Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe: The Ultimate Game Day Appetizer
These baked Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are a guaranteed touchdown for your taste buds! Whether you’re gearing up for game day, planning a party, or need a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner, these juicy and flavorful meatballs are the answer. They’re generously coated in a simple, two-ingredient homemade buffalo sauce that delivers the perfect kick. Plus, I’m sharing my secret baking trick to ensure these are the most incredibly moist ground chicken meatballs you’ve ever experienced.
For the ultimate Buffalo Chicken Meatball experience, serve them with your favorite blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping, and don’t forget the classic celery sticks to complete the full buffalo flavor!
Table of Contents
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make Juicy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Storage & Leftovers
- More Game Day Recipes You’ll Love
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe
I’m not sure what I’m more excited about: the football or the amazing game day food! Game day snacks are my weakness, and anything buffalo-flavored tops the list. Spicy, tangy, and perfect for dunking in creamy ranch or blue cheese dressing? Sign me up! That’s what inspired these irresistibly juicy and saucy buffalo chicken meatballs.
These miniature meatballs are baked to golden perfection in a hot oven before being tossed in a tantalizing homemade buffalo sauce crafted with just two simple ingredients. But here’s the game-changing secret that elevates this to the best buffalo chicken meatballs recipe ever: a mini muffin pan! Each meatball gets its own little compartment to bake in, sealing in all those precious juices and guaranteeing maximum moisture. Trust me, once you try baking meatballs in a muffin pan, you’ll never want to go back to using a regular baking sheet.
Don’t have a muffin pan? No problem! Simply grease a baking dish generously, arrange the meatballs in neat rows, and get ready to fire up the oven.
These meatballs aren’t just for weekend celebrations. They make an incredibly quick and easy weeknight dinner option too! Pair them with a side of creamy coconut rice and roasted vegetables, or a crisp wedge salad for a balanced and satisfying meal the whole family will enjoy. Alternatively, serve them as a crowd-pleasing party appetizer that’s guaranteed to vanish in record time. These buffalo chicken meatballs are also perfect for meal prepping and can be added to pasta for a quick and easy dinner!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s break down the simple ingredients that come together to create these flavor-packed Buffalo Chicken Meatballs:
- Ground chicken: You’ll need 1 ½ pounds of ground chicken for this recipe. If you can’t easily find ground chicken at your local grocery store, you can certainly substitute ground turkey. Both work beautifully.
- Panko breadcrumbs: These provide a lighter and airier texture compared to traditional breadcrumbs. The difference in texture is significant and really elevates the meatballs.
- Milk: I prefer to use whole milk for its richness, but any variety will work just fine. You’ll be adding the milk to the breadcrumbs to allow them to absorb the liquid. During cooking, this liquid evaporates, creating steam that keeps the meatballs incredibly moist from the inside out. Plus, the milk-soaked breadcrumbs act as a fantastic binder, holding everything together perfectly.
- Egg: This serves as another crucial binding agent, ensuring that your meatballs hold their shape beautifully while they bake to golden perfection.
- Hot sauce + butter: These two powerhouse ingredients are the dynamic duo behind our DIY buffalo sauce. I highly recommend using Frank’s RedHot Sauce for that iconic, signature buffalo flavor we all know and love. Melted butter adds a touch of richness and helps to mellow out some of the heat, creating the perfect balance of flavors.
- Scallions: Adds a fresh, mild onion flavor that complements the richness of the buffalo sauce and the savory chicken.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste.
For the complete list of ingredients and precise quantities, please refer to the recipe card below.
How to Make Juicy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to create the best Buffalo Chicken Meatballs:
- Make the buffalo sauce: Combine the hot sauce and butter in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Whisk constantly until the butter is fully melted, and the sauce is smooth and perfectly combined. Set the sauce aside and allow it to cool to room temperature. Pro Tip: Letting the sauce cool slightly helps it adhere better to the baked meatballs later, resulting in a more flavorful finish.
- Soak the breadcrumbs: In a small bowl, stir together the milk and breadcrumbs. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to fully absorb the milk. This is a key step for creating juicy meatballs!
- Make the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, gently combine the ground chicken, minced scallions, egg, breadcrumb mixture, ⅓ of the prepared buffalo sauce, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Use your hands to thoroughly combine the mixture, but be careful not to overmix, which can result in tough meatballs.
- Shape the meatballs: Using approximately 3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture for each meatball, form small, round balls. Place each meatball into a cup of a greased mini muffin pan, or arrange them neatly in rows in a greased baking dish.
- Bake in a 450°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes: Bake the meatballs until they are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F. The meatballs should be beautifully golden brown on the outside while still remaining wonderfully juicy on the inside.
- Toss in buffalo sauce: Once the ground chicken meatballs are done baking, immediately transfer them to a large bowl and gently toss them with the remaining buffalo sauce to coat them evenly.
When serving these delectable Buffalo Chicken Meatballs as an appetizer or party food during a football game, I like to arrange them artfully on a large platter with both blue cheese and ranch dressing for dipping. Adding a side of crisp celery sticks and carrots completes the classic buffalo presentation.
Slow Cooker Tip: To keep your baked buffalo chicken meatballs warm and inviting throughout your party, simply transfer them to a slow cooker set on the “warm” setting. This will ensure they stay hot and juicy for hours, ready for your guests to enjoy!
Storage & Leftovers
Here’s how to properly store your Buffalo Chicken Meatballs:
- Refrigerator: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to reheat them, simply warm them in the microwave or oven until heated through. Toss them with a little extra buffalo sauce to freshen them up and restore their signature tang.
- Freezer: If you plan to freeze the meatballs for longer storage, I highly recommend freezing them *without* the sauce to maintain the best texture and flavor. Once the meatballs have cooled completely, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until they are solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, bake or microwave to reheat, and toss them in fresh buffalo sauce just before serving.
Get creative with your leftovers! Transform them into a quick and delicious meatball sub. Grab a hoagie roll, spread a generous amount of ranch dressing on it, add the meatballs, and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Pop it in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and perfectly gooey. Enjoy!
More Game Day Recipes You’ll Love
Looking for more delicious game day recipe inspiration? Here are some of my favorite winning dishes:
- Crispy Baked Orange Chicken Wings
- Bacon-Cheddar Football Cheese Ball
- Slow Cooker Queso Dip
- Easy Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
- Easy Taco Salad Cups
- Easy Focaccia Pizza
- Warm and Cheesy Onion Dip
- Mama Kelce’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe
