Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Tender, juicy buffalo chicken meatballs made in the slow cooker with minimal effort. Perfect for game day, parties, or a weeknight dinner, these meatballs are packed with flavor and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 24-28 meatballs (about 6-8 servings) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs (680g) ground chicken (93% lean)
- ½ cup (45g) panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup (180ml) Frank’s RedHot Original Sauce
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey
- Optional garnishes: blue cheese crumbles, chopped green onions, fresh parsley, extra hot sauce drizzle
Instructions
- Make the meatball mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to gently mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Form the meatballs: Roll the mixture into 1 ½-inch balls (about 24-28 meatballs). Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If sticky, wet hands slightly with cold water.
- Sear the meatballs (optional but recommended): Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon oil. Working in batches, sear meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to slow cooker insert.
- Make the buffalo sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Whisk in Frank’s RedHot and honey until smooth. Simmer for about 1 minute, do not let boil hard.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs: Pour buffalo sauce over meatballs in slow cooker. Gently toss to coat each meatball.
- Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 1 ½-2 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, gently stir to redistribute sauce.
- Check for doneness: Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) using an instant-read thermometer.
- Serve and garnish: Transfer to serving dish with slotted spoon or serve directly from slow cooker on ‘warm’ setting. Top with blue cheese crumbles and chopped green onions if desired.
Notes
Don’t skip the sear for best flavor and texture. Use a light hand when mixing to keep meatballs tender. Every slow cooker runs differently, so check meatballs early. The sauce can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. Meatballs freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 1200
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 36
Keywords: buffalo chicken meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, game day appetizer, chicken meatballs, buffalo sauce, party food, easy appetizer