These Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are everything I love about spicy, high-protein snacks - juicy, bold, and perfectly balanced between comfort food and clean eating. Made right in the air fryer, they cook up golden on the outside, tender inside, and just the right amount of kick from your favorite buffalo sauce.
If you love quick, flavorful meal-prep recipes, you'll also enjoy my Pesto Chicken Meatballs, Chipotle BBQ Chicken Meatballs, and Air Fryer Chicken Taco Meatballs - each one a different twist on high-protein chicken perfection.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Make them Buffalo-Wing Style - Great for Parties
- Equipment to Make These Buffalo Chicken Bites
- Storing These High Protein Snacks
- Top Tip
- FAQ
- More High Protein Recipes
- The Latest from Whisk and Wine:
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Reviews
Why You'll Love These Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
These fiery little bites check all the boxes: easy, protein-rich, and unbelievably flavorful.
- Air fryer convenience - no oven preheating or messy oil.
- Each batch packs lean protein for balanced snacking or meal prep.
- Ready to taste test the first batch in under 15 minutes, with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Ingredients You'll Need
Let's talk ingredients. These Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs keep things simple - every element has a purpose, from the creamy cottage cheese to the zesty buffalo sauce.
- Ground chicken
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Buffalo sauce
- Large egg
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper
- Avocado oil spray
See recipe card for quantities.
Quick Hint: Blending the cottage cheese, buffalo sauce, and egg first makes the meatballs smoother and helps the flavors distribute evenly - a tiny step that makes a big difference.
How to Make Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Here's how to bring everything together - quick, clean, and air fryer-ready. You'll be amazed how well these little meatballs brown and stay juicy inside.
- Blend the wet ingredients. In a blender, combine cottage cheese, buffalo sauce, and egg. Blend until completely smooth and creamy
- Mix everything together.
Transfer the blended mixture to a large bowl with ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix gently using a meat masher or fork until fully combined.
- Form the meatballs.
Scoop or roll into small, even-sized mini meatballs - about 40 total. Place 6 t 8 meatballs onto lightly oiled air fryer grate (I use avocado oil).
- Cook to golden perfection.
Air fry at 400°F for 7 minutes, shaking halfway through. Toss with extra buffalo sauce if desired, or serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Substitutions
Sometimes you just need to work with what's in your fridge - here are some smart swaps:
- Cottage cheese: Use Greek yogurt for a tangier flavor and similar protein boost.
- Breadcrumbs: Swap in almond flour for a low-carb or gluten-free version.
- Buffalo sauce: Try BBQ or teriyaki for a fun flavor twist.
Variations
Want to make these Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs your own? Here are a few ideas:
- Make larger meatballs and bake in the oven at 400°F for 18-20 minutes.
- Serve them as sliders on mini buns with ranch slaw for a game-day bite.
- Turn into meal prep bowls with rice, roasted veggies, and a drizzle of extra sauce.
Make them Buffalo-Wing Style - Great for Parties
Take ½ cup of hot sauce or buffalo sauce. Add one tablespoon of melted butter. Toss meatballs in hot sauce mixture and serve with ranch or buffalo sauce!
Equipment to Make These Buffalo Chicken Bites
- Bella 4Qt Slim Ceramic Air Fryer - I use this PFAS-free air fryer for all my high-protein meal prep - it's non-toxic, easy to
- Blender - I love the Beast Premium Compact Blender when I make sauces. It's extremely powerful, and I love the aesthetic.
- Serrated-edge food chopper - one of the most underrated kitchen tools out there. Do yourself a favor and grab one. I use mine for everything - from breaking up ground chicken for meatballs like these to mixing tuna or chicken salad so it all comes together perfectly.
- I use this 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to speed up making my meatballs
- I love these non-toxic mixing bowls with lids. Plus, they're pretty!
Storing These High Protein Snacks
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge (I'm lucky if one batch of these lasts a day), or freeze up to 2 months. I always double the batch and put half in the freezer. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes until warmed through.
Top Tip
Blending the cottage cheese, buffalo sauce, and egg first is my secret to creamy, flavorful meatballs that never dry out. It's a tiny extra step that gives big texture payoff - plus, the sauce clings beautifully when you toss them warm.
FAQ
Absolutely! Bake at 400°F for about 18 minutes, turning once halfway through.
Yes - it works perfectly, though the flavor will be slightly milder. I made these with turkey the first time I created this recipe and they were delicious.
That depends on your buffalo sauce! Mild sauces keep it subtle, while extra hot ones bring a bold kick.
More High Protein Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Total Time: ~About 45 minutes for all batches
- Yield: 40 Mini Meatballs 1x
Description
High-protein buffalo chicken meatballs made in the air fryer - tender, spicy, and perfectly balanced between comfort and clean eating.
Ingredients
½ cup low-fat cottage cheese
2 tbsp buffalo sauce (plus more for tossing)
1 large egg
1 lb ground chicken
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Avocado oil spray
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
-
Blend the wet ingredients.
Add the cottage cheese, buffalo sauce, and egg to a blender. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, with no visible curds from the cottage cheese. This creates the perfect binder and distributes flavor evenly. -
Combine the mixture.
In a large mixing bowl, add the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Pour in the blended mixture and use a meat masher, spoon, or clean hands to gently combine until everything is evenly incorporated. Avoid overmixing - it can make the meatballs tough. -
Form the meatballs.
Scoop and roll the mixture into small, even-sized mini meatballs, about 1 tablespoon each (you should have around 40 total). A cookie scoop makes this step fast and uniform. -
Prep your air fryer.
Lightly brush or spray the air fryer grate with avocado oil to prevent sticking. This step is key for even browning and easy cleanup. -
Air fry in batches.
Arrange the meatballs in a single layer, leaving space between each one for air circulation. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 7 minutes, shaking or turning halfway through for even color. If your air fryer is smaller, cook in batches to prevent overcrowding. -
Finish and serve.
Once cooked, toss the meatballs with extra buffalo sauce if desired for that glossy, spicy coating. Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping, if desired. Store in fridge for meal prep.
Notes
Blending the wet ingredients ensures creamy texture and even flavor. Don't overmix the chicken - it can make the meatballs dense. Air fryers vary, so test one meatball early for timing.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 7
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 Mini Meatballs
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 330g
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
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