Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are amazingly juicy and packed with spicy, savory, Buffalo flavor! Dip them or drizzle them with creamy blue cheese or ranch dressing.
These tasty meatballs make a deliciously creamy and spicy appetizer, or serve them for dinner over rice or potatoes!
I love making meatballs with ground chicken, and these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are my newest obsession!
You’ll love how moist and flavorful these are, and how simple the recipe is. Like my chicken pesto meatballs or my Asian chicken meatballs, all of the prep work is done in one bowl, and these can be ready in less than 30 minutes!
And who doesn’t love a new Buffalo chicken wing-inspired recipe? This one fits in perfectly along with at least 15 others you’ll find here, including crispy Buffalo Shrimp, Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, and Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings.
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe Highlights
- One Bowl Easy Prep– Everything gets added to one bowl and mixed together! This means fewer dishes and less chaos in the kitchen.
- Favorite Flavors – Everyone loves Buffalo Chicken! These meatballs have all of the flavor of Buffalo Wings packed into each perfect juicy bite.
- The Perfect Party Food – Pop some toothpicks into these meatballs and serve them to your friends. They’re a great alternative to actual chicken wings for game day football parties.
- Or a Low Carb Dinner – Make the meatballs extra low carb by swapping out the breadcrumbs for almond flour, and serve with your favorite veggies for dinner.
Ingredients In Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Here’s everything you need to make buffalo chicken wing meatballs:
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Ground Chicken: Easy to find at the grocery store, ground chicken is a healthier alternative to ground beef when it comes to meatballs.
- Egg: One large egg helps to bind the ingredients together.
- Breadcrumbs: You can use any kind of breadcrumbs you like. Try this recipe with panko, plain breadcrumbs, or gluten-free breadcrumbs. For a lower-carb meatball, use almond flour!
- Veggies: For flavor and moisture, grated carrot, minced garlic, and sliced green onions are added to the meat mixture. To get the right texture, grate the carrot very finely.
- Seasonings: Smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Buffalo Wing Sauce: Note that Buffalo wing sauce is different than plain hot sauce. You can buy this buttery, spicy sauce pre-made in most large grocery stores, or you can make your own using my easy buffalo sauce recipe. To make it you’ll need hot sauce, butter, and honey.
- Blue Cheese Dressing: In Buffalo, chicken wings are eaten with blue cheese! Make a batch of my delicious homemade blue cheese dressing, or use store-bought blue cheese or ranch dressing.
If you’re looking for more easy ground chicken recipes, be sure to take a look at my chicken sloppy joes, chicken meatloaf, and chicken parmesan meatballs recipes. You’re sure to find some new favorites for this versatile protein!
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Tip!
Tossing the meatballs with Buffalo sauce in a large bowl is a fun and efficient way to coat them with the sauce, but you can also just drizzle the extra sauce over the meatballs if that’s easier.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overmix the Meat. Overmixed chicken meatballs will end up dry and tough. My best tip for mixing is to use your hands to do it gently. Wear gloves if you like, or just wash your hands when you’re finished.
- A Cookie Scoop will help you make meatballs that are all exactly the same size. This way, they will cook in the same amount of time.
- Test for Doneness. When baking meatballs, often the ones on the edge of the pan will cook more quickly. Be sure to test several of the meatballs with a thermometer to ensure that they are all at least 165°F (74°F) in the center.
- For Extra Browning, you can place the meatballs under the broiler for a few minutes after they’re done baking.
- Adjust the Size. Tablespoon-sized meatballs are versatile and can work as an appetizer or main dish, but you can adjust to make them smaller or larger if you like. Adjust the baking time if needed.
Storing Tips
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. This means that these buffalo meatballs are great for meal prep!
To reheat, place the meatballs in a preheated 350°F oven until they are warmed through. You can also use the microwave or your air fryer to reheat meatballs.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Drizzle on some blue cheese dressing or my homemade ranch dressing if you prefer.
- You can also add some crumbly blue cheese, sliced green onions, or chopped parsley as a delicious garnish.
- On the side, serve fresh celery and/or carrot sticks. These can also be dipped into the creamy sauce and will help to cool your mouth down from the spicy buffalo sauce.
- For a filling meal, buffalo meatballs can be served over rice, mashed potatoes, cauliflower rice, or along with a simple tossed green salad.
- Feeling extra creative? Make Buffalo chicken meatball sandwiches! Add these to soft hoagie rolls, and top with blue cheese and shredded lettuce.
Recipe FAQs
Can These meatballs be frozen?
Yes! Allow the meatballs to cool down completely, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Can I double the recipe?
You absolutely can double this recipe, and you might want to if you’re serving them at a party. The only thing you’ll need to change is the size of your baking sheet. If you need to, you can bake the meatballs in more than one batch as well.
Why are my chicken meatballs dry?
Dry chicken meatballs can be caused by two things. First, your meat mixture may have been overmixed. Secondly, you may have baked the meatballs for too long. Adjust these things next time and your meatballs will be perfect.
Can I make buffalo chicken meatballs in the air fryer?
Yes! Air fry chicken meatballs at 400°F/200°C for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Note that all air fryers cook a bit differently, so this is just a starting point. Keep an eye on your food and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Buffalo Chicken Wing Meatballs make the perfect party appetizer! Save this recipe for the big game, or make it tonight for dinner.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Recipe Video
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450 g) ground chicken lean
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup dried breadcrumbs or sub with GF breadcrumbs or ⅓ cup almond flour
- 1 medium carrot finely grated
- ¼ cup sliced green onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce divided
For serving
- blue cheese dressing
- Sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), or 160°C if using a fan oven, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, carrot, green onion, garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper, and 3 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce.
- Mix the ingredients gently by hand or with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion approximately 1-tablespoon-sized meatballs.
- Roll each portion gently between your hands to form balls. Place them on the prepared sheet pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F (74°F). Remove from the oven.
- Toss the meatballs in a large bowl along with the remaining buffalo wing sauce; alternatively, you can drizzle the buffalo sauce on the meatballs.
- Serve with blue cheese dressing for dipping, and garnish with sliced green onions.
Notes:
- Serving Size: Since these can be served as an entre or an appetizer, I’m giving you nutrition details per meatball. Multiply by the number you’re having for more specific numbers.
- Don’t Overmix the Meat. Overmixed chicken meatballs will end up dry and tough. My best tip for mixing is to use your hands to do it gently. Wear gloves if you like, or just wash your hands when you’re finished.
- Test for Doneness. When baking meatballs, often the ones on the edge of the pan will cook more quickly. Be sure to test several of the meatballs with a thermometer to ensure that they are all at least 165°F (74°F) in the center.
- For Extra Browning, you can place the meatballs under the broiler for a few minutes after they’re done baking.
- Adjust the Size. Tablespoon-sized meatballs are versatile and can work as an appetizer or main dish, but you can adjust to make them smaller or larger if you like. Adjust the baking time if needed.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
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