Go Back
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs on toothpicks, coated in spicy orange sauce and garnished with green onions on a white plate.
Linda

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Juicy, tender chicken meatballs drenched in spicy buffalo sauce for the ultimate game day upgrade.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs
  • 1.5 lbs ground chicken
  • 0.75 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.75 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.25 cup blue cheese crumbles optional, for mixing in
For the Buffalo Sauce
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 0.5 cup Frank's RedHot Original hot sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey optional, for balance
For Serving
  • 4 stalks celery sticks cut into sticks
  • 0.5 cup blue cheese dressing for dipping

Equipment

  • Large Rimmed Baking Sheet
  • Large skillet
  • Mixing Bowl

Method
 

Prep and Mix
  1. In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, panko, beaten egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and blue cheese crumbles if using. Mix gently with your hands just until combined. Do not overwork the meat or the meatballs will be tough.
  2. Lightly oil your hands and roll the mixture into 20 meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet with space between each one.
Bake
  1. Bake at 400F for 18-20 minutes, until the meatballs are golden on the outside and register 165F in the center on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from oven and set aside.
Make the Sauce
  1. While the meatballs bake, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk in hot sauce and honey if using. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy.
Toss and Serve
  1. Add the baked meatballs to the skillet with the sauce. Gently toss for 1-2 minutes until every meatball is evenly coated and the sauce clings to the surface. Transfer to a serving platter.
  2. Serve hot with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping. The contrast of cool, creamy dressing against the spicy meatballs is essential.

Notes

For extra tender meatballs, soak the panko in 2 tablespoons of milk for 5 minutes before mixing. Ground chicken can be swapped for ground turkey with no other changes needed. These reheat beautifully: store sauced meatballs in the fridge for up to 3 days and warm gently in a covered skillet with a splash of water.