Name: Buffalo Chicken Meatball Bites
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Chicken Meatballs:; 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil; 4 tablespoons butter; 1/3 cup wing sauce/ hot sauce; 1 pound ground chicken; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder; 3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs; salt, and pepper to taste; 1/3 cup minced celery chopped is optional; Dipping Sauce:; 3/4 cup sour cream; 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles; 1/3 cup whole milk or half and half; 3 tablespoons Hellmann mayonnaise; 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder; salt and pepper to taste; dash of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; Note: you can also just use a refrigerated brand of blue cheese salad dressing or ranch dressing.

If you love bold buffalo flavor but want something easy, bite-sized, and perfect for any occasion, these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are about to become your new favorite recipe.

Juicy chicken meatballs tossed in classic buffalo sauce deliver all the crave-worthy heat you love—without the mess of wings.

They’re quick to make, baked or air-fried, and perfect for game day, parties, or an easy weeknight dinner.

Serve them as an appetizer, stuff them into sliders, or pair them with your favorite dipping sauce for a guaranteed hit every time.

If you love blue cheese or ranch for dipping, we also included a wonderful dipping sauce with blue cheese crumbles, our first favorite but you can also try our other Homemade Chicken Wing Dipping Sauces we have 14 different kinds!

Scroll down to the recipe card at the end for a printable copy of this recipe.

Why You Will Love This Recipe for Chicken Mini Meatball Appetizer Bites

Bold buffalo flavor without deep frying
Made with ground chicken for a lighter option
Easy to make ahead for parties and gatherings
Perfect for game day, holidays, or meal prep
Baked, air-fried, or pan-seared—your choice
Kid-friendly and easy to customize heat levels

Tips for Making the Best Buffalo Chicken Bites

Don’t overmix the meat mixture to keep the meatballs tender
Use ground chicken with a little fat for extra juiciness
Chill the mixture for 10 minutes if it feels sticky
Toss meatballs in buffalo sauce after cooking for the best texture
Line your baking sheet with parchment for easy cleanup if baking and not frying
Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized meatballs

mini meatball buffalo chicken bite appetizers

Optional Serving Ideas:

Vegetable Platters: add vegetable sticks with the meatballs using carrots, celery, sliced cucumbers, and olives.
Premade Dips: serve with refrigerated premade dips (onion dip, ranch dip, blue cheese dip)
Shrimp or Chopped Imitation Crab meat: substitute seafood for ground chicken and use the same binding ingredients; however, use just the baking or air frying methods for cooking
Ground Beef, Pork, or Turkey: substitute another ground meat with the same binding ingredients
Shredded Rotisserie Chicken: Use the same binding ingredients (these will take less time) place the meat in the food processor, and pulse until shredded. Add one extra egg and increase the bread crumbs to 1/4 cup.
Bacon and Cheese: melt the cheese you prefer(we use Swiss, provolone, Havarti, or mozzarella) with crumbled cooked bacon on top of the meatballs
Olives and Peppers: serve with sliced black olives, roasted or hot peppers, chopped peppers on top of the meatballs

Alternate Cooking Methods and Variations:

Baking: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees place on a parchment-lined baking pan and bake for around 20 to 25 minutes
Air Fried: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the basket and air fry for 11 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
Mild Version: Use less buffalo sauce or mix with honey
Extra Spicy: Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the meat mixture
Cheesy: Mix in shredded mozzarella or crumbled blue cheese
Low-Carb: Use almond flour instead of breadcrumbs
Gluten-Free: Substitute ground pork rinds for breadcrumbs
Turkey Swap: Ground turkey works great as a substitute

Pin for Later

Buffalo Game Day Meatball Appetizers

If you're looking for a great recipe to feed a crowd, these will be perfect for those buffalo chicken wings lovers out there.

These will take only a few minutes to fry, bake, or air fry, and are the perfect addition to that assorted appetizer tray for game day and a delicious bite.

If you're not fond of using ground chicken, try using a substitute listed above.

This recipe is the perfect addition for all chicken wing lovers out there so give this one a try and enjoy this easy, economical recipe!