If you're like me, you want meal prep that feels effortless and actually enjoyable to eat. Enter these high protein chipotle BBQ chicken meatballs. Each little bite is smoky, saucy, and packed with protein thanks to the ground chicken and cottage cheese. I love making big batches of these high protein meatball recipe on Sundays-half for the fridge, half for the freezer-so we always have fresh, flavorful, grab-and-go protein on hand.
These smoky little bites are just as good cold from the fridge as they are hot out of the air fryer-my go-to busy weekday protein. If you like high protein meatball recipes, you will love my Pesto Chicken Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs or these Taco Style Meatballs.
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Ingredients
To make these high protein chipotle BBQ meatballs, you'll need just a handful of pantry and fridge staples.
All you need are the following ingredients:
- Canned chipotle chilis in adobo + some adobo sauce
- BBQ sauce (I love using Fox Brothers BBQ sauce for its smoky-sweet balance, but any favorite brand works!)
- Cottage cheese
- Worcestershire sauce
- Minced garlic
- Breadcrumbs
- Chopped scallions
- Eggs
- Ground chicken
- Avocado oil spray
See recipe card for quantities.
High protein Chipotle BBQ Meatballs Instructions
These meatballs come together quickly, and with just a few steps you'll have a big batch ready for the week (and the freezer).
- Step 1: Blend the sauce. In a blender or food processor, combine chipotle chilis, adobo sauce, BBQ sauce, and garlic. Blend until smooth
- Step 2: Mix the base. In a large mixing bowl, combine the blended sauce with cottage cheese, Worcestershire, breadcrumbs, scallions, eggs, and ground chicken. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is evenly combined.
- Step 3: Scoop meatballs. Using a small melon baller or mini ice cream scoop, portion the mixture into about 50 bite-sized meatballs.
- Step 4: Air fry. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Lightly spray or dot each meatball with avocado oil. Arrange them in a single layer in the basket (working in batches if needed). Cook for 6 minutes, shaking the basket at the 4-minute mark for even browning.
Hint: Because cottage cheese is one of the star ingredients here, it keeps the meatballs moist and adds extra protein without making them dense. Don't skip it-it's what makes this high protein meatball recipe stand out from the pack.
Substitutions
- Ground chicken → Ground turkey: Swap in turkey for a similar lean, high-protein option. Cooking time stays the same.
- Cottage cheese → Ricotta cheese: For a slightly creamier, less tangy flavor. Protein will be a little lower.
- Breadcrumbs → Almond flour: Keeps it gluten-free, but expect a softer, looser texture.
- BBQ sauce → Any variety you love: Sweet, smoky, or spicy-Since I'm from Atlanta, Fox Brothers is my go-to, but you can use your favorite.
Variations
- Sweet & smoky: Add 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup to the sauce blend before mixing.
- Cheesy stuffed: Tuck a small cube of cheddar inside each meatball for a melty surprise.
- Meal prep bowls: Serve meatballs over quinoa or brown rice with roasted veggies for a full high-protein meal.
Try a few other high protein mini meatball recipes like, Pesto Chicken Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs or these Taco Style Meatballs.
Equipment to Make High Protein Meatball Recipe
- 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!
How to Store High Protein Chipotle BBQ Meatballs
Store cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave until warmed through, adding a splash of BBQ sauce if they seem dry.
FAQ
Yes! Bake at 400°F for 12-14 minutes on a parchment-lined baking sheet until cooked through.
Absolutely. Mix and shape the meatballs up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate until ready to cook.
They have a mild smoky heat from the chipotle peppers. For less spice, reduce to 1-2 chilis. For more spice and flavor add one or two chilis.
Yes, they freeze beautifully. Store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes.
📖 Recipe
Mini Chipotle BBQ Meatballs - High-Protein Make-Ahead Snack
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 50 mini meatballs 1x
Description
Each little bite is smoky, saucy, and packed with protein thanks to the ground chicken and cottage cheese. I love making big batches on Sunday-half for the fridge, half for the freezer-so we always have fresh, flavorful, grab-and-go protein on hand.
Ingredients
- 3 chipotle chilis in adobo + 2 tbsp adobo sauce
- ½ cup BBQ sauce [I love Fox Brothers]
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup chopped scallions
- 2 large eggs
- 2 lbs ground chicken
- Avocado oil or spray (about 2 tablespoon total across all meatballs)
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
-
Blend the sauce. In a blender or food processor, combine chipotle chilis, adobo sauce, BBQ sauce, and garlic. Blend until smooth.
-
Mix the base. In a large mixing bowl, combine the blended sauce with cottage cheese, Worcestershire, breadcrumbs, scallions, eggs, and ground chicken. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is evenly combined.
-
Scoop meatballs. Using a small melon baller or mini ice cream scoop, portion the mixture into about 50 bite-sized meatballs.
-
Air fry. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Lightly spray or dot each meatball with avocado oil. Arrange them in a single layer in the basket (working in batches if needed). Cook for 6 minutes, shaking the basket at the 4-minute mark for even browning.
-
Serve. Enjoy warm, with extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping if you like.
Notes
I scoop the meatballs directly into the air fryer in batches.
You may need to clean the air fryer after your 3rd or 4th batch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course, Meal Prep, Snack
- Method: Air Fryer (Oven-baked as an alternative)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 mini meatballs
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Want more meatball inspiration? See all of our healthy chicken meatball recipes - from buffalo to pesto to taco-style, there's a flavor for everyone.
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If you loved this one, don't miss the rest of the chicken meatball lineup: Air Fryer Chicken Taco Meatballs, Pesto Chicken Meatballs, Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Soup with Pear & Shallot Meatballs over Tortellini. Each one is a different flavor direction but the same easy, high-protein formula.
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