Juicy Buffalo Bites

Featured in Perfect Little Bites.

These flavorful bites combine ground poultry with bold buffalo sauce. Serve with classic chilled blue cheese dip and celery.
Rose
Updated on Mon, 23 Jun 2025 01:46:25 GMT
A plate of spicy chicken bites topped with sauce, green onions, and feta cheese, with another plate behind it. Pin it
A plate of spicy chicken bites topped with sauce, green onions, and feta cheese, with another plate behind it. | lovelylifewithrose.com

I created these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs when I got fed up with messy hands during game nights. Now, they're my favorite go-to for parties and quick meals. You enjoy all that spicy buffalo flavor in perfect little bites. They’re incredibly juicy and deliver that fiery kick everyone loves.

What Sets These Apart

The secret is mixing ground chicken with turkey to keep things juicy. I toss in some diced veggies and just a bit of breadcrumbs, then coat it all in that rich, buttery buffalo sauce. It’s way easier than dealing with wings, but they satisfy that craving all the same.

Ingredients You'll Need

  • Meat Mix: A blend of 85/15 ground chicken and 85/20 ground turkey gives the perfect juicy bite.
  • Aromatics: Small diced onion, celery, and fresh garlic cloves.
  • Binders: Panko breadcrumbs soaked in milk for extra softness.
  • Seasonings: Frank's RedHot sauce, salt, pepper, and fresh chopped parsley.
  • For the Sauce: Melted butter combined with more Frank's RedHot.
  • For Serving: Blue cheese dressing, blue cheese crumbles, and celery sticks.
A dish of spicy meatballs drizzled with sauce, served with ranch dressing and celery sticks. Pin it
A dish of spicy meatballs drizzled with sauce, served with ranch dressing and celery sticks. | lovelylifewithrose.com

Let's Create Some Deliciousness

Prep the Ingredients
Chop your aromatics finely, then cook until soft. Let them cool while you prep the rest.
Mix It Up
Soak breadcrumbs in milk and hot sauce, then stir in eggs, spices, and your cooled veggie mix.
Shape the Meatballs
Gently combine the meats with your breadcrumb mixture, but don’t overwork it! Scoop and shape them into balls.
Bake and Coat
Place on a foil-covered tray and bake until they’re cooked through, then carefully mix with the warm buffalo sauce.

My Secret Tips

You wanna know how I keep these meatballs extra soft? I use just my fingertips when I mix, not my whole hands. Your palms get too warm and can melt the fats, leading to dense meatballs. When you’re adding the sauce, do it in small portions and be gentle since they can break apart easily when hot.

Make It Yours

There are so many options with these delicious meatballs. We snack on them, but they’re also great in sub rolls. Sometimes, I chop them for pizza or toss them on rice for dinner. The basic recipe is a winner no matter how you enjoy them.

A dish of spicy meatballs drizzled with sauce, served with creamy dip and fresh veggie sticks. Pin it
A dish of spicy meatballs drizzled with sauce, served with creamy dip and fresh veggie sticks. | lovelylifewithrose.com

Keep Them Fresh

You can keep these treats in the fridge for about three days or freeze them for up to three months. Just wait to add the sauce until you’re ready to dig in. My trick is to freeze them on a flat tray first, then pack them in bags so they don’t stick together.

Perfect Pairings

Always pair these with classic sides like creamy blue cheese dip and fresh celery sticks. I like to sprinkle extra blue cheese on top for those who enjoy that tangy flavor. And honestly, a chilled beer goes perfectly with these.

Why You'll Adore These

These meatballs bring all the buffalo wing flavor without the messy fingers. They’re perfect for game days, meal prepping, or when you just want something delicious. And guests always rave about them. I’ve never had any left when I take them to gatherings!

A plate of cooked meatballs coated in buffalo sauce garnished with green onions, served with ranch dressing and celery sticks. Pin it
A plate of cooked meatballs coated in buffalo sauce garnished with green onions, served with ranch dressing and celery sticks. | lovelylifewithrose.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why mix turkey and chicken together?
Blending the meats balances flavor and texture perfectly while keeping things juicy and tasty.
→ Why chop veggies super tiny?
Smaller pieces blend evenly into the mix, adding flavor and keeping the meatballs moist.
→ Why are tongs better for serving?
Tongs handle delicate, warm meatballs without squishing them and let any extra grease drip away.
→ Can I make them ahead of time?
Totally! Whip up and cook the meatballs earlier, but wait to toss in the buffalo sauce till serving.

Conclusion

Switch up your party spread with these buffalo-flavored meatballs. A mix of turkey and chicken keeps them juicy, paired perfectly with blue cheese and crunchy celery.

Fiery Party Starter

Tender poultry balls coated in tangy buffalo sauce, paired with creamy blue cheese and crisp celery.

Prep Time
40 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes
By: Rose

Category: Starters & Snacks

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 10 Servings (56 meatballs)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 1 pound ground turkey (80/20).
02 1 cup chopped sweet onion.
03 1 pound ground chicken (85/15).
04 1 cup chopped celery, plus extra sticks for dipping.
05 2 tablespoons olive oil.
06 2 tablespoons milk.
07 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons Frank's RedHot.
08 1/4 cup parsley, minced.
09 2 cloves garlic, minced.
10 1 cup panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs).
11 2 eggs.
12 4 tablespoons melted butter.
13 Crumble blue cheese and dressing for serving.

Instructions

Step 01

Chop up the onion, celery, garlic, and fry them in some olive oil for a few minutes until soft.

Step 02

Stir your breadcrumbs with milk and hot sauce, toss in the eggs, veggies, and seasonings.

Step 03

Using your hands, combine the meats with the mix, then form into 1-ounce balls.

Step 04

Pop them into the oven at 400°F. Give them 16-18 minutes to cook through.

Step 05

Combine melted butter and hot sauce, then cover each meatball with the mix.

Step 06

Top with blue cheese and serve alongside celery sticks and dressing.

Notes

  1. Makes 56 small meatballs.
  2. Watch out for burns while they're still warm!
  3. Don’t add the sauce until ready to put on the table.

Tools You'll Need

  • Tray for baking.
  • Small scoop to portion evenly.
  • Processor for chopping veggies.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy: butter and blue cheese.
  • Eggs are used in the mix.
  • Breadcrumbs have wheat in them.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 265
  • Total Fat: 16.1 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 10.3 g
  • Protein: 20 g