Hailey Bieber’s Healthy Chicken Cottage Cheese Meatballs

In a large bowl, combine the lean chicken mince, lemon zest, egg, breadcrumbs, dried oregano, minced garlic, and heaped tablespoon of cottage cheese. Season generously with salt and black pepper, then mix until just combined; avoid over‑mixing to keep the meatballs tender.

Wet your hands with a little water and shape the mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs.

Preheat an air fryer to 400°F (410°F). Arrange the meatballs in a single layer and air‑fry for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through, until they are nicely browned. Alternatively, grill them on a very hot grill pan until browned on all sides. The meatballs do not need to be fully cooked at this stage, as they will finish cooking in the sauce.

While the meatballs are cooking, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion with a pinch of salt and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened and translucent.

Add the minced garlic and finely chopped red chilli to the skillet and cook for another minute, stirring constantly to avoid burning.

Stir in the heaped tablespoon of tomato purée and cook for 1–2 minutes, allowing the flavor to deepen and the colour to turn a richer red.

Pour in the canned chopped tomatoes and passata, season with additional salt and pepper, and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Cook for roughly 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces slightly and thickens.

Gently nestle the browned meatballs into the simmering sauce. Continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and have absorbed some of the sauce’s flavor.

Remove the pan from heat and finish the dish by folding in the torn fresh basil and sprinkling a generous amount of grated Parmesan over the top.

Serve the meatballs and sauce on a plate, adding a dollop of cottage cheese, extra grated Parmesan, and a few more torn basil leaves. Accompany with toasted sourdough bread or a handful of rocket for a fresh, peppery contrast.