Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (Crock Pot)

These easy Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are my favorite game day appetizer! Mostly because they're BAKED! I used Frank's RedHot sauce and a secret ingredient that will have people RAVING for hours! The spicy sweet flavors are always a winner and you don't have to worry about reheating them with a slow cooker!

*Check out my other slow cooker appetizers!

Buffalo sauce and tailgating. Is there a better combination?

I think not.

If you love buffalo sauce as much as me, you have to try my Air Fryer Brown Sugar Buffalo Shrimp! They are a family favorite. If you want something low in carbs, then try my Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Rounds for a unique twist on buffalo wings.

This recipe for buffalo chicken meatballs is as simple as it gets and pretty foolproof! I love how I can make them in advance and serve them in a crockpot which keeps them warm for hours without drying out.

Serve with mini toothpicks for a fun skewered appetizer everyone will love noshing on!

Throwing a football party? Check out these easy Super Bowl Tablescape food and decor ideas!

Ingredient Tips

The ingredients are super simple and very straightforward. I do include one secret ingredient that I think is a MUST.

• Hot Sauce- I love Frank's RedHot Sauce. It is found in any food store around here and the perfect consistency for this sauce.
• Brown Sugar- YES!! This is my secret ingredient. It adds a deeper flavor than honey or sugar but if you don't have it on hand, you can replace it with either of those two swaps.
• Ground Chicken- You can also use ground turkey, beef or pork.
• Butter- All buffalo sauces have butter in them. If you don't like sauces too spicy, add more butter. If you want them more spicy, use less.
• Scallions/Chives- The fresh ingredient aspect is so important in this appetizer. Sprinkle some freshly chopped herbs on top and it immediately brightens the dish while adding a pop of flavor.

Instructions

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Step 2: Scoop out meatballs using a mini ice cream scoop and roll in between your hands.

Step 3: Place on a baking sheet or sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake according to instructions.

Step 4: When meatballs are slightly cooled, add cooked meatballs to a Crock Pot and toss in the buffalo sauce. Set to warm and serve as needed.

Thickening your sauce

So most buffalo sauces are made with hot sauce and butter. And as the butter cools, it solidifies which naturally thickens your sauce. However, you need a lot of butter to do this which isn't very healthy. Plus, if your keeping these warm in your slow cooker, the sauce will be hot.

So the best way to thicken a buffalo sauce is to add some cornstarch. What I did was as a little but to the hot sauce, butter and brown sugar mixture. Then I simmered it for a little over the stove before pouring over top of my meatballs. If you leave out the cornstarch, the sauce will be delicious but the consistency will be too thin.

Expert Tips

• Use a mini ice cream scooper to roll balls evenly and consistent in size.
• Prevent dry meatballs by not overcooking them. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
• To get perfectly rounded meatballs, pop your meatballs in the freezer for 30 minutes, until the harden a bit, then re-roll them.
• Replace the honey for the brown sugar if you prefer.

If you love using your crock pot, check out these Easy Crock Pot Appetizers to serve at your party!

Can I Make These In My Slow Cooker?

So the rule when it comes to cooking meatballs in a slow cooker is pretty standard across the board. Unless you pre-cook them for at least 5 minutes, they will stick to each other. If you lay them flat and spaced apart, you may be able to get away with placing them in completely raw but then your limiting the amount of meatballs you can prepare.

So if you want to keep this warm in your slow cooker, you still can!

To do that, bake your meatballs in the oven FIRST. Then transfer them on over to your slow cooker set on warm. This way, you can add everything to your crock pot including the buffalo sauce and without sticking!

Check out these other meatball appetizers you'll love.

Can I Freeze These To Make Ahead of Time?

Yes!

What I do, is bake a large batch of the meatballs at once maybe 2-3 lbs. of chicken, freeze them, then pull them out Sunday morning (or whenever you want) and throw them in the slow cooker with the brown sugar buffalo sauce! By the time the game starts, the meatballs are perfectly warmed through. You want to give them about 90 minutes to defrost.

Can I Make These Using FROZEN Meatballs?

The flavors of these meatballs pair well with my sauce so I don't recommend it. However, if you love the sauce, you can add it to any kind of meatballs.

Check out this list of frozen meatball appetizers you may like better!

Check out these other delicious game day appetizers!

Maple Bacon Wrapped Pork Bites with Dipping Sauce

Disco Fries (Gravy Mozzarella Cheese Fries)

Puff Pastry Sausage Pigs in a Blanket

Fried Red Tomatoes (with Red Pepper Basil Aioli)

Hatfield Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Nachos

Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Pancake Mix

📲 Say hi on social!! 👋 Follow me on facebook, instagram, pinterest, youtube or tiktok for more recipes and entertaining tips!

These easy Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are my favorite game day appetizer! Mostly because they're BAKED! I used Frank's RedHot sauce and a secret ingredient that will have people RAVING for hours! The spicy sweet flavors are always a winner and you don't have to worry about reheating them with a slow cooker!

*Check out my other slow cooker appetizers!

Buffalo sauce and tailgating. Is there a better combination?

I think not.

If you love buffalo sauce as much as me, you have to try my Air Fryer Brown Sugar Buffalo Shrimp! They are a family favorite. If you want something low in carbs, then try my Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Rounds for a unique twist on buffalo wings.

This recipe for buffalo chicken meatballs is as simple as it gets and pretty foolproof! I love how I can make them in advance and serve them in a crockpot which keeps them warm for hours without drying out.

Serve with mini toothpicks for a fun skewered appetizer everyone will love noshing on!

Throwing a football party? Check out these easy Super Bowl Tablescape food and decor ideas!

Ingredient Tips

The ingredients are super simple and very straightforward. I do include one secret ingredient that I think is a MUST.

• Hot Sauce- I love Frank's RedHot Sauce. It is found in any food store around here and the perfect consistency for this sauce.
• Brown Sugar- YES!! This is my secret ingredient. It adds a deeper flavor than honey or sugar but if you don't have it on hand, you can replace it with either of those two swaps.
• Ground Chicken- You can also use ground turkey, beef or pork.
• Butter- All buffalo sauces have butter in them. If you don't like sauces too spicy, add more butter. If you want them more spicy, use less.
• Scallions/Chives- The fresh ingredient aspect is so important in this appetizer. Sprinkle some freshly chopped herbs on top and it immediately brightens the dish while adding a pop of flavor.

Instructions

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Step 2: Scoop out meatballs using a mini ice cream scoop and roll in between your hands.

Step 3: Place on a baking sheet or sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake according to instructions.

Step 4: When meatballs are slightly cooled, add cooked meatballs to a Crock Pot and toss in the buffalo sauce. Set to warm and serve as needed.

Thickening your sauce

So most buffalo sauces are made with hot sauce and butter. And as the butter cools, it solidifies which naturally thickens your sauce. However, you need a lot of butter to do this which isn't very healthy. Plus, if your keeping these warm in your slow cooker, the sauce will be hot.

So the best way to thicken a buffalo sauce is to add some cornstarch. What I did was as a little but to the hot sauce, butter and brown sugar mixture. Then I simmered it for a little over the stove before pouring over top of my meatballs. If you leave out the cornstarch, the sauce will be delicious but the consistency will be too thin.

Expert Tips

• Use a mini ice cream scooper to roll balls evenly and consistent in size.
• Prevent dry meatballs by not overcooking them. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
• To get perfectly rounded meatballs, pop your meatballs in the freezer for 30 minutes, until the harden a bit, then re-roll them.
• Replace the honey for the brown sugar if you prefer.

Can I Make These In My Slow Cooker?

So the rule when it comes to cooking meatballs in a slow cooker is pretty standard across the board. Unless you pre-cook them for at least 5 minutes, they will stick to each other. If you lay them flat and spaced apart, you may be able to get away with placing them in completely raw but then your limiting the amount of meatballs you can prepare.

So if you want to keep this warm in your slow cooker, you still can!

To do that, bake your meatballs in the oven FIRST. Then transfer them on over to your slow cooker set on warm. This way, you can add everything to your crock pot including the buffalo sauce and without sticking!

Check out these other meatball appetizers you'll love.

Can I Freeze These To Make Ahead of Time?

Yes!

What I do, is bake a large batch of the meatballs at once maybe 2-3 lbs. of chicken, freeze them, then pull them out Sunday morning (or whenever you want) and throw them in the slow cooker with the brown sugar buffalo sauce! By the time the game starts, the meatballs are perfectly warmed through. You want to give them about 90 minutes to defrost.

Can I Make These Using FROZEN Meatballs?

The flavors of these meatballs pair well with my sauce so I don't recommend it. However, if you love the sauce, you can add it to any kind of meatballs.

Check out this list of frozen meatball appetizers you may like better!

Check out these other delicious game day appetizers!

Maple Bacon Wrapped Pork Bites with Dipping Sauce

Disco Fries (Gravy Mozzarella Cheese Fries)

Puff Pastry Sausage Pigs in a Blanket

Fried Red Tomatoes (with Red Pepper Basil Aioli)

Hatfield Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Nachos

Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Pancake Mix

📲 Say hi on social!! 👋 Follow me on facebook, instagram, pinterest, youtube or tiktok for more recipes and entertaining tips!