30 Minute Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe
These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are a flavorful and easy-to-make appetizer or main dish, combining tender ground chicken with classic buffalo sauce and fresh veggies. Baked to perfection in just 30 minutes, they offer a perfect balance of spicy, savory, and tangy flavors, ideal for game day, parties, or a quick family dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 20 meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 1/2 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
- 1 small carrot (finely grated)
- 1 stick celery (minced)
- 2 green onions (minced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp kosher sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Sauce & Garnish
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce (such as Frank’s)
- 3 tablespoons ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a standard baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat to prevent sticking and set aside.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, and beaten egg. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes so the breadcrumbs absorb the egg. Then add grated carrot, minced celery, green onions, garlic, paprika, kosher sea salt, and black pepper. Mix gently with your hands or a spatula until just combined to avoid dense meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Use a spoon or cookie scoop to shape the mixture into evenly sized meatballs. Place them spaced evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) and are cooked through.
- Toss in Buffalo Sauce: Remove the baked meatballs from the oven and transfer them to a bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over the meatballs and gently toss to coat them evenly.
- Serve: Serve the buffalo chicken meatballs immediately, drizzled with ranch or blue cheese dressing and optionally garnished with extra minced green onions for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For extra tang, use blue cheese dressing instead of ranch.
- Ensure not to overmix the meatball mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- You can prepare the mixture ahead of time and refrigerate before baking.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer for best results.
- Serve with celery sticks or carrot sticks for a classic buffalo wing experience.
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