Description
Cheese-Stuffed Fried Chicken Meteor is a delicious and indulgent dish featuring ground chicken wrapped around a gooey cheese core, deep-fried to golden perfection. Served optionally on a bed of creamy mac & cheese, this recipe is a flavor explosion!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs ground chicken (or finely minced chicken breast/thigh mix)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup cream cheese (softened, for gooeyness)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- Oil, for deep frying
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (cooked, optional)
- 2 tbsp butter (optional)
- 2 tbsp flour (optional)
- 2 cups whole milk (warm, optional)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded, optional)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)
- ½ tsp mustard powder (optional)
- Salt & pepper, to taste (optional)
- ½ cup crispy bacon bits (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix cheddar, mozzarella, and cream cheese. Form into golf-ball-sized cheese balls and freeze for 30 minutes to firm.
- Season ground chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Flatten a handful of chicken mixture in your palm. Place a frozen cheese ball in the center and wrap chicken around it, sealing tightly to form a “meteor.”
- Dredge each chicken ball in flour, dip in beaten eggs, then coat with panko breadcrumbs. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to help coating stick.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken meteors for 6–8 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C). Drain on paper towels.
- Make a roux with butter and flour, whisk in milk until smooth. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Toss with cooked macaroni and sprinkle bacon bits on top.
- Place fried chicken meteors on top of a skillet of mac & cheese for a volcanic presentation. Slice open to unleash the molten cheese core.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding herbs like parsley or chives to the chicken mixture.
- Ensure the cheese balls are well-frozen before wrapping to prevent leakage during frying.
- Adjust the level of cayenne pepper based on your heat preference.
- Mac & cheese base is optional but adds a delicious twist to the dish.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken meteor
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg