Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

The tangy, spicy aroma of Buffalo Chicken Meatballs wafting through your kitchen is enough to make anyone’s mouth water in anticipation. These bite-sized flavor bombs combine the beloved buffalo wing taste profile with the convenience and versatility of meatballs, creating a dish that’s perfect for game day snacking, appetizer spreads, or even weeknight dinners. The Buffalo Chicken Meatballs deliver that signature buffalo heat but in a more sophisticated, less messy package than traditional wings. You’ll learn how to create perfectly tender chicken meatballs infused with buffalo flavor from the inside out, plus the secrets to a sauce that strikes the ideal balance between spicy and buttery.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs will quickly become a staple in your cooking repertoire for so many reasons. First, they offer all the crave-worthy flavor of buffalo wings but with significantly less mess – no more sauce-covered fingers and faces! The texture contrast is simply divine; each meatball features a slightly crisp exterior giving way to a juicy, tender center that practically melts in your mouth.

These meatballs are incredibly versatile – serve them with toothpicks as a party appetizer, pile them onto slider buns for mini sandwiches, or place them atop a salad for a protein-packed meal. They’re also make-ahead friendly, allowing you to prep them in advance and simply warm and sauce them when ready to serve.

The buffalo sauce brings that perfect balance of heat, tanginess, and buttery richness that buffalo sauce aficionados crave, while the ground chicken creates a lighter alternative to traditional beef meatballs. Whether you’re a buffalo sauce fanatic or just looking for something new to add to your recipe collection, these meatballs hit all the right notes.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

• 2 lbs (900g) ground chicken (preferably a mix of white and dark meat for best flavor and moisture)
• 1 cup (120g) panko breadcrumbs
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup (80ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (50g) finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tbsp (45ml) ranch or blue cheese dressing
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup (80g) finely diced celery
• 1/4 cup (40g) finely diced onion
• 2 tsp (10ml) Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil, for cooking

For the Buffalo Sauce:

• 1/2 cup (120ml) hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot is traditional)
• 1/3 cup (75g) unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp (15ml) honey
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika

The ground chicken creates a lighter meatball that perfectly absorbs the buffalo flavors, while the addition of celery and Parmesan cheese provides authentic buffalo wing accompaniment flavors built right into the meatball.

Pro Tips

Use Cold Ingredients: Keep your ground chicken cold until the last possible moment before mixing. This prevents the fat from melting and helps maintain the proper texture in your Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. If possible, chill your mixing bowl before combining ingredients.

Don’t Overmix: When combining the meatball mixture, use a gentle touch and mix just until ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing compacts the meat proteins too tightly, resulting in dense, tough meatballs instead of tender ones. Use your hands rather than a spoon for better control.

Use the Two-Stage Cooking Method: For perfectly cooked chicken meatballs, employ a two-stage cooking process. First, sear the meatballs in a hot pan to develop a flavorful crust and help them hold their shape. Then finish them in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for even cooking all the way through. This method ensures they’re fully cooked while remaining juicy inside. Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Meatball Mixture
In a large bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and milk, allowing the mixture to sit for 5 minutes so the breadcrumbs can absorb the liquid. This creates a panade that will help keep your Buffalo Chicken Meatballs moist and tender. After the breadcrumbs have soaked, add the eggs, Parmesan cheese, ranch or blue cheese dressing, garlic, celery, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix these ingredients thoroughly before adding your ground chicken.

Step 2: Add the Chicken and Form Meatballs
Add the ground chicken to your mixture and gently fold everything together using your hands. Remember to use a light touch—you want to distribute the ingredients evenly without compacting the meat. Once combined, chill the mixture for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. This rest time allows the flavors to meld and makes the mixture easier to handle. After chilling, roll the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs (about 1½ inches in diameter), forming them loosely with wet hands to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Sear the Meatballs
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding, add the meatballs to the hot skillet and sear them for about 2 minutes per side until they develop a golden-brown crust. You’re not trying to cook them through at this stage—just creating flavor through browning. Transfer the seared meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels as you complete each batch.

Step 4: Finish in the Oven
Once all meatballs are seared, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or return them to your oven-safe skillet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). While the meatballs bake, prepare your buffalo sauce.

Step 5: Prepare the Buffalo Sauce
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the hot sauce, honey, garlic powder, and paprika. Whisk the ingredients together until fully combined and the sauce is smooth. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, then remove from heat.

Step 6: Coat with Buffalo Sauce
When the meatballs are fully cooked, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour about three-quarters of the buffalo sauce over the meatballs and gently toss until they’re evenly coated. Reserve the remaining sauce for serving or for those who prefer extra sauce on their Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.

Variations

Blue Cheese Buffalo Chicken Meatballs: For die-hard buffalo wing traditionalists, fold 1/3 cup of crumbled blue cheese directly into your meatball mixture. This adds pockets of tangy, creamy flavor throughout each bite. Serve these meatballs with additional blue cheese dressing for dipping, offering that classic buffalo wing and blue cheese combination in meatball form.

Honey Garlic Buffalo Meatballs: Create a sweeter variation by adjusting the buffalo sauce. Double the honey and add 2 additional minced garlic cloves to the sauce mixture. This creates a honey garlic buffalo hybrid that tones down the heat while amping up the sweet and savory notes—perfect for those who enjoy flavor without intense spice.

Asian-Inspired Buffalo Meatballs: For an international twist, add 1 tablespoon of grated ginger and 2 tablespoons of chopped scallions to the meatball mixture. Modify the sauce by incorporating 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar to the buffalo sauce. This creates an exciting fusion version of Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with an Asian-inspired flavor profile.

Storage and Serving

Store leftover Buffalo Chicken Meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place the cooked (but unsauced) meatballs on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag where they’ll keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and tossing with freshly made buffalo sauce.

For serving, these meatballs truly shine as part of a cohesive buffalo-themed spread. Place them in a slow cooker on the warm setting for parties, accompanied by celery and carrot sticks plus ranch and blue cheese dressings for dipping. For a more substantial meal, serve over creamy mashed potatoes or cauliflower rice, allowing the buffalo sauce to act as a spicy gravy.

Create amazing buffalo meatball sliders by placing 2-3 meatballs on small dinner rolls with a slice of provolone cheese and a drizzle of ranch dressing. Alternatively, serve them alongside a crisp green salad dressed with ranch for a lighter option that still delivers big flavor.

FAQs

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken?
Yes, ground turkey makes an excellent substitute in Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. Opt for turkey that isn’t too lean (93% lean works well) to ensure your meatballs remain juicy.

How can I make these meatballs gluten-free?
Simply substitute the panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice chex cereal. Also verify your Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce are gluten-free brands, as some contain gluten-based ingredients.

Can I make these buffalo meatballs ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare and shape the meatballs up to 24 hours in advance, keeping them covered in the refrigerator. You can also fully cook them and refrigerate, then reheat and toss with fresh buffalo sauce just before serving.

Are buffalo chicken meatballs spicy?
The spice level is adjustable. For milder meatballs, use less hot sauce in your buffalo sauce and increase the butter and honey slightly. For extra-spicy meatballs, add a dash of cayenne pepper to the sauce or use a spicier hot sauce than Frank’s RedHot.

What’s the best way to reheat these meatballs?
For best results, reheat Buffalo Chicken Meatballs in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-12 minutes until warmed through. Microwaving works in a pinch, but may cause the meatballs to toughen slightly.

Conclusion

This Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe is comfort food at its finest — delivering all the bold, spicy satisfaction of buffalo wings but in a more versatile, less messy form that’s perfect for any occasion. It’s the kind of dish that bridges the gap between casual snacking and impressive entertaining, making it ideal for everything from game day gatherings to weeknight dinners when you need something reliably delicious. The combination of tender, juicy chicken meatballs with that signature tangy buffalo sauce creates an irresistible flavor experience that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Master this recipe, and you’ll have a crowd-pleasing staple in your cooking arsenal for years to come.

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