BUFFALO CHICKEN MEATBALLS (WHOLE30, PALEO)
These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are Paleo, whole30, keto-friendly, gluten-free and friggen delicious! I’ll be honest, buffalo isn’t usually my go-to sauce when it comes to wings or anything really… but this recipe may have just converted me. Even my 3-year-old and 6-year-old inhaled these (they’re not super spicy)! Add some crispy air-fried sweet potato fries and some Whole30 ranch, and you got yourself an amazing appetizer that’s perfect for the Super Bowl or even meal prep.
Did you know? Ground chicken is one of the leanest ground meats you can use, with most brands being 96% lean or less. Reducing saturated fat intake, like that found in meats and dairy, is a proven strategy for lowering LDL cholesterol levels and reducing risk of heart disease (source).
Meatball ingredients
I used all-natural lean ground chicken from Isernio’s, which is free of artificial flavors and preservatives. You can also use lean ground turkey or pork if preferred! Almond flour is used in place of breadcrumbs to keep these Paleo, Whole30, and grain-free. You could totally use breadcrumbs or oats if not Paleo! I also added a bunch of veggies which really boosts the flavor and nutrient content…. celery, carrots, and green onions. You can leave out whatever you don’t have or don’t care for.
Hot sauce options
The hot sauce I used is Frank’s buffalo wings hot sauce (it does have a trace of canola oil, aka corn, but you can also use this Whole30-approved one). For a lower-sodium version, try Simple Girl Hot Sauce!
Whole30 ranch dressing
The Whole30 ranch is the same recipe I used for my Whole30 Chicken Tenders (sooo good), with a few modifications. All you need for the ranch is Whole30-approved mayo (can use regular mayo if not Paleo), dill weed, parsley, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper! It’s “lick-the-bowl” good.
The sweet potato fries
The sweet potato fries I just cut into thin strips, tossed with one tablespoon of avocado oil (can also spray with avocado oil cooking spray), some seasoning salt, and air-fried at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. You can also bake or broil them at 425 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
Here’s the recipe for these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (Whole30 and Paleo)! I hope you’ll comment below if you try them 😉
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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (Whole30, Paleo)
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 2 lbs. 96% lean ground chicken*
- 1 cup carrot grated
- 1 cup green onion chopped fine
- 1 cup celery chopped fine
- 1/2 cup almond flour*
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 cup Frank’s buffalo wings hot sauce*
Sweet potato fries:
- 1 1/2 lb. sweet potatoes cut into wedges about 3 medium
- 1 1/2 tbsp. avocado oil*
- 3/4 tsp. seasoning salt
Whole30 Ranch:
- 1/2 cup whole30-approved mayonnaise*
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp. fresh parsley or 2 tsp. dried
- 1 tbsp. fresh dill weed or 1 tsp. dried
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- salt, to taste
*See above for substitutions.
Instructions
For the buffalo meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Combine all ingredients (except hot sauce) in a large mixing bowl until ingredients are evenly combined.
- Roll into ping pong ball-sized balls, placing on a full-sized baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You should get about 36 meatballs.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned.
For the sweet potato fries:
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