Game Day Spicy Buffalo Chicken (Printable)
Juicy chicken meatballs with zesty buffalo sauce, perfect for casual snacking and gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1 lb ground chicken
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup finely diced celery
04 - 1/4 cup finely diced onion
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
→ Buffalo Sauce
11 - 1/3 cup hot sauce
12 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
13 - 1 tbsp honey
14 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
→ Garnish
15 - Chopped fresh parsley
16 - Extra blue cheese crumbles
17 - Celery sticks
# Step-by-step:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease.
02 - Combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, celery, onion, garlic, egg, blue cheese, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika in large bowl. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Shape mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place evenly on prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 16-18 minutes until cooked through and lightly golden.
05 - Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in hot sauce, honey, and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth and heated through.
06 - Transfer cooked meatballs to large bowl. Pour warm buffalo sauce over and toss gently to coat.
07 - Arrange on serving platter. Garnish with parsley and extra blue cheese if desired. Serve with celery sticks.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The ground chicken stays remarkably juicy while baking so no dry hockey puck meatballs here
- That honey in the sauce creates the perfect sticky coating that clings to every bite
- You can prep everything ahead and just bake and toss when guests arrive
02 -
- Do not overmix the meatball mixture or they will turn tough and dense
- The sauce thickens as it cools so toss the meatballs immediately while it is still hot
03 -
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform meatballs that cook evenly
- Let the meatballs rest five minutes after baking so they hold their shape when tossed