Easy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Buffalo chicken meatballs are a flavorful twist on the classic game day appetizer, combining the spicy kick of Buffalo sauce with tender, savory meatballs. Perfect for parties, they’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Everyone loves Buffalo Wings (and Buffalo Chicken Pasta, and Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip), but these Buffalo chicken meatballs? They might just be even MORE popular. They’ve got that irresistible balance of spicy, tangy, and savory flavors, but in the form of a juicy, succulent meatball. No bones about it (see what I did there?), this is one of my favorite buffalo-inspired recipes that will disappear as soon as you set it on the snack table.
But don’t limit yourself to game day! These meatballs are incredibly versatile and great for meal prep. Buffalo chicken meatballs are also a hit at potlucks or family gatherings and as a game day snack, as they are easy to transport and can be kept warm in a slow cooker. For dinner, add them to pasta (like this Boursin Cheese Pasta), top a pile of cauliflower rice, create subs, or wraps.
You’ll also love that this recipe is easy to make. This Buffalo chicken meatball recipe is simple to prepare, and they’re also quick to cook. Most of the time required is hands-off while the meatballs bake in the oven!
Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Ground Chicken – For another way to use ground chicken, see my Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe.
- Panko Bread Crumbs and Egg – Panko breadcrumbs are lighter than traditional bread crumbs guaranteeing tender buffalo meatballs. Eggs help bind the meatballs together.
- Scallions, Celery, and Carrot – This trio adds flavor and texture to our Buffalo chicken meatballs.
- Garlic – If you’d like, you can add more for extra garlicky flavor.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix – I use my Easy Homemade Ranch Seasoning.
- Salt and Pepper – Freshly ground pepper adds more flavor than the kind that comes pre-ground.
- Frank’s Red Hot Sauce – This is THE classic choice for buffalo wing sauce when making Buffalo recipes. The only thing better is homemade buffalo sauce.
- Blue Cheese Dressing – Optional, but it’s a nice way to cool down the heat. Not a blue cheese fan? Use this easy Homemade Ranch Dressing.
- Celery Leaf – Don’t throw away celery leaves! They’re edible and surprisingly flavorful. I love using them to garnish these Buffalo chicken meatballs.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full printable instructions.
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 400°F and lightly spray a non-stick baking sheet with olive oil or line with parchment paper.
- Make the meatball mixture. Mix the ground chicken, panko, egg, scallions, celery, carrot and garlic with salt and pepper in a large bowl. I recommend using clean hands to blend the meatball ingredients.
- Form the meatballs. Roll the meat mixture into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake. Cook the meatballs in the oven until they’re baked through and golden, or for 15 to 18 minutes.
- Finish. Toss the meatballs with the Buffalo sauce in a medium bowl, sprinkle with chopped green onions and serve with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks, if desired.
The remaining sauce can be used for dipping or to make this amazing Buffalo Chicken Salad.
Tips for Making Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
These simple tips will make sure your Buffalo chicken meatballs turn out perfect!
- Don’t over-work the chicken mixture. Over-mixing the ingredients can result in tough and dry meatballs. Mix with your hands until just combined.
- Space the meatballs evenly on the baking sheet. This helps them get nicely browned instead of steaming in the oven.
- Keep them warm. If you’re serving these for a party appetizer, put the Buffalo sauce in a slow cooker and then stir in the meatballs. Set it to the Keep Warm setting while serving.
Variations and Substitutions
Here are some more ways to make this recipe.
- Turkey Buffalo meatballs – Swap out ground chicken for ground turkey.
- Stuffed Buffalo meatballs – Add a small cube of mozzarella or blue cheese in the center of each meatball. Yum!
- Gluten-free Buffalo meatballs – Use gluten-free panko or breadcrumbs in place of panko crumbs.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and store them for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months in a freezer bag.
To reheat, you can place the Buffalo chicken meatballs in a microwave-safe dish and heat in short intervals until warmed through, or reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes.
What to Serve With Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Easy Macaroni and Cheese
- Grilled Jalapeno Poppers with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
- Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Beer Cheese Dip
- Best Cranberry Brie Bites
- Knorr Spinach Dip
More Tasty Meatball Recipes
- Teriyaki Meatballs
- The Best Italian Meatballs
- Turkey Meatballs
- The Best Oven Baked Meatballs
- Easy Swedish Meatballs Recipe
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs
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Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 3 tablespoons panko crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 scallions, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup finely minced celery
- ⅓ cup finely minced carrot
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
- ⅓ cup Franks Hot sauce
- ¼ cup skinny blue cheese dressing, optional
- finely chopped celery leaf for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Lightly spray a non-stick baking sheet with olive oil.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, panko crumbs, egg, scallions, celery, carrot and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Using clean hands, mix until combined. Roll the mixture into 1 tablespoon size meatballs.
- Arrange meatballs onto a prepared baking sheet and bake until cooked through and golden, about 15 to 18 minutes.
- Transfer the meatballs to a large bowl and add the buffalo sauce. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately, drizzled with blue cheese dressing and crumbled blue cheese, if desired.