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    Home » Main course

    Buffalo chicken meatballs

    Published: Apr 11, 2022 · Updated: May 30, 2022 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

    Jump to Recipe

    Spicy and juicy, these keto buffalo chicken meatballs made with almond flour are a healthy and delicious gluten-free dish that you can have as a main dish or as game-day finger food. 

    Buffalo chicken meatballs garnished with freshly chopped served on a cauliflower rice pillow in a grey bowl.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and substitutes
    • Step by step directions
    • Serving ideas
    • Carbs in keto chicken meatballs recipe
    • Freezing directions
    • FAQ
    • More low carb recipes
    • Recipe

    Ingredients and substitutes

    Ground chicken - To make low carb buffalo meatballs, we need ground chicken. I prefer to buy a mixture of dark and white meat for juicy meatballs. 

    Almond flour - Instead of breadcrumbs, I use fine almond flour to make this easy recipe gluten-free and low carb. 

    Eggs - Use one large egg to bind all ingredients together.

    Cilantro - I use freshly chopped cilantro both in the meatball mixture as well as for garnishing. I think that cilantro fits well with spicy buffalo sauce.

    Onions and garlic - I like to add cooked onions and garlic to any meatballs I make. They add some texture and flavor.

    Spices - I use salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder for my buffalo meatballs. 

    Buffalo sauce - No hot sauce, no spicy chicken meatballs! I use Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce or Tabasco Buffalo Style Sauce.

    Butter - Same as with wing sauce, we need to add some butter to cut down the heat, create a silky, smooth texture, and thicken the sauce.

    Sweetener - Use any granulated sweetener of your choice to make this recipe keto-friendly.

    Chicken meatball pierced with a fork, one bite taken.

    Step by step directions

    1. Cook the onions and garlic on a non-stick skillet with some olive oil, salt, and pepper until golden.

    2. Combine ground chicken, almond flour, egg, cooked onions with garlic, chopped cilantro, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl.

    3. Form 22 even meatballs, 40-45g each. If the mixture is sticking too much, spread some olive oil onto the palms of your hands, then roll the meatballs. Alternatively, you can use a cookie scoop.

    4.  Cook the meatballs using the same skillet with some extra olive oil over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes, rotating every 3 minutes until golden on each side and cooked through.

    5. Heat the hot sauce with butter, sweetener, and salt until the butter has melted.

    6. Pour over the meatballs and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, to cover the meatballs with the sauce. 

    7. Serve with freshly chopped cilantro.

    6 images showing step by step directions to make buffalo chicken meatballs.

    Serving ideas

    You can serve these buffalo balls with Low carb keto cauliflower rice topped with freshly chopped cilantro, with optional sour cream on top to cut through the heat. 

    Also, you can serve these meatballs pierced with toothpicks so it's easy to pick them up. You can then serve them alongside cucumber and celery sticks and sauce such as Blue cheese dip or Ranch dip. This is a great alternative to buffalo wings during a Super Bowl party or any other gathering.

    Another great way to have this low carb chicken meatballs recipe is with crumbled blue cheese and some Keto coleslaw.

    Carbs in keto chicken meatballs recipe

    This recipe is great for those who follow a keto low carb diet because it uses no breadcrumbs. If you follow this recipe, you'll make 22 meatballs with around 3g net carbs per serving (4-5 meatballs).

    Freezing directions

    You can freeze cooked as well as raw meatballs. 

    To freeze raw meatballs, roll the meatballs and place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so they don't touch each other. Place them in the freezer for a couple of hours or until fully frozen. Then, place frozen meatballs into a Ziplock bag (try to remove as much air as possible when closing) and store them in the freezer for up to two months. Before cooking, place into the fridge overnight to thaw. Then, cook and enjoy!

    To freeze cooked meatballs, bake them first. To do that, place them onto a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper so they don't touch each other. Bake in an oven preheated to 400F (200C) for around 25 minutes or until just cooked through.

    Then, remove from the oven and let cool down completely. After that, you can place the baking sheet into the freezer for a couple of hours or until the meatballs have frozen. Remove from the freezer and transfer the meatballs into a Ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, bake until hot, and serve. Alternatively, you can fry them in a skillet or bake them in a dish with a sauce of your choice.

    Chicken meatballs in buffalo sauce garnished with fresh cilantro.

    FAQ

    Can I bake keto chicken meatballs instead of frying them?

    Yes, you can. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in an oven preheated to 400F (200C) for 25-30 minutes or until golden and cooked through. 

    How long do they last in the fridge?

    Store the meatballs in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Can I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken to make meatballs?

    Yes, you can! Make sure that you use a mixture of dark and white ground turkey, as white meat will only result in dry meatballs.

    More low carb recipes

    Healthy keto turkey meatballs recipe

    Low carb spicy meatballs recipe

    Keto turkey meatloaf

    Keto butter chicken

    Recipe

    Close up picture of chicken meatballs in buffalo sauce served with cauliflower rice.

    Buffalo chicken meatballs

    Spicy and juicy, these keto buffalo chicken meatballs made with almond flour are a healthy and delicious gluten-free dish that you can have as a main dish or as game-day finger food.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Gluten-free meatballs, Keto chicken dinner, Keto meatballs
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 22 meatballs
    Calories: 434kcal
    Author: Anna

    Equipment

    • Large (11-inch/28cm) non-stick skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 small 50g onion finely chopped
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • ⅓ cup almond flour
    • 1.7 lb. 800g ground chicken
    • ⅓ cup fresh cilantro + some for garnishing finely chopped
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Salt to taste
    • Black ground paper to taste
    • Olive oil for frying

    Buffalo sauce

    • ½ cup 130ml Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce
    • 4 tbsp 60g unsalted butter
    • 2 teaspoon granulated sweetener
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Heat some olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, then season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden. Remove from the heat to a large mixing bowl.
    • To the same mixing bowl, add the almond flour, ground chicken, parsley, egg, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well and form 22 even meatballs (40-45g each). If the mixture is sticking too much, spread some olive oil onto the palms of your hands, then roll the meatballs.
    • Cook the meatballs using the same skillet with some extra olive oil over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes, rotating every 3 minutes until golden on each side and cooked through.
    • Meanwhile, place the hot sauce, butter, sweetener, and salt in a small saucepan and heat until the butter has melted completely.
    • When the meatballs are cooked, lower the heat to medium-low and pour in the buffalo sauce. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to cover the meatballs with the sauce.
    • Remove from the heat and serve garnished with freshly chopped cilantro.

    Notes

    NET CARB: 3g (4 meatballs)
    Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    Freeze cooked meatballs without the sauce for up to 2 months.
    Freeze raw meatballs for up to 2 months.
    Nutrition Facts
    Buffalo chicken meatballs
    Amount Per Serving (4 meatballs)
    Calories 434 Calories from Fat 279
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 31g48%
    Potassium 1133mg32%
    Carbohydrates 5g2%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 37g74%
    Vitamin A 481IU10%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 52mg5%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    This website, https://heretocook.com, offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is a product of online calculators such as Cronometer.com and MyFitnesPal.com

    Tried this recipe?Mention @heretocook or tag #heretocook!
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    Hey there! My name is Anna and I am here to cook healthy meals that taste delicious. Here you’ll find low carb high fat, keto, paleo recipes for any occasion! Read More

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