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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Air-Fryer Za'atar Chicken Meatballs with Lemon-Dill Orzo-Style Pasta

Juicy ground chicken meatballs warmed with thyme, oregano, sesame and cumin, tossed with pasta in a bright lemon, dill and mint ricotta-herb sauce with crisp-tender asparagus.

Air-Fryer Za'atar Chicken Meatballs with Lemon-Dill Orzo-Style Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1¼ lb550 gGround chicken
  • 1 large50 gEggsbeaten
  • ⅓ cup40 gPlain dry breadcrumbs
  • 4 cloves12 gGarlicminced, divided
  • 2¾ tsp8 gSesame seeds
  • 2 tsp2 gDried thyme
  • 1 tsp1 gDried oregano
  • 1 tsp2 gGround cumin
  • 2 tsp4 gLemon zest
  • ¾ tsp5 gSaltdivided
  • ½ tsp1 gBlack pepper
  • 2 tbsp30 gOlive oildivided
  • 11½ oz320 gPasta, dryshort shape such as fusilli
  • 12⅔ cups3,000 gWater
  • 10½ oz300 gAsparaguscut into 1-inch pieces
  • ¾ cup180 gPart-skim ricotta
  • 1 cup sprigs10 gFresh dillchopped
  • 2 tbsp chopped10 gFresh mintchopped
  • ⅓ cup chopped20 gFresh parsleychopped
  • 2½ tbsp40 gLemon juice

Steps

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C).
  2. In a large bowl, mix the egg, breadcrumbs, half the garlic, the sesame seeds, thyme, oregano, cumin, lemon zest, 2 g of the salt and the black pepper. Add the ground chicken and mix gently until just combined.
  3. Shape the chicken mixture into about 20 balls. Brush the air-fryer basket with 5 g of the olive oil.
  4. Air-fry the meatballs in a single layer, in batches if needed, for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway, until browned and 165°F (74°C) in the center.
  5. Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil in a large pot with 2 g of the salt. Add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package says, then add the asparagus for the final 2 minutes. Reserve 120 g of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and asparagus.
  6. Make the herb sauce: in the empty pot off the heat, stir the ricotta, the remaining garlic, the remaining 25 g of olive oil, the lemon juice, the remaining 1 g of salt and the reserved pasta water until smooth, then stir in the dill, mint and parsley.
  7. Add the pasta and asparagus to the herb sauce and toss to coat. Top with the meatballs and serve.

Contains: Milk, Egg, Gluten, Sesame. Some brands contain soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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