These quick and easy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are a fun twist on your classic appetizer recipe or enjoy as a busy weeknight dinner! Made with real, simple ingredients these flavorful chicken meatballs are Whole30/Paleo compliant. Everyone is going to love these during football season for delicious game day snacks!
The Best Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
We are huge fans of those tangy, but warm buffalo flavors. We swear we could eat buffalo wings or something with buffalo sauce every other day – we just don’t get sick of them and they always hit the spot! But, we thought we would mix things up today and do a fun spin on a classic chicken wing recipe. Enter, these easy buffalo chicken meatballs for a healthier alternative. The perfect party appetizer to enjoy on football Sundays or add to the menu of appetizers for Super Bowl Sunday. We cannot wait for you to try them!
If you also love chicken meatballs, you should also try our blog-favorite Greek Chicken Meatballs!
What You Will Need
- ground chicken – love using ground chicken – a nice and lean meat that is perfect for making a healthier meatball. You could also sub with ground turkey.
- egg & almond flour – the binding agents that help hold these tender meatballs together.
- onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper – a classic combination of seasonings that bring so much great flavor!
- olive oil – for your hands – helps with the sticky ground chicken.
- buffalo sauce – homemade or a store-bought version from your local grocery store (check ingredients for Paleo/Whole30).
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
The first steps to making this easy recipe are to place all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix to fully combine.
Scoop about a tablespoon of the meatball mixture at a time and roll in your clean hands to form a meatball. Continue this process to form all of the meatballs and put them on a plate. Bring a large skillet to medium high heat, add one tablespoon of oil, and sear the chicken meatballs in a single layer. Add some of the buffalo sauce and let simmer as chicken meatballs fully cook. They should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (use a meat thermometer).
Pro tip: we love using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to keep the meatballs a uniform size and shape.
Transfer meatballs to a large mixing bowl and drizzle a little bit of extra buffalo sauce on top. Serve with your favorite dip and celery sticks!
Best Ways To Serve Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
We love to serve these very similar to the same way we serve traditional buffalo chicken wings. Fresh celery sticks and/or carrot sticks are a great side option! They give you a nice break from the spiciness of the meatballs, as well as nice crunch. You could also do raw broccoli or even cauliflower. These juicy meatballs are great for dipping so make sure you have some ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing in a small bowl! And feel free to sprinkle some chopped green onions or blue cheese crumbles on top!
Recipe FAQ
Yes, if you still want the chicken meatball recipe to be Whole30/Paleo compliant we would suggest using cassava flour or something similar. If that isn’t a concern for you, just use some breadcrumbs!
Yes! To make crockpot chicken meatballs, make the meatball mix, roll them into balls, as directed, and then give them a quick sear on the stove top. Place seared meatballs in the slow cooker along with the sauce and cook on LOW for 2 hours. Expect some separation when it comes to the sauce, but you should be able to stir to recombine.
Definitely! Bake the buffalo meatballs on a baking sheet with parchment paper 375 degrees F for about 18-22 minutes (or until internal temp is 165 degrees F). Then toss them in the sauce.
Yes, simply form all the chicken meatballs and spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place them in a single layer in the basket to cook at 400 degrees F for about 12 minutes. Make sure the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Toss in sauce after cooking. Depending on the size of your basket, they may need to be cooked in batches.
Made this delicious recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
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Other Meatball Recipes You Might Like
Buffalo Chicken Meatball Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 20–21 meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
These easy buffalo chicken meatballs are a fun twist on a classic buffalo wings recipe! Perfect for meal prep, work lunches, or a fun weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup almond flour (sub breadcrumbs if not Whole30/paleo)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- oil (to help with forming meatballs)
- 1 batch of homemade buffalo sauce (or approx. 1 cup store-bought buffalo sauce)
Instructions
- Combine: Mix ground chicken, egg, almond flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl.
- Scoop: Use a cookie dough scoop to scoop out approx. 1 1/2 tablespoons of meatball mixture, forming a ball, and place on a large plate. Continue until all of the meatball mixture is used. (See Notes)
- Skillet: Take a cast iron skillet and bring to medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil and use a spatula to spread evenly to coat the pan. Add chicken meatballs and sear on all sides, about 3 minutes.
- Cover: Turn down to medium heat and then add approximately 1/3 cup of buffalo sauce – cover the pan immediately as it will splatter.
- Simmer: Allow meatballs to cook in the buffalo sauce, adding more as needed, about 10-15 minutes or until fully cooked (165 degrees F internal temperature – recommend using a meat thermometer). Toss meatballs occasionally so the buffalo sauce really cooks into them.
- Bowl: Place cooked chicken meatballs and sauce into a large bowl and pour additional buffalo sauce on top, as desired. Toss.
- Serve: Serve with ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
Notes
- Ground Chicken: Ground chicken can be very sticky so it helps to have a little bowl of oil next to you when you are making the chicken meatballs. Get a little oil on your fingers and then rub on the inside of the cookie dough scoop before scooping the meatball mixture. Place them directly on the plate and reform, as necessary.
- Homemade Ranch Dressing: this homemade ranch dressing is SO GOOD! Highly recommend!
- Store-bought Ranch: You can also use store-bought ranch for dipping – I like this kind and this kind!
- Store-bought Buffalo Sauce: You can easily use store-bought buffalo sauce instead of homemade! I love this one to keep the recipe Whole30/Paleo.
- Storage: keep leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6oz
- Calories: 242
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 439.2 mg
- Fat: 13.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Protein: 18.6 g
- Cholesterol: 114.3 mg
Whitney Sowles says
I have made these twice for parties this summer, and am amazed at how quickly they disappear! Such a great easy recipe and fabulous crowd pleaser!
Corey says
SO GOOD! I made these tonight and my husband and I loved them! So easy for a quick weeknight dinner. We made them as a dinner with a salad and some side veggies. Your website is my new favorite for Whole30 recipes!
Erin says
Yay!! So happy to hear that, Corey!
Erin says
Easy, delicious and fun! I made a double batch because I knew my family would love them. They were gone in less than two days! The recipe is so simple that my kids were able to help and I had all the ingredients on hand.
Mary says
These were our special super bowl dinner this year! I used ground turkey and barbecue sauce because it’s what we had on hand when I decided to make these at the last minute. 🤷♀️
The 4 year old twins didn’t touch them (it was a completely different meat presentation- they missed out!), but it got the thumbs up from the husband 👍
Erin says
Yay! Love hearing that! So glad you enjoyed them and thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review + feedback – I really appreciate it!
Beth says
These are so good – perfectly moist. We used turkey bc its what we had and they were deelish – i love the homemade buffalo sauce. we eat ours with rice and grilled zucchini and the sauce drizzled on top, Yummo, thanks!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Beth! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review + feedback – I really appreciate it!
Chris says
I LOVE these meatballs and would eat them everyday. They go perfectly with some ranch and veggies. Now I’m craving them just writing this review!
Erin says
Aw thanks, Chris! So glad you are enjoying them! And thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a review – I really appreciate it!
Kat says
These were fantastic! I am gluten free and really try to eat clean- they have a ton of flavor without being unhealthy. I used a small scooper and I didn’t even have to use my hands which was great since it’s so sticky!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Kat! These are one of my favorite as well – thanks so much for taking the time to leave your feedback, I really appreciate it!
Ashley says
We made these tonight! They were so delicious! Definitely will be making these again and will be great for tailgating!
Erin says
Yay!! So happy to hear you enjoyed them (they are a personal favorite!) – and thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate that!
Courtney McKelvie says
Is there a substitute for the almond flour? We have a nut allergy in the family. Thanks!!
Erin says
Hi Courtney – I have only ever made these with almond flour so I can’t guarantee results, but I would think a cassava flour to be a decent binder as well! Or if you aren’t concerned with paleo/whole30 some bread crumbs would do the trick. Let me know if you try something and how it works!
Valerie says
Would ground turkey work just as well?
Erin says
Hi Valerie! I haven’t personally tried this with turkey, but several people have messaged me telling me they have and it was successful!!
Erica says
Just made these – they were very good and easy to make! Doubled the recipe and had them as our dinner entree for my family of five – very filling with plenty of celery and carrots on the side. Husband and kids all liked them as well! Passed on the recipe to three friends!
Erin says
That is so awesome to hear, Erica! I am so glad everyone enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback – I really appreciate it!
Dani says
Could you do these in the slow cooker?
Christine Geffner says
Hi Erin! I made these this week with a pound of ground chicken from Aldi, as well as their Berman’s Hot Sauce. They came out so delicious. They made a great afternoon “heavy snack.” People are still trying to settle into a new routine over here, so I feel like I’m cooking and doing dishes all day, every day. So thanks for keeping it easy and delicious!
Erin says
Hi Christine! I am so glad you enjoyed them!! I agree – definitely figuring out a new “normal” over here as well (everyone home = dishes ALL the time!!). Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback, I really appreciate it!
Annie says
Can I make these in an insta pot?
Fatima says
Can these be made in an instant pot or baked in the oven?
Michelle says
These look so good!! Can I substitute almond flour for something else? I have eliminated nuts from my diet.
Thanks. Michelle
Erin says
If you aren’t concerned with Whole30/Paleo you could do breadcrumbs! As for a Whole30/paleo replacement, you might be able to do a coconut flour, but I haven’t tried it myself!
Solange says
Can I make in the air fryer?
Erin says
Hi Solange! I have not tested it in the air fryer so I can’t give any instructions on it – that being said I am sure it is possible!