Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
They sound too good to be true, but these Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs only have 1 gram carbs each so they are perfect for low carb, paleo, and ketogenic diets! Actually, this is an awesome appetizer recipe for anyone who craves that buffalo chicken wing flavor in a healthier package.
Since they really do sound almost too good to be true, I included answers to some of the questions I personally had while testing out this recipe:
A slice of meatloaf or a platter of meatballs? We are torn when it comes to deciding between the two, but when it really comes down to it, finger food is the best option for all ages, especially for parties, game days and lunches. It’s part primal instinct, part convenience, and all about the flavor, of course. Have you ever dipped meatloaf into a creamy, homemade ranch dressing? It is a more likely situation to dip the perfectly formed, and baked, meatball into that deliciousness – just make sure that meatball is about 1 inch in diameter.
You might already know how easy meatballs are to make too, particularly if you are a connoisseur of them, whether they be beef, pork or turkey. What you need to know about cooking with ground chicken is that it is not enough to mix some lean chicken meat with spices and call it a meal. That just won’t do! It is an absolute must to add moisture and a hint of fat (or use less lean meat), so that your creation does not dry out. And forget the breadcrumbs, those are so passé, coconut flour works wonderfully to hold everything together.
It may be a bit of an overkill, but while we are salivating over the idea of our meatballs drowning in a spicy buffalo sauce, chicken with a buffalo ranch coleslaw comes immediately to mind – maybe we’ll save that for later in the week. Right now, however, this meal is in need of a cooling cucumber salad.
Is Hot Sauce Keto?
I’m not sure why I assumed otherwise, but most hot sauces are keto-friendly. Always check the label of course, but for a traditional hot sauce, you’ll likely see that they contain 1g or even 0g of carbs per serving. Score!
Is Almond Flour Low Carb?
Almond flour is substantially lower in carbs than traditional wheat flour, which is why it is a top choice for Keto and Paleo recipes. It is made from ground up almonds – without the skin – so it produces a finer consistency than almond meal (though you can use either pretty much interchangeably).
A half cup of almond flour contains 12g total carbs and 6g net carbs and is a low-glycemic food. That’s compared to almost 50g of total carbs in the same amount of traditional wheat flour. Definitely a better swap!
Ingredients
Instructions
Since they really do sound almost too good to be true, I included answers to some of the questions I personally had while testing out this recipe:
A slice of meatloaf or a platter of meatballs? We are torn when it comes to deciding between the two, but when it really comes down to it, finger food is the best option for all ages, especially for parties, game days and lunches. It’s part primal instinct, part convenience, and all about the flavor, of course. Have you ever dipped meatloaf into a creamy, homemade ranch dressing? It is a more likely situation to dip the perfectly formed, and baked, meatball into that deliciousness – just make sure that meatball is about 1 inch in diameter.
You might already know how easy meatballs are to make too, particularly if you are a connoisseur of them, whether they be beef, pork or turkey. What you need to know about cooking with ground chicken is that it is not enough to mix some lean chicken meat with spices and call it a meal. That just won’t do! It is an absolute must to add moisture and a hint of fat (or use less lean meat), so that your creation does not dry out. And forget the breadcrumbs, those are so passé, coconut flour works wonderfully to hold everything together.
It may be a bit of an overkill, but while we are salivating over the idea of our meatballs drowning in a spicy buffalo sauce, chicken with a buffalo ranch coleslaw comes immediately to mind – maybe we’ll save that for later in the week. Right now, however, this meal is in need of a cooling cucumber salad.
Is Hot Sauce Keto?
I’m not sure why I assumed otherwise, but most hot sauces are keto-friendly. Always check the label of course, but for a traditional hot sauce, you’ll likely see that they contain 1g or even 0g of carbs per serving. Score!
Is Almond Flour Low Carb?
Almond flour is substantially lower in carbs than traditional wheat flour, which is why it is a top choice for Keto and Paleo recipes. It is made from ground up almonds – without the skin – so it produces a finer consistency than almond meal (though you can use either pretty much interchangeably).
A half cup of almond flour contains 12g total carbs and 6g net carbs and is a low-glycemic food. That’s compared to almost 50g of total carbs in the same amount of traditional wheat flour. Definitely a better swap!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/3 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon chives
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup Frank’s hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- Ranch for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with non-stick spray.
- Add the ground chicken, almond flour, Parmesan, garlic, egg, chives, and onion powder to a mixing bowl and mix with your hands until combined.
- Shape mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 13 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Whisk together the hot sauce and melted butter in a bowl and add the meatballs. Toss gently to coat.
- Serve meatballs hot or cold with a drizzle of ranch dressing.