Buffalo Ranch Chicken Meatballs make a great appetizer for a crowd, and a yummy lunch when paired with some iceberg lettuce, carrots, celery, and ranch dressing; all the accompaniments you’d find with buffalo wings. These meatballs are flavored with red onion and ranch seasoning, and then drenched in a flavorful combination of hot sauce, butter, and honey. Who knew eating healthy could taste this great?
What you’ll need to make this recipe
The ingredient list for this recipe is very short, and the cook time is so minimal; which makes it a great option for a quick and easy meal prep. Here’s what you’ll need:
- ground chicken breast (if you can’t find ground chicken breast, don’t worry! I will show you how to make your own later)
- red onion
- ranch seasoning
- egg
- panko breadcrumbs
- hot sauce
- light butter
- honey
- cornstarch
What to do if you can’t find ground chicken breast
This recipe calls for 99% fat free ground chicken breast (you can always use turkey breast too!) So what on earth is one to do if you can’t find it in the stores? Granted, you could always use the 93% fat free kind, but we all know the calories and points for that is almost as high as ground beef; and if you ask me, I’d rather use the ground beef! When I went to the store to get my ingredients for this recipe, they were out of the ground chicken breast. So instead, I remembered the tip I got from my friend Biz (http://www.mybizzykitchen.com); I bought regular chicken breast, and used my food processor to grind it up. Within seconds, I had my own ground chicken breast. It couldn’t be easier. And nine times out of ten, it’s cheaper too. Next time you are in this rut, do yourself a favor and grind up your own chicken breast. It’s such a life saver!
How to make the mini meatballs
Preheat the oven to 350F. Once you have your ground chicken ready, just add the other ingredients to the bowl, and use your hands to mix it together. Our hands are our best tool!
Once its mixed, I use a mini scooper to get the right sized meatballs. I also use a mini muffin tin to cook my mini meatballs. I find that they steam in the small openings, which creates a moist meatball. Spray the mini muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. If you are using a baking sheet, spray that with cooking spray. Then, arrange your mini meatballs on the tray. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes. This is just enough time to cook them through, but not dry them out. 
How to make the buffalo sauce
While the meatballs are cooking, it’s the perfect time to make the buffalo sauce. Simply combine the hot sauce, butter, and honey in a small saucepan. Whisk it together and heat it over medium heat.
When the meatballs are cooked, place them into a large mixing bowl and pour the sauce over. Toss the meatballs so that the sauce covers them thoroughly. Then, place the meatballs on a serving tray (or into your meal prep containers). Pour the sauce back into the pan, and whisk in the corn starch. Bring the liquid to a rapid simmer, and cook the liquid for about five minutes or until it becomes thicker. Spoon the thickened sauce over the meatballs for serving.
How to serve buffalo ranch chicken meatballs
Garnish with scallions, if desired. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing, and with carrots, celery and iceberg lettuce. For meal prep, I portion out six portions of meatballs, four meatballs per portion. The meatballs can be eaten hot or cold; I usually eat them cold right over the other ingredients for the ultimate buffalo ranch chicken salad. Are these spicy? Yes. Very. You’ve been warned! 
Buffalo Ranch Meatballs
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- mini muffin tin (not necessary) or sheet pan
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2.5 lbs 99% fat free ground chicken breast
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon Hidden Valley Ranch powdered seasoning
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- scallions for garnish , optional
Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup Frank’s Red Hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons light butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Combine the meatball ingredients and divide into 24 mini meatballs.
- Spray a mini muffin tin or baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Portion the meatballs out into the muffin tin or on the sheet pan.
- Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
- To make the sauce, combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- When the meatballs are cooked, pour the sauce on top and toss to coat.
- Remove the meatballs from the sauce once coated, and place them to the side on a serving platter or bowl (or meal prep containers).
- Add the buffalo sauce back into the saucepan, and add the cornstarch to the pot. Whisk to break down any clumps.
- Bring to a rapid simmer; simmer for 5 minutes.
- The sauce should be thicker and creamier. Spoon the finished sauce over the cooked meatballs.
- Garnish with fresh scallions.
Notes
- Green Plan:
- 1 WW point for 1 meatball
- 2 WW points for 2 meatballs
- 3 WW points for 3 meatballs
- 5 WW points for 4 meatballs
- Blue and Purple Plans:
- 1 WW point for up to 2 meatballs
- 2 WW points for 3 meatballs
- 3 WW points for 4 meatballs
Nutrition
If you like the buffalo flavor, you can try these other recipes: Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad Blazing Buffalo Chicken Tenders
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These are so good! Although I cannot handle spicy stuff too well, I just used less Buffalo sauce. The flavor is amazing! You will love these! They make a great appetizer too!
YASSSSSSSS! That is all!
These were so basic and literally could not be easier to put together–especially considering they bake right in a mini muffin tin! I have looked forward to my lunch every day so far, including on the weekend!
These are delicious and easy!!! Paired with some carrots and ranch. So excited for my lunches this week!
This is an underrated recipe, it’s so good for meal prep!!! They taste just as good on day 4/5 as day one! Pretty easy to make too!! Love these!!!!!
I actually made the filling into burgers!!! So so good and healthy!!! Your an amazing cook!!
Another Amazing Easy recipe!!!! I Make 90% of your recipes and they never disappoint!
Delicious! Such a hit with my whole family!
Would ground turkey work, too? Sometimes I can’t find ground chicken at my grocery store.
I used ground turkey and it worked just fine!!! So delicious
These are great and super simple to make. I made them for my lunches this week I love the idea of cooking the meatballs in a mini muffin pan.
Obsessed with this recipe!! Even my picky toddlers ate the meatballs without the sauce. 👌🏼
The whole family loves these! I also can’t wait to make them this summer as an app for BBQ’s!
These are quick easy and delicious!!
Super easy to make. My husband loved these.
Tastes amazing!
Currently eating these for lunch and they are so good! Having them over a salad with shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes and bolthouse ranch. The recipe is so easy to make, I will definitely be making these regularly!
These are delicious! Ground chicken usually isn’t my favorite, but these proved me wrong. They are juicy and well seasoned. The buffalo sauce is spot-on. I LOVE the addition of honey – it really balances the spice. Thickening up the sauce is key – it coated the meat so well!! Awesome!
Any recipe of yours that I have made was delicious.
These are SO delicious !!!!! I can’t wait to have them for lunch tomorrow! Easy to make too!
Perfect !
So delicious and easy to make!!!!
Simply delicious! And buying a mini muffin pan to bake to keep moist was the greatest idea!
Fantastic. Made these last night. Served with mashed, roasted carrots, celery and ranch or blue cheese. Would be great with Ed’s ranch.
I’m a little confused about the cornstarch. I see that it’s added the second go-round for the sauce (pour the sauce back in the saucepan and add the cornstarch) but what about the first? Is it left out? Please calrify. Thank you.
I’m a little confused about the cornstarch. I see that it’s added the second go-round for the sauce (pour the sauce back in the saucepan and add the cornstarch) but what about the first? Is it left out? Please clarify. Thank you.
correct, it is only used the second go-around.
Simple recipe, full of flavor. Definitely going in to my meal rotation! Plus, my husband loved it!
Made this tonight for the first time and was so delicious! I made it with turkey since that’s what we had on hand and we will definitely be making this again. Great recipe!
These are sooooo good!!! I omitted the red onion because I did not have any on hand and it is still super flavorful! I am looking forward to lunch for the next few days!!
This were such a good meal prep for lunches! It was good in a wrap with lettuce or on their own.
Omg so good and so easy, per usual with Steph! Thank you for such a tasty, healthy lunch that both me and my husband love!
So delish- and great portions for “mini” meatballs! I put mine on a low carb wrap with laughing cow cheese and it was so good and filling! That will be my lunch for the week😍
Delicious! Great easy and fast meal!
I love Buffalo wings and these are even better. I make them with iceberg lettuce and some light peppercorn ranch dressing.
YUM!! So flavorful, so juicy, many portions.. just perfect!!
These are one of my absolute favorite to make. Adjusted the buffalo sauce and pair it with some blue cheese to dip, so good!
Meal prepped these for lunches this week and legitimately can’t wait to eat them! It’s the perfect balance of heat. Will definitely be adding these into my regular lunch rotation.
These are so awesome!!! The drizzled sauce really makes it !
So delicious,, easy to make and so versitile!! If you get tired of eating the same thing everyday for meal prep, you can switch it up everyday with these as your protein!
These looks so good and I love how you paired a wedge of iceberg lettuce with them. Preparing these today for the week!! TY
This is a MUST try. The chicken meatballs are delicious. So flavorful and moist. I made this for my lunch prep for the week, but I will make it again for guests this weekend. Steph is the best!
Great flavor and a quick meal. I reduced the recipe down to 1lb worth of meat which calculates to 10meatballs. They were rather large in my mini muffin pan and I did have to increase time by 10-15mins. Not sure why that happened. I also had some juicy spillage and thankfully had aluminum foil under my muffin tin. Next time I’d probably make 15-20meatballs with the same mixture/ratio of ingredients! Spicy! And nice!
These are so moist and tender. Plus they are full of flavor and reheat so well. Love these.
These are amazing! So easy to make and delicious! Thanks as always for a healthy quick meal!