Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons blue cheese salad dressing
- 1 Tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 Tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 4 Tablespoons hot sauce
- 4 Tablespoons half and half
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 °F.
- In a large bowl, combine the egg, blue cheese dressing, onion, parsley, and 1 Tablespoon of the garlic powder.
- Add in chicken and bread crumbs and mix gently until combined.
- Form into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and bake for 15-18 minutes.
- For the sauce, combine the butter, hot sauce, half and half and ½ teaspoon garlic in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat.
- Whisk until combined.
- Toss the cooked meatballs in the sauce and serve.
Notes
Obligatory Fictional Backstory
Many people think that the “Buffalo” part of the buffalo sauce name comes from the city of Buffalo New York. Rumor has it that this city is where the sauce was originally created, over a late-night gathering at a bar or some such nonsense. I say nonsense because I know where the sauce was originally created, and exactly by whom: None other than the famous Buffalo Bill, around a campfire one late Spring evening, using a bunch of hot sauce to try and cover up the fact that he overcooked dinner (AGAIN).
While the meat was dry and chewy, and not in the pleasant way like jerky, the sauce was FANTASTIC and almost saved dinner. Almost. At least I was tasked with dessert, and my Sugar and Spice cookies are fantastic baked over a fire*. Anyhow, despite the horrible excuse of a meatball the sauce was served over, I could see its potential and decided to work on an improved recipe. Today, various iterations of buffalo chicken are a staple for Super Bowl parties, so I figured now was as good a time as any to post this recipe.
Real Talk
Who is even in the playoffs? All I know is that my husband was happy his team lost…something to do with draft position or something. I don’t get it. Usually he’s mad if they lose, this year he’s mad if they win. I kind of think he just doesn’t really like “his” team….are all football fans like that?
Oh yeah to clarify I’m talking about America football, not football that you actually play with your feet which we’ve decided here in the States to call soccer.
Anyhow, these little meatballs are excellent and versatile whether you are a fan of American football or just a fan of delicious flavor (yes that is a Psych reference). You can serve them with toothpicks and blue cheese dressing for dipping, or over a salad, or in a hoagie roll with some melted provolone.
*Disclaimer: As it states in the title, this is a work of fiction. I do not recommend baking these cookies over an open fire. Please follow the baking directions in the original post. Or at least if you do bake them over an open fire, understand that it’s all on you if you end up with a burnt exterior and a gooey interior. That may work well for marshmallows, but believe me it is NOT a good thing for a cookie.
Still need more words so I guess I will put a product recommendation here! At the time of this writing, the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging so I cannot in good conscience recommend that you have a traditional Super Bowl party. However, a party is what you make it, and celebrating with your family or your bubble can still be a ton of fun. You could even have a Zoom watch party and each make an appetizer that you drop off portions of on each other’s porches! Or you can make a batch of these to eat entirely by yourself. I won’t judge, they’re delicious.
If you need something to keep your buffalo chicken meatballs warm during the game, especially if it goes into extra innings or whatever it’s called (go sports! yay team! score the goal-thing!), I highly recommend this tiny little slow cooker:
We used to have one and I think it got lost in a move or something. I should probably get another – they’re really handy. And cute. I’m a sucker for mini things! My husband laughs at me whenever I see a mini kitchen appliance because I’ll squeal “It’s so CUUUUTE!!!”
As required by the powers that be, I have to mention that I will receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting Give Me The Recipe, Dammit!
Pingback: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs – Give Me The Recipe, Dammit!