If there’s one thing Hailey Bieber knows how to do, beyond setting beauty and fashion trends, it’s turning everyday favorites into social media sensations. From her famous smoothies to her go-to recipes, the Rhode founder has a knack for making simple ingredients suddenly feel like something everyone wants to try.
Recently, Hailey shared one of her favorite dinners on Instagram Stories: chicken meatballs served with tomato sauce, cottage cheese, and Parmesan. The combination quickly caught the attention of her followers, who began recreating the dish at home and sharing their own versions online.
© Hailey BieberWhile meatballs are hardly new, Hailey’s version has a protein-packed twist that makes the recipe especially appealing for anyone looking to add more protein to their meals: cottage cheese.
Hailey uses cottage cheese as a topping, while the chicken meatball mixture itself includes ricotta, egg, breadcrumbs, and seasonings. The result is an easy, protein-rich dinner that works just as well for a busy weeknight as it does for a cozy weekend meal.
The Ingredient That Makes Hailey Bieber’s Meatballs Different
Cottage cheese has gone from an old-school refrigerator staple to one of the most popular ingredients among people looking for easy ways to increase their protein intake.
In this recipe, it adds a creamy contrast to the chicken meatballs and tomato sauce, while freshly grated Parmesan brings a salty, savory finish that ties everything together.
© Getty ImagesThe cheese also complements a common challenge with chicken meatballs. Because ground chicken is relatively lean, meatballs made with it can sometimes turn out dry. Adding creamy ingredients and serving them with cottage cheese and tomato sauce helps create a softer, juicier bite.
It’s a simple upgrade, but that is exactly what makes this celebrity recipe so easy to recreate at home.
Hailey Bieber’s Viral Chicken Meatball Recipe
© Hailey BieberIngredients
For the chicken meatballs:
- 500 grams, or about 1 pound, ground chicken
- ¼ cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs, preferably Italian-style
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- For serving:
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil, optional
- Dried chili or red pepper flakes, optional
How to Make Hailey Bieber’s Chicken Meatballs
- Prepare the meatball mixture
Add the ground chicken, ricotta, egg, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
Gently mix everything until the ingredients are evenly combined. Avoid overworking the chicken, which can make the finished meatballs firmer and less tender.
- Shape the meatballs
Lightly wet your hands and shape the mixture into approximately 12 evenly sized meatballs.
Keeping them roughly the same size will help them cook at the same rate.
- Brown the chicken meatballs
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on the outside.
They don’t need to be completely cooked through at this stage since they’ll finish cooking in the tomato sauce.
- Add the tomato sauce
Pour the tomato sauce into the skillet with the meatballs. Cover and cook over low heat for several minutes, or until the chicken meatballs are completely cooked through.
As they simmer, the meatballs will absorb some of the tomato sauce while remaining tender inside. Ground chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before serving.
- Add Hailey Bieber’s finishing touch
Transfer the meatballs and tomato sauce to a plate or shallow bowl and top with a generous spoonful of cottage cheese.
Finish with freshly grated Parmesan and, if you like, fresh basil and red pepper flakes for a little extra flavor.
Cottage Cheese Works With Chicken Meatballs
Cottage cheese might seem like an unexpected addition to meatballs and tomato sauce, but the combination makes sense.
Its mild flavor doesn’t overpower the tomato sauce or seasonings. Instead, it adds creaminess while boosting the protein content of the finished meal. The Parmesan adds a sharper, saltier note, while the ricotta inside the meatballs helps create a tender texture.
Together, the ingredients turn a straightforward chicken meatball dinner into something that feels a little more interesting without making the recipe complicated.
