Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are one of our very favorite party appetizers. These Blue Cheese Stuffed Meatballs are relatively healthy, SO flavorful, and sure to please. If you’re not sure what to serve for your next tailgating party, this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe is just the thing. Serve with Homemade Ranch!
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
I’m OBSESSED with these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. Actually, I don’t think “obsession” is even a strong enough word for how I feel about this Skinny BLUE CHEESE STUFFED Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe. I mean…Its Buffalo Chicken, Stuffed with Blue Cheese, and put in a Crock Pot. Is this what heaven is like??
I need these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs in my life at each and every tailgate party I go to. If I’m forced to watch sports, you better believe I’ll be snacking on these Cheese Stuffed Chicken Meatballs!
Cheese Stuffed Chicken Meatballs
These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are browned in the oven but then kept warm in a slow cooker. That makes them the perfect appetizer to take to any party or get together. I don’t think any starter is quite as great as meatballs for parties.
These meatballs are especially great because they’re made with chicken, aka HEALTHY, and have all the flavor you’ve come to expect from buffalo chicken recipes.
We have lots of meatball recipes on the site, including Marmalade Meatballs, Parmesan Meatballs, Swedish Meatballs, Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs, Grape Jelly Meatballs, Cheesy Baked Turkey Meatballs, and Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs. These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs have been a favorite since they were first published in 2014!
Can you freeze Buffalo Chicken Meatballs?
You can! Meatballs are great for freezing and serving later. Meatballs can be frozen raw after shaped (aka get the hard part over with) or after they are cooked and cooled. When freezing, always Freeze them in a single layer on a lined cookie sheet for an hour or until solid. After solid, add to a quality freezer safe zip lock bag and label with the date. This Buffalo Chicken Meatball Recipe should last in the freezer for 3-4 months.
Tips for Making Buffalo Chicken Meatballs:
I love love LOVE these, but I’m not going to lie and say they’re my favorite thing to make. I don’t like messes, and these were messy. Ground chicken is kind of a pain to work with. But put that out of your mind. Carry on…get messy…they’re worth it. SO worth it. Here are 6 tips for making the BEST Meatballs:
- Use quality meats. In this case we are using ground chicken because its tasty AND healthy! When using chicken, be careful not to overcook, as they’ll become tough (less fat equals less tender if over cooked)
- Add moisture such as eggs. Eggs work as a binder but also add moisture to make sure your meatballs stay moist. Super yum!
- Use a chilled bowl. Keeping things cold helps keep them tender because you don’t allow the fat to break down. Science!
- Don’t overmix, be gentle. Another tip for keeping things tender. If the meat mixture is too tightly packed, it can lead to tough meatballs.
- Spray your hands with non-stick spray. This will help with the inevitable mess. Use a small ice cream scoop to form your meatballs. Once you’ve made your meatballs, wash your hands completely as raw chicken can carry salmonella.
- Bake, don’t fry! Baking is not only better for your waistline, its also less messy! You can get a crispy outer crust if you broil them a touch after baking. We love to keep ours warm in a crock pot to make serving at a party that much easier.
I just love the way the creamy blue cheese interacts with the spicy baked on Buffalo sauce. They’re very spicy; you’ve been warned! (You could buy a mild buffalo/wing sauce if you’d like to cut the spice. Also, dipping in ranch makes them less spicy and tastes amazing!) My husband loves things spicy so these chicken meatballs are right up his alley!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BUFFALO SAUCE
You better believe we’ve got you covered! You can always buy Buffalo Sauce at the store for this recipe, or you can make your own! Here is our favorite Homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe.
Baseball season is here and it’s time to tailgate! You need to find some amazing game day appetizers for the season.
We have always loved the flavors of buffalo chicken, and some of our favorite recipes include
- Beer Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Dip Bites
- Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Creamy Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
Another favorite HEALTHY spicy chicken recipe is our Buffalo Chicken Soup.
If it’s game day appetizers you crave, we have you covered there as well! Our go-to appetizer recipes include our Famous Queso Recipe, Chicken Tacos, Chex Mix Recipe, Ham and Cheese Mozzarella Sticks, and Bacon Cheese Fries!
All of those tailgating appetizers are great, but people will realllly go crazy for are these Blue Cheese Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. But you better make a double batch. Trust me.
See the recipe card for details on How to Make Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. Enjoy!
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground chicken
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles (see note)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (¼ stick)
- 1 cup Buffalo sauce (click for recipe)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- With a fork, stir the chicken, garlic, ranch, egg, breadcrumbs, and ranch together until mixed. Using a cookie portion scoop (or your hands), mold the mixture into meatballs.1 pound lean ground chicken, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large egg, ½ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- Press a cube of blue cheese into the center of each meatball then fold the mixture around the cheese and press together. Roll into a ball so that the cheese is completely covered.¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
- Place the meatballs in a slow cooker with the butter and buffalo wing sauce. Place on high for about 20 minutes until hot. Keep on warm while serving.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 cup Buffalo sauce
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Note: If you're not a blue cheese fan you can use any type of cheese. I recommend ¼- or ½-inch blocks of your favorite for each meatball... I love cheddar or mozzarella!
- These meatballs are SPICY! You could buy a mild buffalo/wing sauce if you'd like to cut the spice. Also, dipping in ranch makes them less spicy and tastes amazing!
Nutrition Information
These sound like a great meal or appetizer for the summer! I love that you can keep them warm in a crockpot. That makes it so nice when you are preparing a feast for a party!
Hope you love them Ashley!
I just pulled these out of the oven. They smell so good! I’m making them for a friend’s birthday party this weekend, so my plan is to just reheat them in the crockpot with the sauce. Trying to save myself some time on the busy day. Think it will work?
Sorry I’m just seeing this. I think that will work just fine!!! Hope you love them :)
Oh my goodness these look so good Becky! I love anything buffalo!
Thanks Sarah! All your amazing slow cooker recipes inspired me to get cookin’!
The looks amazing! The perfect summer snack!
Thank you so much!!! So glad you like them. :)