Super Bowl Sunday Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Nate's favorite food in the whole wide world is buffalo chicken... anything!  So, when Ms. Keri Gaines told me she was making Buffalo Chicken Meatballs for the Super Bowl, I immediately asked for the recipe...and then made them for our own little party!

Huge success - they were as easy as regular meatballs and even more delicious!!  I'll definitely be making them again!

Ingredients: (makes about 25 meatballs)

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup Frank's Redhot Sauce (or any other favorite hot sauce)
• 1 bl ground chicken, preferably thigh meat
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 celery stalk, minced
• 3/4 bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 450 degrees.  Drizzle vegetable oil into a 9x13" baking dih and use your hand to evenly coat the surface.  Set aside.

2. Combine the butter and hot sauce in a small saucepan, and cook over low heat, whisking until the butter is melted and fully incorporated.  Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes.

3. Combine hot sauce mixture, ground chicken, egg, celery, bread crumbs and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated.

4. Roll mixture into round, 3/4 inch balls, making sure to pack the meat firmly.  Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them carefully and in even rows horizontally and vertically.  The meatballs should be touching one another

Note: I was tempted to brown them in a pan but I thought I'd lose a lot of the juices.  I'll probably try this next time just to see!

5. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is firm and cooked through. 

6. Allow meatballs to cool for 5 minutes in baking dish before serving.

I served with toothpicks as an appetizer, but I'm dreaming of a buffalo chicken meatball sub as I write this post.... Yum!

Was anyone else inspired to try a new recipe for the Super Bowl?  Last night I made the guac from this recipe (we had Tacos), but I'd love to try making the whole dip!!

xoxo