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Chicken kiev balls loaded with garlic make the perfect appetisers or quick meal idea for home. Easy to make with instructions for both air fryer garlic chicken balls or shallow fry!
Chicken and garlic are a match made in heaven, so these chicken garlic balls are the perfect alternative to full-size chicken kiev if you are looking for a yummy appetiser or meal idea.
This recipe was first published in December 2014 and updated in 2020.
This recipe was created during a moment of desperation caused by my pregnancy craving of chicken kiev. Garlic is a flavour I love and mixed with chicken, you can’t really go wrong.
So with a bit of experimentation, these Garlic Chicken Balls were formed.
GARLIC CHICKEN BALLS RECIPE
This simple and affordable chicken recipe still incorporates all the good bits of a traditional chicken kiev. Yet the smaller size gives you more options for serving them up.
The smaller size makes them great for kids. It also makes them a fantastic option to serve as an appetiser at a party or event.
These chicken kiev balls would make great lunch box fillers served cold.
A simple afternoon snack, or serve them with a side dish such as veggies or salad for dinner.
These chicken garlic balls also freeze well so they are a great option for freezer cookingtoo.
As an added bonus, my kids think they are delicious! I guess they inherited her mother’s love of garlic too!
Ingredients
- 500g chicken mince
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons garlic
- 1.5 tablespoons parsley
- Cooking oil
How To Make Chicken And Garlic Balls
STEP ONE: Melt butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Mix in crushed garlic and chopped parsley and stir well. Allow your garlic butter mixture to set in the refrigerator or freezer until it is firm. It takes 30-60 minutes in the freezer, so you may want to make the day before.
STEP TWO: Roll chicken mince into balls, around 1.5-2 inches in diameter.
STEP THREE: When the garlic butter is set, cut into cubes. Insert one cube of garlic butter into the centre of each mince ball and smooth over with mince, to ensure the butter cube is completely encased.
STEP FOUR: Whisk eggs in a bowl. Dip chicken balls in egg mixture, then coat generously in breadcrumbs. Repeat with all the chicken balls.
There are two ways you can cook your chicken garlic balls:
SHALLOW FRY INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat a medium frying pan with a generous amount of olive oil.
- Once hot, shallow fry garlic chicken balls until golden brown.
AIR FRYER INSTRUCTIONS:
- Place chicken balls into the air fryer tray.
- Air fry for approximately 16-18 minutes on 180 degrees Celsius, or until cooked through and golden brown.
Want more air fryer recipes? Try these air fryer calamari & onion rings recipes!
Can You Reheat Chicken Kiev Balls?
Yes! You can absolutely make ahead a batch of garlic chicken balls and reheat them when you are ready to serve them or if you have leftovers.
Doing this in the oven or air fryer will prevent them from getting soggy in the microwave. They will also stay crispy this way.
The other alternative is to make ahead and freeze before cooking. This means you can easily defrost a few for a quick weeknight dinner or when you have guests coming, and simply cook as normal.
Chicken Kiev Ball Serving Ideas
The best thing about these garlic chicken balls is you can make them ahead of time if you are entertaining, and reheat.
Try serving your chicken balls with a favourite dipping sauce on a platter as a simple party appetizer, along with these fish sauce chicken wings. You can’t go wrong!
A salsa dip or sweet chilli sauce would pair great.
For dinner, serve your garlic balls on a bed of mash potato to soak up the extra garlic and add extra flavour through your mash.
If you want a meal idea that will serve a crowd, serve with spaghetti in the place of meatballs for a twist on spaghetti Bolognaise.
Garlic Chicken Balls
Yield: 8
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 18 minutes
A delicious and simple alternative to chicken kiev - a perfect party appetiser, lunch box filler or main meal.
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken mince
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons garlic
- 1.5 tablespoons chopped parsley
- Cooking oil (if shallow frying)
Instructions
- Melt butter in a small bowl. Mix in garlic and parsley. Allow it to harden in the fridge or freezer.
- When firm, cut garlic butter into cubes.
- Roll chicken mince into 2-inch diameter balls, inserting one cube of garlic butter into each and smoothing over to completely encase butter cube.
- Whisk egg in a bowl. Dip mince balls in egg, then coat generously in breadcrumbs. Repeat with all chicken balls.
Shallow Fry Instructions
- Heat generous amount of oil in a frying pan over medium to high heat.
- Shallow fry garlic chicken balls until golden brown.
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Place Kiev balls in the air fryer basket and cook for 16-18 minutes on 180 degrees Celsius until cooked through and golden brown.
Notes
Ensure your garlic butter mixture is completely firm before attempting to cut into cubes. This will make it easier to insert into your meatballs.
If you wish to make ahead and freeze, you can freeze before cooking and then cook as normal after defrosting. Or if freezing after cooked, reheat in the oven or air fryer to avoid them becoming soggy.
SERVING IDEAS: Serve with a dipping sauce or with a side salad, pasta or mashed potato.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 314Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 309mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 20g
If you’re looking for ideas for school lunch boxes, be sure to grab my free printable ideas list you can print out and stick on the fridge and check out these yummy lunch box recipes.
WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS ONE? FIND LOADS OF SIMPLE RECIPES.
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