Yahoo Health.

“Once blended, cottage cheese becomes incredibly smooth and creamy, making it a seamless addition to pasta sauces, dips, smoothies, pancake batter, or even desserts like mousse and cheesecake,” Sharp elaborated.

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This textural trick is crucial to cottage cheese’s rise as a versatile ingredient. Those who dislike the curds can still enjoy it when blended smooth.

Other Easy Ways to Add Cottage Cheese to Recipes

Bieber’s meatballs are just one way to incorporate cottage cheese, but it can be used in numerous dishes. Here are additional suggestions:

• Pasta sauce: blend it into tomato or cream sauces for added protein and creaminess.
• Scrambled eggs: stir in a spoonful before cooking.
• Pancakes or waffles: include it in the batter for enhanced protein and moisture.
• Dips and spreads: mix with herbs, seasonings, or roasted veggies.
• Smoothies: blending minimizes the curd texture.
• Desserts: incorporate it into mousse, cheesecake fillings, or frozen treats.
• Lasagna or stuffed shells: substitute blended cottage cheese for some or all of the ricotta.

Whether topping Hailey Bieber’s meatballs or blending seamlessly into a dessert, cottage cheese is shifting away from being a standalone food and becoming a versatile ingredient suitable for nearly any dish.