Chicken Koftas

4.5
(8)
8 Reviews
1 Photo

These chicken koftas will turn out tender and moist no matter which way you choose to cook them—broiled, grilled, or air-fried. Beautifully seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, they’re perfect for summer eating.

By
Diana Moutsopoulos
Diana Moutsopoulos sitting on a doorstep in the village of Koronos, Naxos in the Cycladic Islands of Greece
Diana Moutsopoulos

Diana Moutsopoulos is a food writer, recipe developer, Greek cuisine expert, and an Editorial Director at Allrecipes.

Allrecipes' editorial guidelines
Published on July 26, 2024
Tested by
Amanda Stanfield
Amanda Stanfield
Tested by Amanda Stanfield
Amanda Stanfield is the Food Studio Coordinator and Recipe Tester/ Developer at the Dotdash Meredith. She completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and strategic communications at Hampton University. After graduation, Amanda worked in the nonprofit sector as a marketing associate for a global nonprofit organization for 3 years. In 2018, she pivoted into the food industry and began training in fine-dining restaurants around Atlanta. Later she gained her culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University and went on to work in a variety of kitchens from boutique restaurants to conference hotels. Her work has been featured on Eatingwell.com, Southern Living, People.com, Food & Wine, and Allrecipes.com. As a true foodie, Amanda seeks out nutritious and unique flavors to inspire others to eat happily and healthily. When she's not cooking up delicious recipes, you can find her lap swimming in the pool or watching a good sci-fi movie. She's a member of MAPP a non-profit supporting women-led food organizations. You can follow her adventures @amandaeight. Her go-to kitchen must have? A sharp chef's knife.
Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Chicken Koftas garnished with fresh herbs on a plate with a fork
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
3 koftas
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped sweet onion

  • 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

  • 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves

  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh ginger

  • 1 jalapeño chile, stemmed and coarsely chopped

  • 1 pound lean ground chicken (8% fat)

  • 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs or cornmeal

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • cooking spray

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Chicken Koftas ingredients on a counter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Add onion, cilantro, mint, garlic, ginger, and jalapeño to a food processor; pulse until very finely chopped, about 10 (1-second) pulses. Transfer mixture to a kitchen towel, and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

    Onion, cilantro, mint, garlic, ginger, and jalapeño mixture in a food processor

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Add squeezed onion mixture, ground chicken, breadcrumbs, oil, egg, garlic powder, salt, cumin, coriander, and black pepper to a large bowl; mix gently until thoroughly incorporated.

    Chicken Koftas mixture in a glass bowl

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. With moistened gloved hands, shape chicken mixture into 12 (3x1-1/2-inch) cylinders and place on a baking sheet. (If grilling, shape mixture onto skewers).

    Raw Chicken Koftas shaped on a baking sheet

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. To Broil: Preheat the oven’s broiler and set a rack about 7 inches from the heat source. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and coat with cooking spray. Arrange koftas in a single layer about 2 inches apart, and spray with cooking spray. Broil, flipping koftas halfway through cook time, until browned and a thermometer inserted into center reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 8 minutes.

    Chicken Koftas cooking in a pan with a spatula

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. To Grill: Preheat grill to medium, 350 to 400 degrees F (175 to 200 degrees C). Place skewers on oiled grates; grill, covered, flipping every 2 minutes, until charred and a thermometer inserted into center reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 8 minutes. Alternative Method: Heat a large oiled grill pan over medium-high, about 2 minutes. Add koftas to pan; grill, uncovered, flipping every 2 minutes, until charred and a thermometer inserted into center reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 10 minutes.

    Chicken Koftas cooking on a grill

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. To Air-fry: Preheat an air fryer to 380 degrees F (193 degrees C) for 2 minutes. Spray koftas with cooking spray. Working in batches if needed, add koftas to air fryer basket in a single layer, and cook, flipping after 4 minutes, until browned and a thermometer inserted into center reads  165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 8 minutes.

    Chicken Koftas cooking in an air fryer

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Recipe developed by Julia Levy

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

353 Calories
21g Fat
13g Carbs
30g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 353
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 168mg 56%
Sodium 555mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 30g 60%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 66mg 5%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 963mg 20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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