Keto + Whole30 Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (with Almond Flour)

Name: Keto + Whole30 Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (with almond flour)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground chicken (I like 93/7); 1 egg; 1/3 cup finely chopped celery; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1 /2 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 cup of buffalo sauce (Primal Kitchen Foods is my favorite!); 1/2 cup almond flour; 2 tbs avocado oil for cooking; Ranch dressing; Green onion; Bleu cheese crumbles - omit for Whole30

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This recipe for keto buffalo chicken meatballs is the perfect appetizer to serve for any occasion. These keto chicken meatballs are made with ground chicken, almond flour and a delicious buffalo sauce. They are also low carb/keto, Paleo and Whole30 compliant and they taste so good you wouldn’t even know how healthy they are!

Other Delicious Recipes Using Buffalo Sauce

Ingredients

To make these keto buffalo chicken meatballs, you will need the following:

Ground Chicken: (I like to use 93/7 for the most flavor)
Egg: this helps bind your chicken meatballs together
Finely chopped celery- you can omit this if you like. I personally like to add it for texture in my meatballs but it isn't something you absolutely NEED
Buffalo Sauce - My favorite is from Primal Kitchen Foods. It’s 100% the best bottled buffalo sauce I have ever tasted. It’s made with cashew butter so it has the best creamy texture and the perfect amount of heat. And I’m not just saying this because I’m an affiliate (my code is BEAUTY10 if you want a discount on their site!) Frank’s Red Hot sauce also works well in this recipe and is also low carb and Whole30 compliant.
Almond flour- This will be act as the binder for your mixture. You can also use coconut flour if you prefer just make sure to adjust the amount as written in the recipe as coconut flour is much more absorbent than almond flour.
garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper

ingredients for paleo buffalo chicken meatballs in a mixing bowl — place all your ingredients for buffalo chicken meatballs in a bowl

How To Prepare Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Preparing your buffalo chicken meatballs is super easy!

Step 1: Add all your ingredients to a large bowl and then use your hands to gently mix everything together.

Step 2: Roll the ground chicken mixture into small balls and place on a sheet of parchment paper to prevent sticking before firing up your large skillet. The mixture will be very sticky. You can wet your hands a bit before rolling into balls to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Cook your meatballs on medium heat in a little bit of oil on the skillet for about 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 160-165 degrees. I like to use a spoon to gently move the meatball around to evenly cook all sides. A little trick I like to use for extra crispy edges on my meatballs is to toss them in the air fryer for a few minutes before serving.

Step 4: Place cooked meatballs on a plate and serve with ranch, buffalo sauce and blue cheese if desired!

Serving Suggestions

This keto chicken meatballs recipe can be served so many ways! Once your meatballs are fully cooked, drizzle with more buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Other garnishes you can use are celery leaves/sticks, green onions and bleu cheese crumbles (omit cheese for paleo/Whole30). You can serve them in the skillet or add little toothpicks in each one to serve as an appetizer.

buffalo chicken meatballs drizzled with ranch

If you don’t want to serve as an appetizer you can also throw them on a pile of greens with some ranch dressing and eat as a salad. Or serve with some smashed potatoes and air fryer brussel sprouts!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I cook chicken meatballs?

In the skillet, the meatballs are fully cooked in about 12-15 minutes.

Can I make chicken meatballs in the air fryer?

Yes! Just air fry at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes until meatballs are cooked through. Make sure to spray the bottom of your air fryer with cooking spray to avoid sticking or use an air fryer liner.

Can I use panko crumbs instead of almond flour for meatballs?

Yes! The recipe would no longer be keto but you can definitely use panko instead. If you do want to keep things keto and Whole30 but don't want to use almond or coconut flour, you can also use my recipe for paleo bread crumbs!

Keto + Whole30 Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (with almond flour)

Author: Jen
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 16 1x
Category: Main Dish
Method: Skillet
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

This recipe for keto buffalo chicken meatballs is the perfect appetizer to serve for any occasion. These meatballs are low carb, paleo and Whole30 compliant but they taste so good you wouldn’t even know how healthy they are!

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb ground chicken (I like 93/7)
1 egg
⅓ cup finely chopped celery
½ tsp onion powder
1 /2 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ cup of buffalo sauce (Primal Kitchen Foods is my favorite!)
½ cup almond flour
2 tbs avocado oil for cooking

Garnish:

Ranch dressing
Green onion
Bleu cheese crumbles - omit for Whole30

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Instructions

Mix all ingredients gently using your hands in a mixing bowl. Do not overmix.
Set a skillet to low-medium heat and add 1 tbs avocado oil
As your skillet is heating up, start to roll your 16 meatballs. As you finish rolling them, place on a piece of parchment paper while they wait for the skillet.
Add the meatballs to the warmed skillet. My skillet fit 8 meatballs. Use a spoon to gently move your meatballs around to brown all sides evenly. Continue this until your meatballs are cooked through. Mine were ready in about 12-15 minutes.
Once all your meatballs are cooked, add them to a bowl and drizzle with additional buffalo sauce and toss gently to coat.
Serve on a bed of green for a salad or with your favorite sides and drizzle with ranch for extra deliciousness!