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This classic Kotleti recipe tastes like it came straight out of grandmother’s kitchen. These juicy and tender meat patties are surely going to become your new favorite comfort food!

Kotleti on a palte with cucumbers and mashed potatoes

Classic Kotleti, also commonly referred to as “katleti”, are a lot like American meatballs. The difference is they are fried patties that are shaped and seasoned with a Slavic twist. Straight from my family’s recipe book, this kotleti recipe is made with a meat mixture of grated onions and ground chicken and can be served anywhere you would have a filling protein.

Kotleti Video

How to Make Kotleti

Making kotleti only requires a bit of mixing and a quick pan fry. Below, find a brief overview of the recipe before you dive in.

  • Soak the Bread: Place the bread slices in milk for at least 10 minutes. Rip the slices into small pieces.
  • Make the Patty Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, mayonnaise, bread, grated onion, salt, and pepper.
  • Fry the Kotleti: In a frying pan over medium heat, spoon equal amounts of the meat mixture into the pan to form individual patties. Fry until both sides turn golden brown. Enjoy!
Milk in a bowl wirh bread crumbs
Meat with onions and seasoning
Meat, onion and eggs in a bowl
Kotleti on a palte with cucumbers and mashed potatoes

Tips for Making the Best Kotleti

Below, find a collection of tips to help you make the best kotleti on the planet.

  • Mix and match the ground meat. Although this recipe calls for ground chicken, feel free to mix and match the ground meat you use. You can use any combination of ground beef, ground pork, or ground turkey.
  • Make sure to soak the bread. Soaking the bread in milk makes the kotleti extra moist. This might go against what you know about bread crumbs and meatballs, but trust and believe it makes all the difference!
  • Flip the patties only once. Refrain from over-flipping the kotleti as they fry in the pan. This will help them form a nice, crispy crust.
  • Fry patties over medium heat. If you go too low, the patties won’t form a nice crust. If you go too high, they will burn. Medium heat is just right!

Meat Thermometer Hack: If you’re unsure if kotleti are cooked thoroughly, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.

Serving Kotleti

The best way to serve Kotleti is with the most traditional sides. Buckwheat, mashed potatoes, cabbage salad, and marinated cucumbers are the usual suspects. You could also bake some fresh baguettes to sop up the juices that come out of the kotleti when you slice into them. Yum!

Kotleti on a palte with cucumbers and mashed potatoes

Storing Kotleti

Kotleti are super easy to store and are perfect for meal prep. Below, find instructions on how to serve the meat patties in both the refrigerator and freezer.

  • Refrigerator: Store leftover kotleti in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep for up to a week.
  • Freezer: Freeze leftover kotleti by first letting them cool completely. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pop the baking sheet into the freezer uncovered. Once the patties are completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months.

Reheating Tip: You can easily reheat kotleti in the microwave, but if you want them to be extra crispy use the conventional oven or an air fryer (the COSORI Air Fryer is my latest obsession if you need a recommendation).

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Recipe

Kotleti on a palte with cucumbers and mashed potatoes

Classic Kotleti (Meatballs)

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Servings
8 servings
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
Love chicken nuggets? Try these classic Kotleti. These juicy and tender meat patties will become your new favorite comfort food!

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Soak the bread pieces in milk for about 10 minutes. Shred the bread into small pieces.
    Meat, onion and eggs in a bowl
  • Mix ground chicken with egg, mayonnaise, and bread. Mix in onion and season to taste.
    kotleti mixture in a bowl
  • Preheat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Spoon equal portions of the meat mixture into the pan, leaving a little bit of space between each patty. Fry on each side until golden brown (about 4-5 minutes on each side).
    Kotleti on a palte with cucumbers and mashed potatoes
Nutrition Facts
Classic Kotleti (Meatballs)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 312 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 189mg63%
Sodium 1062mg44%
Potassium 956mg27%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 87IU2%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 51mg5%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Updated October 2, 2023

About Author

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Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.