Get ready to elevate your game day experience or next casual gathering with a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s both incredibly simple to make and bursting with flavor: Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. Forget the fuss of deep-frying wings; these tender, spicy meatballs deliver all the iconic buffalo taste you love, cooked to perfection in your trusty Crock-Pot. This recipe isn’t just for football season; it’s a versatile dish perfect for any occasion where delicious, easy-to-manage finger food is a must.
The Irresistible Allure of Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
There’s a reason buffalo chicken is a universal favorite. That perfect blend of spicy, tangy, and savory, often paired with the cooling contrast of blue cheese or ranch, is simply addictive. Our Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs capture this essence perfectly, transforming it into a bite-sized delight that’s less messy than traditional wings and incredibly satisfying. Whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, a casual get-together, or simply looking for a fun weeknight dinner, these meatballs offer a fantastic alternative to classic buffalo chicken dishes.
What makes this recipe truly stand out is the magic of the slow cooker. It transforms everyday ingredients into a deeply flavored dish with minimal effort. The chicken meatballs simmer gently in their savory broth, absorbing all the zesty buffalo sauce goodness, resulting in tender, moist bites every time. Plus, the slow cooker keeps them warm for hours, making it an ideal choice for entertaining where you want to enjoy your guests rather than be tethered to the kitchen.
Why Choose Slow Cooker Chicken Meatballs?
- Effortless Preparation: Most of the work is hands-off. Mix, sear, set, and forget!
- Healthier Alternative: Using ground chicken makes these meatballs a lean protein option compared to fattier meats, and slow cooking avoids excessive oil.
- Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: The familiar and beloved taste of buffalo sauce ensures these will be a hit with almost everyone.
- Versatility: Serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks, or make them a main course over rice, in a sub roll, or alongside a fresh salad.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Ideal for meal prep or party planning, as they can be cooked in advance and reheated.
Key Ingredients for Flavorful Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Crafting these delectable buffalo chicken meatballs starts with a selection of simple, readily available ingredients. The beauty of this recipe lies in how these components come together to create a complex and satisfying flavor profile.
Main Meatball Components
- Ground Chicken: The lean base for our meatballs. Opt for fresh, good-quality ground chicken for the best texture and flavor.
- Panko Crumbs or Bread Crumbs: These act as a binder, helping the meatballs hold their shape and contributing to a tender texture. Panko tends to offer a slightly lighter, crispier texture.
- Your Favorite Bottled Buffalo Hot Sauce: The star of the show! Choose a brand you love for its balance of heat and tang. Franks RedHot is a classic choice, but feel free to experiment with others.
- Onion Powder & Garlic Powder: These pantry staples provide an aromatic depth that complements the chicken and spices.
- Dried Parsley: Adds a touch of herbaceous freshness and visual appeal.
- Dried Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that infuses the meatballs with classic savory notes.
- Eggs: Crucial for binding the ingredients together, ensuring your meatballs don’t fall apart during cooking.
- Chicken Stock/Broth: Provides moisture and flavor for simmering, preventing the meatballs from drying out in the slow cooker.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning to taste and enhancing all the other flavors.
The Zesty Buffalo Sauce
The sauce that coats these meatballs is wonderfully simple yet packed with that signature buffalo kick.
- Bottled Buffalo Hot Sauce/Buffalo Wing Sauce: A generous amount for the ultimate flavor coating.
- Butter: Melted butter is essential for tempering the heat of the hot sauce, adding richness, and creating a glossy, appealing coating.
Perfecting Your Platter with Garnishes
Garnishes not only add visual appeal but also offer contrasting textures and flavors that truly complete the buffalo chicken experience.
- Blue Cheese Dressing: A classic pairing! The creamy, pungent blue cheese dressing offers a cool counterpoint to the spicy meatballs.
- Sesame Seeds: A subtle crunch and nutty flavor.
- Green Onions: Fresh, mild onion flavor and vibrant color.
- Carrots and Celery Sticks: The traditional accompaniment to buffalo wings, providing a refreshing crunch.
- Ranch Dressing: Another popular cool and creamy dipping option, especially for those who prefer it over blue cheese.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Effortless Cooking
Preparing these Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs requires only a few basic kitchen tools, making it accessible for cooks of all skill levels. Having the right equipment can make the process even smoother.
- Crockpot (Slow Cooker): The star appliance! We highly recommend using a slow cooker with a digital timer that automatically switches to a “warm” setting after the cooking time is complete. This feature is a game-changer, ensuring your meatballs are perfectly cooked without becoming overdone, and they stay at an ideal serving temperature until you’re ready. It offers peace of mind and flexibility for busy schedules.
- Large Mixing Bowl: A spacious bowl is crucial for comfortably combining all the meatball ingredients. A glass batter bowl with a handle is particularly useful as it stays steady on the counter and allows for easy mixing.
- Skillet: Used to sear the meatballs before they go into the slow cooker. Searing locks in moisture and develops a delicious browned crust, adding another layer of flavor and improving texture.
- Kitchen Spoon/Stirring Utensil: For mixing ingredients and transferring meatballs.
- Parchment Paper: A true kitchen hero for slow cooker recipes! Lining your slow cooker with parchment paper makes cleanup incredibly easy, preventing the sauce from sticking to the sides of the pot. It also aids in easy serving.
Mastering the Recipe: Step-by-Step Guide for Perfection
Making these Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs is straightforward, but following these detailed steps ensures a perfect result every time. The process is divided into two main parts: preparing the meatballs and then finishing them with the classic buffalo sauce.
Crafting Your Chicken Meatballs
- Combine Ingredients: In your large mixing bowl, gently mix together the ground chicken, panko crumbs, ¼ cup buffalo hot sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, dried Italian seasoning, eggs, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough. Mix just until everything is incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop for uniform size, form the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs. You can make them larger if you prefer, but smaller meatballs cook more evenly and are ideal for appetizers.
- Sear for Flavor: Heat a skillet with a tablespoon or two of oil over medium-high heat. Carefully place the meatballs in the hot skillet, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Sear them until they are evenly browned on all sides. This step is crucial as it develops a beautiful crust and deepens the flavor, locking in juices. They don’t need to be cooked through at this stage.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Once all the meatballs are seared, transfer them to your parchment-lined slow cooker bowl. The parchment paper will make cleanup significantly easier later.
- Add Broth: Pour ½ cup of chicken broth over the meatballs in the slow cooker. This liquid will keep them moist and infuse them with even more savory flavor as they cook.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 4 to 5 hours, or until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked and tender. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
Finishing Touch: The Signature Sauce
The buffalo sauce is added towards the end of the cooking process to ensure it clings perfectly to the meatballs and maintains its vibrant flavor.
- Prepare the Sauce: Approximately ½ hour before the cooking time is complete, mix the remaining ½ cup buffalo hot sauce with 2 tablespoons of melted butter in a small bowl. The butter adds richness and mellows the heat slightly.
- Drizzle and Finish: Drizzle this luscious sauce evenly over the meatballs in the slow cooker. Stir gently to ensure all the meatballs are coated. Replace the lid and continue cooking for the remaining ½ hour, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to warm through.
- Serve with Style: Once cooked, these meatballs are ready to serve. Drizzle with blue cheese dressing if desired, and consider garnishing with sesame seeds or chopped green onions. For appetizers, arrange them on a platter with toothpicks. For a more substantial meal, serve them over a bed of fluffy rice, with extra buffalo sauce on the side.
Preparation and Storage for Ultimate Convenience
One of the best features of this recipe is how accommodating it is for make-ahead meal planning and storage.
Make-Ahead Magic: These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are incredibly make-ahead friendly. With a cooking time of four hours in your slow cooker, you can easily prepare them earlier in the day or even the day before a party, freeing up your time to focus on other aspects of entertaining or simply relaxing.
Storage: Any leftover meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. This makes them perfect for quick lunches or dinners throughout the week.
Freezing/How to Freeze: To extend their shelf life, transfer cooked and cooled meatballs to an airtight, freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They will maintain their quality in the freezer for up to three months. Label with the date for best practice.
How to Reheat: Reheating your slow cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs is simple. For frozen meatballs, it’s best to thaw them overnight in the refrigerator to ensure even reheating. You can use a microwave for individual portions, the stovetop over low heat for larger quantities (adding a splash of broth or water if needed), or an oven at 300°F (150°C) until heated through.
Customizing Your Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
This recipe is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to tailor it to your preferences or dietary needs. Don’t hesitate to experiment with these variations to make it truly your own.
Ingredient Swaps and Substitutions
- Buffalo Hot Sauce: While we specify using your favorite bottled buffalo hot sauce, feel free to adjust the brand or heat level. Some prefer a milder kick, while others crave extreme heat.
- Ground Meat: Ground turkey is an excellent substitute for ground chicken, offering a similar lean protein profile and absorbing flavors beautifully. Ground pork can also be used for a richer meatball.
- Broth: While chicken broth enhances the chicken flavor, vegetable broth works perfectly if you don’t have chicken broth on hand or prefer a vegetarian base.
- Bread Crumbs: If you don’t have panko, regular bread crumbs are a fine substitute. For a more rustic texture, you can even use crushed crackers.
Dietary Adaptations: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free
- Vegetarian Option: To make this recipe vegetarian, simply replace the ground chicken with your preferred ground meat substitute (e.g., plant-based ground “chicken” or “meat”). Ensure you also use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Vegan Option: Building on the vegetarian guidance, vegans should use plant-based substitutes for eggs (flax eggs or commercial egg replacers), butter (vegan butter sticks), and blue cheese dressing (vegan ranch or plant-based blue cheese alternative). Many hot sauces are naturally vegan, but always double-check the label on your chosen buffalo sauce before starting.
- Gluten-Free: For gluten-free eaters, the primary adjustment is to use gluten-free bread crumbs. Most chicken stock is gluten-free, but always verify with the product label, as some brands might include gluten-containing additives.
Adjusting for Crowd Size and Spice Level
- Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: Our recipe uses one pound of ground chicken, yielding approximately 20 tablespoon-sized Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, which is ideal for a medium gathering. To adjust the yield, simply scale the recipe up or down. If scaling up significantly, you may need to cook in batches during the searing phase or use a larger slow cooker.
- Make It Spicy: The inherent spice level of your meatballs will largely depend on the buffalo sauce you choose. For those who love a fiery kick, select an extra spicy buffalo sauce. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot pepper flakes to the meatball mixture or the final sauce for an extra boost of heat.
- Sugar-Free: If you’re monitoring sugar intake, check the nutrition label of your buffalo hot sauce. Some brands may contain added sugars. Opt for brands with no added sugar for a sugar-free appetizer.
Expert Tips for the Ultimate Buffalo Flavor and Texture
Achieving the best Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs is easy with a few simple techniques.
- Uniform Meatball Size: For even cooking and consistent presentation, use a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure to form your meatballs. This ensures each bite is perfectly cooked.
- Homemade Chicken Stock: While store-bought chicken stock works well, making your own homemade chicken stock can elevate the flavor significantly. It adds a richer, deeper base to the slow cooker.
- Don’t Skip the Searing: Searing the meatballs before slow cooking creates a wonderful browned crust and helps them hold their shape. This extra step develops a complex flavor that you wouldn’t get from just adding raw meatballs to the slow cooker.
- The Frozen Meatball Shortcut: In a pinch, you can adapt this recipe using pre-cooked frozen meatballs. While the flavor profile will differ slightly from homemade, it’s a fantastic time-saver, similar to how we use them in our 3-Ingredient Grape Jelly Meatballs. Simply thaw and add to the slow cooker with the buffalo sauce mixture.
- Let Them Simmer: Resist the urge to open the slow cooker lid frequently. Each time you lift the lid, heat escapes, and it adds about 20-30 minutes to the cooking time.
Serving Suggestions: What Pairs Best with Buffalo Chicken Meatballs?
These versatile buffalo chicken meatballs can be the star of an appetizer spread or a flavorful component of a larger meal. Here are some menu planning suggestions to complement their zesty kick.
Appetizer Pairings
Create an epic appetizer spread by pairing your Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with other slow cooker favorites. Offer a variety of dipping sauces like blue cheese, ranch, and even a cooling sour cream dip.
- CrockPot Chipotle Honey Meatballs
- CrockPot Swedish Meatballs
- CrockPot Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs
- CrockPot Spicy Mango Jerk Wings
- CrockPot Mexican Chili over Fritos
- CrockPot Honey Sriracha Barbecue Wings
- CrockPot Beer-Braised Kielbasa
Hearty Main Dishes
If serving as a main, consider pairing them with:
- CrockPot Chili Mac and Cheese
- CrockPot Bacon Mac and Cheese
- CrockPot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
- CrockPot Beer Chili
- CrockPot Cuban Pork Sandwiches
- Buffalo Chicken Wontons
- CrockPot Bacon Ranch Chicken
- CrockPot Buffalo Sloppy Joes
Sweet Endings
Balance the spice with a delightful dessert:
- Red Velvet Brownies
- Chocolate Coconut 5 Layer Bars
- CrockPot Mixed Berry Cobbler
- Black Bean Brownies
- Easy Homemade Banana Bread
- Salty & Sweet Ruffles Marshmallow Treats
- Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies
- Molasses Cookies
Refreshing Beverages
Cool down the heat with a refreshing drink:
- Coke Slushie
- Kool-Aid Slushie
- Red Robin Freckled Lemonade
- Brazilian Lemonade
- Sonic Ocean Water
- CopyCat McDonald’s Sweet Tea
- Watermelon Agua Fresca
When to Enjoy These Crowd-Pleasing Bites
The versatility of Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs means they are appropriate for a wide range of occasions.
- Lunch: A delicious and easy option, especially with leftovers.
- Dinner: Serve over rice or pasta for a complete meal.
- Potlucks: They travel well and can be kept warm in the slow cooker at your destination.
- Family and Friends Gatherings: A universally loved appetizer that’s easy to share.
- Game Day: The ultimate football party food – spicy, savory, and perfect for snacking!
More Slow Cooker Appetizers You’ll Love
If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and flavor of slow cooker appetizers, you’re in for a treat! The slow cooker truly simplifies party planning and prep, allowing you to create delicious dishes with minimal effort. Explore a few more fantastic slow cooker appetizer recipes:
- Slow Cooker Spicy Kielbasa
- Slow Cooker Bourbon Bacon Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings
- Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Queso
- Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs
Indeed, there is a slow cooker appetizer for every taste and occasion!
Looking for more culinary inspiration? Check out our copycat recipes, delightful dessert recipes, and an extensive collection of our favorite CrockPot Recipes.
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Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatball Recipe!
Easy to make Buffalo Chicken Meatballs in the crockpot!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (1 vote)
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 20
Calories: 66 kcal
Author: Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground chicken
- 1 C Panko bread crumbs or bread crumbs
- ¼ C Buffalo Hot Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Parsley dried
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning dried
- 2 Eggs
- ½ C Chicken Stock
Sauce Ingredients:
- ½ C Buffalo Hot Sauce
- 2 Tablespoon Melted butter
Garnish:
- Drizzles of blue cheese dressing and sesame seeds.
US Customary – Metric (Note: Metric conversion would typically be a dynamic feature, here it’s represented as a static link)
Instructions
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together except those listed for the sauce.
- Form small tablespoon sized (or larger if you prefer) meat balls.
- Heat a skillet with some oil and sear the meatballs until evenly browned on all sides.
- Add meatballs to a parchment lined slow cooker bowl after all of them have been browned.
- Add the chicken broth. Cover and cook on low for 4 – 5 hours or until completely cooked thoroughly.
Sauce
- Mix the sauce ingredients together and drizzle over the meatballs approximately ½ hour before cooking time is complete.
- Drizzle with blue cheese dressing when served. You can serve on rice, OR, as an alternative, serve on a platter with toothpicks for an appetizer.
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
- Parchment Paper
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 27
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Recipe originally shared on January 3, 2017. Updated October 2020.