Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
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If you love buffalo chicken but want a healthier, leaner alternative to fried wings or traditional meatballs, these Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are for you! Baked or air-fried, they're a delicious high-protein option perfect for game day or holiday appetizers, party snacks, or even an easy weeknight dinner!
Quick Look: Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- 🕒 Total Time: 30 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 5
- 📊 Calories: 220 per serving
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If you're looking for another flavorful appetizer, be sure to try my Cowboy Caviar!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Healthier Alternative - Made with lean ground chicken and baked or air-fried instead of fried, these buffalo chicken meatballs are a lighter, high-protein option without sacrificing flavor. They're naturally gluten-free with almond flour, but you can easily swap in Panko breadcrumbs if that's what you have on hand.
- Easy to Make - Just mix, roll, and bake! It really doesn't get much easier than this recipe! A quick toss in buffalo sauce at the end brings everything together.
- Perfect for Entertaining - These meatballs are the ultimate party appetizer. Serve them with toothpicks and a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping, and watch them disappear!
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Select Ingredients
- Ground Chicken: I like to use at least 93% lean or leaner chicken to keep these lower calorie and lean. This also keeps the grease to a minimum as well!
- Almond Flour: this will keep the recipe gluten free, though you can certainly use Panko bread crumbs if you'd prefer a slightly crunchier texture and don't mind the gluten.
- Ranch Dressing Mix: this helps give it a delicious flavor. You can use about half a dry ranch dressing packet or I love this Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix from The Pioneer Woman too.
- Buffalo Sauce: I prefer Frank's Buffalo Sauce!
- Toppings: green onions, ranch, bleu cheese: I prefer chopped green onions with mine.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Tips & Variations
➡️ Air Fry or Bake - For the crispiest texture, air fry the meatballs at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Prefer to bake? Pop them in the oven at 400°F for 18-20 minutes until cooked through.
➡️ Use a Cookie Scoop - A small cookie scoop helps create evenly sized meatballs that cook at the same rate (and look prettier, too!).
➡️ Adjust the Heat Level - Use mild, medium, or hot buffalo sauce depending on your spice preference. Add a pinch of cayenne for extra heat or mix in a little honey for a sweeter, less spicy glaze.
How To Make These Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Step 1: Mix all ingredients (except for the buffalo sauce) together in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Using a cookie scoop or your hands, roll 1 Tablespoon of meatball mixture into a ball. Place meatballs in air fryer or baking dish. Bake or air fry at 400 degrees for 20 minutes in oven or 12 minutes in air fryer.
Step 3: Pour buffalo sauce in large bowl and toss meatballs to coat. Top with green onions and serve with ranch or bleu cheese. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can mix and roll the meatballs up to a day in advance and keep them covered in the refrigerator. Bake or air fry right before serving for the best texture.
They're fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. The outside should be lightly golden, and the centers should no longer look pink.
Yes! Regular Panko or gluten-free breadcrumbs both work well if you prefer a more classic meatball texture.
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Other Recipes You Should Try
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Healthier Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground chicken at least 93% lean or leaner
- 1 egg
- ½ cup almond flour or Panko bread crumbs
- 1 Tablespoon ranch dressing mix
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup buffalo sauce I love Frank's brand!
- Toppings/serve with: green onions ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- If air frying instead, spray air fryer with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for the buffalo sauce. They'll form better if not overmixed.
- Scoop about 1 Tablespoon of mixture, roll into a ball, and place in the baking dish. Continue until all mixture is used. (I like to keep the balls small so they cook more thoroughly and take less time.)
- If baking in the oven, bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F.
- If cooking in air fryer, place meatballs in the air fryer and air fry at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.
- Pour buffalo sauce into a large bowl and toss meatballs to coat. Top with green onions and serve with ranch or blue cheese if desired.
Wow, this sounds amazing. We are big lovers of Buffalo chicken over here, so I have to make them!
My buffalo wing-loving family is going to love these meatballs. I can't wait to try this recipe!
These are my absolute favorite for game day! They taste amazing!