Easy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs: Perfect Game Day Appetizer
These Easy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are the ultimate game day appetizer. They are tender, juicy, and coated in a rich, spicy buffalo sauce, all made effortlessly in the slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680g) ground chicken
- 1/2 cup (60g) panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup (60ml) grated onion
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup (240ml) buffalo wing sauce
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing (for serving)
- Fresh parsley or chives (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, grated onion, milk, egg, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, form the mixture into 24-28 uniform meatballs.
- Optional but recommended: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until bottoms are browned. Alternatively, sear in a skillet with oil over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together buffalo wing sauce and melted butter until smooth.
- Place the seared (or raw) meatballs into the slow cooker. Pour the buffalo sauce mixture over the top and gently toss to coat.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 1.5-2 hours, until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Stir gently to re-coat in sauce. If sauce is thin, leave lid off for the last 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with parsley or chives, and serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Notes
Don’t lift the lid during the first 2 hours of cooking. For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir into the crockpot, then cook on HIGH for 10-15 minutes. To make ahead, prepare and sear meatballs, then refrigerate for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: buffalo chicken meatballs, crockpot meatballs, game day appetizer, slow cooker meatballs, buffalo meatballs