Can I use ground chicken instead of chopping the breast?

Yes, 250 g of lean ground chicken breast gives the same totals. Chopped breast has a firmer bite, which is why the recipe records it that way, but the method is identical.

What do I serve them with?

They are a complete plate at 428 kcal. If you need more, a small portion of rice or bread adds to the total, so count it against your daily target.

Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Sauce: 428 kcal, 62 g Protein

Name: Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Sauce: 428 kcal, 62 g Protein
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 250 g chicken breast fillet; 200 g crushed tomatoes; 150 g zucchini; 2 fresh garlic cloves; 2 tsp aromatic herbs of choice; 2 tsp oil of choice

September 9, 2026

These are the meatballs to make when the goal is protein without a heavy plate. Chicken breast, chopped rather than minced, holds together better and stays lean; the tomatoes and zucchini become the sauce as they simmer. 428 kcal with 62 g of protein for the recipe as written, which is the lowest calorie count in our light dinner set.

No breadcrumbs, no egg. The garlic and herbs go straight into the chicken.

How This Fits Your Day

Ready in 27 minutes at 428 kcal, it is the kind of dinner that fits a weeknight without eating most of your daily budget. Where it lands for you depends on your own daily target, which depends on your height, weight, age, sex and how active you are. If you have not worked out your number, our free calorie calculator takes about a minute.

The recipe

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 17 min

Nutrition for the whole recipe as written:

Calories: 428
Protein: 62.2 g
Carbs: 12.7 g
Fat: 14.3 g
Fiber: 3.5 g

Ingredients

250 g chicken breast fillet
200 g crushed tomatoes
150 g zucchini
2 fresh garlic cloves
2 tsp aromatic herbs of choice
2 tsp oil of choice

Method

1Chop the chicken. Mix the chopped chicken with the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and dried herbs, then form the meatballs by hand.
2Brown the meatballs in a hot nonstick skillet for about 2 minutes, turning to sear on all sides.
3Add the sliced zucchini and crushed tomatoes directly to the skillet.
4Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes until the zucchini is tender and the sauce has thickened.

These are fixed quantities, not a portion calculated for you. MenuVita adjusts recipe quantities to your own energy needs and builds them into a seven-day plan with a grocery list. Serving suggestion; your dish may look different. Follow the quantities above.

The quantities above are fixed: they are not scaled to your body or your goal. Adjusting recipe quantities to a personal calorie target, across a full week, is what we are building at MenuVita. This recipe is part of our high protein low calorie meals collection, and there are more free dishes on the recipes page.

This recipe is not intended for pregnant or breastfeeding people, adolescents, or anyone with a medical condition, who should talk to a doctor first.

This is general information, not medical advice. If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet.

Common questions

Can I use ground chicken instead of chopping the breast?: Yes, 250 g of lean ground chicken breast gives the same totals. Chopped breast has a firmer bite, which is why the recipe records it that way, but the method is identical.
What do I serve them with?: They are a complete plate at 428 kcal. If you need more, a small portion of rice or bread adds to the total, so count it against your daily target.