Jalapeño Cheddar Meatballs over Pimento Cheese Spread

episode #42 of 30-minute budget meals!

Hi!! We are back in action this week with my 30-minute budget meal series, and I think this one should tickle your fancy. I did what I do best, which is put a protein atop a creamy yogurt base.

With this series, I’m definitely limited in what I can make within a 30-minute window, but I find that baked meatballs are a great option because you just mix together the ingredients in one bowl, and then throw them in the oven. Then, while they’re baking, you prepare the rest of the dish, which also goes in just one bowl. So clean up is easy on this one!

The jalapeño cheddar meatballs are made with ground chicken, which is a good, budget-friendly protein. They’re super light and airy, despite having some cheddar and jalapeño in them, as they’re made with lemon, which gives them moisture and brightness.

They’re served over a yogurt-based spread inspired by pimento cheese, and the two paired together are just divine. I dipped each bite of my meatball into the pimento cheese yogurt spread, and it felt like a treat.

This meal is also high in protein, since you’re using chicken, Greek yogurt, and cheese, which all have a good amount of protein in them.

There is a little bit of spice in this dish, so if you want to make the dish more mild, halve the amount of jalapeño and/or cayenne pepper. I don’t find the meatballs are spicy on their own, so I would probably adjust the cayenne pepper in the pimento cheese spread, if anything.

The list of ingredients might look long at first glance, but most of them are actually doubles, including spices you should already have at home like garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne.

Enjoy, and have the best weekend!!

RECIPE!

Ingredients (serves 3-4)