Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Name: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground chicken; ½ cup buffalo sauce (divided); 1 large egg; ½ cup plain bread crumbs; 2 finely chopped green onions; 2 cloves garlic (minced); ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon salt

5 from 2 votes

ByMadison Wetherill March 12, 2024

66 Comments

These buffalo chicken meatballs are the perfect healthier alternative to offer on your appetizer table. Serve them on a hoagie roll or with some tasty sides and then you've got a great easy dinner that you can make in minutes!

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A bite taken out of one chicken meatball with the bowl of meatballs below it.

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Buffalo Chicken Meatball Recipe

These aren't your average meatballs. In fact, they're the most delicious and moist chicken meatballs that you'll ever have. Okay, that may be a bold statement, but trust me y'all, these are so good.

I love using ground chicken since it's less calories and lower in fat than ground beef. It's the same reason I like to make grilled chicken burgers! You can enjoy these healthy buffalo chicken meatballs with all of the flavor and none of the guilt.

Meatballs are so versatile too! I make rosemary chicken meatballs when I need something fancy. But I love to throw together some easy spaghetti and meatballs for a weeknight dinner too.

Chicken wings are already a hit on game day, so taking that idea and making meatballs is genius. They're the perfect party appetizer since they're easy to eat and make a double batch to feed a crowd.

So, if you're a fan of buffalo chicken wings or buffalo chicken dip, you're going to drool over these easy meatballs!

Why You'll Love this Recipe

You can use whatever wing sauce you'd like to toss the meatballs in. It's a really adaptable recipe and you can flavor it to fit your preferences.
It will only take you about 35 minutes to make buffalo meatballs.
If you're looking for low carb recipes, these tender meatballs fit the bill.

Ingredients

Here's what to add to your grocery store list so that you'll have everything on hand to make this buffalo chicken meatballs recipe:

ground chicken
buffalo sauce
large egg
plain bread crumbs
chopped green onions
minced garlic
garlic powder
onion powder
salt

Overhead photo chicken meatballs in a white bowl topped with ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles and diced green onions.

Substitutions and Variations

In order to make this recipe gluten free, use gluten-free bread crumbs in these buffalo chicken meatballs.

Buffalo sauce pairs well with chicken, which is why ground chicken tastes so great in this recipe! But you could substitute it for ground turkey or ground beef, just be aware that the flavor will slightly change.

You can use store-bought buffalo sauce like Frank's Red Hot, or make a homemade buffalo sauce.

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Now, let's get to making this recipe!

Preheat the oven to 400°F and then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Ground chicken, garlic, diced green onions, bread crumbs, egg, and buffalo sauce in a glass mixing bowl.

Combine bread crumbs, ground chicken, half of the buffalo sauce, one large egg, diced green onion, minced garlic, and seasonings in one large bowl.

Hot Tip: Use your hands to mix the ingredients! It's so much easier and the ingredients get more evenly spread out through the mixture. It may just be the secret to making these meatballs extra perfect!

Mix thoroughly until all of the ingredients are combined. It will look like this:

All ingredients for chicken meatballs mixed together in a glass mixing bowl.

Then it's time to form the meatballs and get them in the oven.

All ingredients for chicken meatballs being scooped with a cookie scoop onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Chicken meatballs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Use a cookie scoop or a large spoon to scoop out the meatball mixture. Roll each scoop into round balls between the palms of your hands.

Then, place each meatball onto the previously prepared baking sheet and repeat this process until all of the buffalo chicken meatball mixture is used.

Bake in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, until each meatball is golden brown on the top.

Cooked chicken meatballs in a glass mixing bowl.

Cooked chicken meatballs drizzled with buffalo sauce in a glass mixing bowl.

Place cooked meatballs into another large mixing bowl and toss with the remaining buffalo sauce.

Chicken meatballs arranged on a white plate topped with diced green onions.

Remove each meatball and place them on your chosen serving platter. Garnish with buffalo sauce drizzle, ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, or finely chopped green onions.

Then serve and enjoy!

Close up photo of chicken meatballs arranged on a white plate topped with diced green onions.

How to Store Leftover Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Place leftover meatballs into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. This recipe freezes well too! Just place them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat, let meatballs thaw from frozen. You can then heat them in the microwave or on the stove top until warmed through. Toss with some extra buffalo sauce, then add any garnishes and serve!

Chicken meatball dipped in ranch dressing.

What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Buffalo chicken meatballs are an excellent appetizer for parties, tailgates, the Super Bowl, game day, watch parties, summer cookouts and more.

Serve delicious buffalo chicken meatballs with your favorite dipping sauces. Blue cheese dressing and homemade ranch dressing are my favorite pairings! Sour cream, Greek yogurt or whipped feta dip could be great too.

Carrot sticks and celery sticks are great to eat alongside these meatballs too, as they're a fun alternative to buffalo chicken wings.

These meatballs work as the whole meal, too. Serve meatballs on a sub roll to make a buffalo chicken meatball sub, a fun version of the buffalo chicken sandwich. You could also enjoy them over a bed of pasta or rice.

Tips for Success

Don't have parchment paper? Try lining your sheet pan with aluminum foil. It will help reduce your clean-up time.
Make sure you roll your meatballs into 1 ½ inch balls and that they are all even. This will ensure that they bake evenly and cook all the way through.
Use an instant read thermometer so that you can quickly tell if the meatballs are reaching the right internal temperature.

Close up photo of bowl of chicken meatballs topped with ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles and diced green onions.

FAQ

How do you keep chicken meatballs from falling apart?

The key to making meatballs that won't fall apart is to add some binders like egg and bread crumbs. In fact if you follow the recipe exactly, these meatballs will stay together wonderfully!

Do I need to chill these meatballs before baking?

Nope! Chilling meatballs is a great step to take to help meatballs keep their shape as they bake. However, it is not necessary to do for these buffalo chicken meatballs.

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Did you make this recipe?

If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.