Description
These Pumpkin Chicken Meatballs in Sage Cream Sauce are your ultimate fall comfort food! Made with lean ground chicken, canned pumpkin, and a luscious sage-infused cream sauce, they’re tender, flavorful, and ready in under 40 minutes. Perfect for weeknights, special dinners, or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
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1 lb ground chicken
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1/2 cup canned pumpkin purée
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1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
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1 egg
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1 garlic clove, finely grated
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1/2 tsp onion powder
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1/2 tsp salt
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1/4 tsp black pepper
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1 tbsp olive oil (for pan-frying)
For the Sage Cream Sauce:
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1 tbsp unsalted butter
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1 garlic clove, finely grated
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1 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage
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3/4 cup heavy cream
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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Optional: pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
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Mix the Meatball Ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, pumpkin purée, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined—don’t overwork the mixture. -
Form the Meatballs:
With damp hands or a small scoop, form 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on a plate. You should have about 16. -
Brown the Meatballs:
Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook for 2–3 minutes per side until golden. Work in batches if needed. -
Make the Sage Cream Sauce:
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sage, stirring for 30 seconds. Pour in the heavy cream, season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using. Simmer for 3–4 minutes. -
Simmer the Meatballs in Sauce:
Add the browned meatballs to the sauce and let them simmer for 5–7 minutes until fully cooked through and coated in the creamy sauce. -
Serve:
Spoon into shallow bowls, top with extra sage if desired, and serve warm with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or pasta.
Notes
You can prep the meatballs ahead of time and refrigerate overnight.
Don’t substitute pumpkin pie filling — use 100% canned pumpkin.
For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half.
Ground turkey works just as well as chicken!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (~4 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg