Skinny Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Greek Ranch Dip Recipe
Your Big Game spread is missing some skinny dippers.
I don’t think I’m technically allowed to say/murmur/type/think the words “Super” and “Bowl” together to insinuate the final matchup between the National and American Football Conferences ~legally~. So imma say “the BIG game” and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Football and snacks and commercials and dabbing.
Hello! You’ve found me at the bottom of a gallon of buffalo sauce. Here I am. Sorry it’s a lil sticky.
There is plenty to splurge on at a game watching party — but with these light snackers you can save the chips for the guac. They’re gluten-free, full of veggies (sneakily of course), baked and packed with flavor. Serve with the light and zesty Greek yogurt ranch dip below or all on their own – either way you’ll be serving a tasty touchdown!
SKINNY BUFFALO CHICKEN MEATBALLS WITH GREEK RANCH DIP
makes about 24 meatballs
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (can use GF variety)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 stalks celery, 2 chopped finely and 2 reserved for serving
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped finely
- 1 tbsp. ketchup
- 1 tbsp. worcestershire
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce, plus more for serving
- 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper
greek ranch dipping sauce
- 1 7-oz. container greek yogurt (2% or whole variety suggested)
- 1 1-oz. Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packet (or similar)
- 1/4 cup nut milk (almond, cashew, etc.)
- juice of 1 lemon
- chopped chives for garnish
preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the meatballs except the ground chicken and the breadcrumbs and combine well. Add in chicken and combine gently with your hands, slowly adding in panko at the end. If meatball mixture is still very sticky after adding 1/2 cup panko, sprinkle in a bit more. You want to be able to form round meatballs and have the mixture stick together nicely!
cover a cookie sheet with tin foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Using a round tablespoon measurement, scoop out mixture and form a round meatball with your hands and place onto aluminum. Continue until about 24 meatballs of about the same size are formed!
bake meatballs for 16-18 minutes at 350 degrees – check to see if meatballs are cooked all the way through by cutting through one; you shouldn’t see any pink! Finish by carefully tossing baked meatballs with more buffalo sauce, about 1/4 cup, mixing gently so meatballs don’t break. To serve, slice thin strips of celery and skewer meatball on serving platter like you would a toothpick. serve with greek ranch dipping sauce!
greek ranch dipping sauce
combine juice of one lemon and 1/4 cup nut milk together in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. Add in Greek yogurt and Ranch seasoning packet and mix together to combine ingredients. Best when served chilled!
Why You’ll Love These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Baked, not fried — lighter but still packed with bold buffalo flavor
- The Greek ranch dip is cool, creamy, and the perfect complement
- Ready in under 30 minutes — perfect game day appetizer or weeknight dinner
- Naturally gluten-free with a few easy swaps
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground chicken — keeps these meatballs lean and light
- Buffalo sauce — Frank’s RedHot is Cayla’s go-to for the best flavor
- Breadcrumbs + egg — bind the meatballs together
- Greek yogurt — the base of the cool, creamy ranch dip
- Ranch seasoning + dill — flavor the dip with minimal effort
Tips for Perfect Meatballs
- Don’t overwork the meat — mix just until combined for tender meatballs
- Use a cookie scoop — keeps all meatballs the same size so they cook evenly
- Toss in extra buffalo sauce after baking — for even more flavor right before serving
- Line your pan with foil — easy cleanup!
Substitutions & Variations
- Ground turkey — works just as well as ground chicken
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs — or almond flour to make these fully GF
- Blue cheese dip — swap the Greek ranch for crumbled blue cheese dressing if that’s your thing
- Make it spicier — add a dash of cayenne or extra hot sauce to the meat mixture
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these buffalo chicken meatballs ahead of time?
Yes! Bake the meatballs, let them cool, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F or toss in a skillet with a little extra buffalo sauce.
Can I freeze these meatballs?
Absolutely. Freeze the baked meatballs on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven at 375°F for 15-18 minutes.
