This is not your typical, overly sweet and sour meatballs recipe. Our fresh twist has juicy, tender chicken meatballs swimming in a perfectly balanced sauce.

I honestly can’t get enough of these Asian-inspired meatballs. They have an amazing coconut sweet and sour sauce, which gets simmered down until it’s thick and shiny, perfect for coating the meatballs. They’re so good you’ll have a hard time not stealing them out of the pan. These are especially good served over rice (I love this coconut rice) and topped with plenty of that incredible sauce.

You’ll use full-fat coconut milk and skim a bit of the thick coconut cream at the top of the can to add to the meatball mix itself. This is our secret for making the meatballs incredibly juicy and soft inside. The rest of the can turns into our creamy sauce, which simmers with a bit of broth, the brown sugar, and lime to get that perfect sweet and sour flavor profile.

Key Ingredients

• Ground Chicken: Look for ground chicken with some fat (92/8 or close to it is perfect). Skip the leaner options. It’ll just give you tough, dry meatballs. I use the same trick for my classic meatballs, too! Ground pork or turkey are also excellent.
• Coconut Milk: You’ll want full-fat coconut milk for this recipe. When you’re at the store, give the can a flip and listen. You shouldn’t hear much sloshing liquid; that means you’ve got a good amount of thick coconut cream inside, which is precisely what we want! Once you get it home, don’t shake it. We need that separation of cream and milk. We’ll “steal” 2 tablespoons of that thick cream for the meatball mixture, and the rest of the can will make our sweet and sour sauce.
• Ginger, Garlic, and Lemongrass Paste: These are our aromatics (I love the combination). Fresh lemongrass can be a bit fussy to prep, so I usually go for the lemongrass paste in a tube (it’s also fantastic for our red curry paste). If you can’t find the paste, don’t worry, I’ve included instructions on how to prepare fresh lemongrass in the tips section below the recipe.
• Green Onion, Basil, Mint: We’ll add these fresh herbs to both the meatballs and the sauce at the end. It makes this dish taste super vibrant and fresh. I love Thai basil for this, but any variety will do!
• Brown Sugar: This is what brings the “sweet” to our sweet and sour sauce and balances the sour. Brown sugar works so nicely with the aromatics and fish sauce. If you prefer, coconut sugar would be a great substitute here, too.
• Lime and Rice Vinegar: These are the “sour” elements of our sauce! Use unsweetened rice wine vinegar and fresh lime (you’ll use both the zest and the juice for maximum sourness).
• Chinese 5 Spice: We add just a tiny bit (1/4 teaspoon) to the meatball mixture. I love it, but if you don’t want to buy a whole new spice jar for just a quarter teaspoon, you can use an equal amount of Garam Masala. Or, try ground allspice, but reduce it to 1/8 teaspoon instead.
• Fish Sauce: Oh, how I love fish sauce! As you might’ve seen in our Vietnamese Pho, sesame ginger shrimp marinade, or Thai chicken salad recipes, it adds an incredible salty, umami, and slightly funky flavor that nothing else can replicate. I always have Red Boat and Three Crabs in my pantry (both are excellent choices for this dish).
• Chicken Broth: Grab your favorite store-bought or homemade chicken broth. Vegetable broth works perfectly fine here, too. We only need a small amount to blend with the coconut milk and create our sauce.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

Tips for Making Our Favorite Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Tip 1: Use full-fat coconut milk. The secret to these meatballs starts with a can of full-fat coconut milk that hasn’t been shaken. We’ll scoop a couple of tablespoons of that thick coconut cream right from the top of the can and add it to our meatball mixture. The rest of the coconut milk will then form the base of our incredible sweet and sour sauce.

Tip 2: Chill before forming. I like to form the meatballs and then pop them in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes. This little trick helps them firm up, so they stay beautifully round when you cook them.

Tip 3: Make the sauce in the same pan. After browning your meatballs, you’ll build the sweet and sour sauce right in the same pan. Then, simmer the meatballs in the sauce until they’re cooked through.

Tip 4: Reduce your sauce. At this point, the sauce will be a bit thin. So, we’ll remove the meatballs and let the sauce continue to simmer and reduce down into a thicker, shinier consistency (usually takes about 10 minutes).

Tip 5: Finish with fresh lime. Finish it off with a final squeeze of lime, then serve your sweet and sour meatballs with plenty of that incredible flavor-packed sauce spooned over the top.

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This slow cooker chicken meatballs recipe is easy and delicious. Serve them on top of pasta, spiralized noodles, vegetables, or bread. They are so good!

My family loves this slow cooker chicken meatball recipe. The sauce is from scratch and gets better and better as it slowly cooks in a crockpot. Then, you’ll drop in the meatballs and let them cook for about 1 hour.

Since they gently poach in the sauce, the meatballs become extra tender and stay juicy inside. These chicken meatballs are similar to our turkey meatballs, but in that recipe, we cook the sauce and meatballs on the stove instead of in our slow cooker. For something totally different, look at our sweet and sour chicken meatballs made with a coconut lime sauce.

Key Ingredients

• Ground Chicken: I use 93% lean ground chicken when making these meatballs (leaner ground chicken makes less juicy meatballs). The extra 7-10% fat helps keep our chicken meatballs moist and juicy in the middle. Ground turkey, pork, or beef are all great substitutes.
• Milk, breadcrumbs, and egg: Help to keep our meatballs together and soft and tender in the middle.
• Parmesan: For really flavorful meatballs, add some shredded parmesan cheese to the mixture. I also use parmesan cheese when making these Italian meatballs with beef and pork.
• Spices: I love fresh parsley in these, and I stir in a little dried oregano and salt.
• Tomato basil sauce: I make the easy homemade tomato sauce with crushed canned tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil. If you want a shortcut, use 2 jars of your favorite store-bought spaghetti sauce in this recipe.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Meatballs

Tip 1: Make our easy tomato sauce. To make the slow cooker marinara sauce, you’ll add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, olive oil, a small onion cut in half, lots of garlic, and spices to the slow cooker. If I’m in a hurry, I turn it to HIGH and cook for 3 hours. If I’ve got more time, I use LOW and cook for 6 hours.

Tip 2: Cooking the meatballs. Make your meatball mixture and form it into balls. I use wet hands when forming them, which keeps them from sticking too much. Drop the chicken meatballs into the sauce in the slow cooker and cover the tops with sauce by gently pushing the sauce over each meatball. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour or until the meatballs are cooked through. Then serve however you like.

Serving Suggestions

These meatballs are great on their own, with some veggies on the side (I love roasted cabbage or sautéed cabbage). They are also excellent with pasta or slices of focaccia bread to soak up that amazing sauce.

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These Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta are perfect for an easy SOS dinner! Store-bought meatballs, bell peppers, zucchini, harissa, and whipped feta all in one bowl. YUMMY!

This is a fan favorite recipe that’s part of our Fall 2022 SOS Series! View the full series.

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Here’s a stunner for you.

You are looking at a big ol’ bowl of store-bought wonders such as hummus, olives, and pita bread, topped with a pile of meatballs (also store-bought! SOS life) that have been coated in a quick harissa / lemon / olive oil paste and baked to juicy-crisp perfection, roasted peppers and zucchini, and a super tangy, salty, whipped garlicky feta to add a little creamy punch to every bite.

It sounds fancy when I write it all out, and actually, every bite really does feel very complex and so delicious. But in reality, almost everything can be store-bought, and then you just have two tasks: roasting a meatball and veggie sheet pan, and whipping up a block of feta.

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In This Post: Everything You Need For This Bowl

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Ingredients You Need To Make This Happen

Here’s our shortcut-friendly ingredient list:

• meatballs
• harissa paste (it usually comes in a jar and is often sold in the “global foods” section at many grocery stores)
• bell peppers
• zucchini
• hummus
• pita
• feta

And assuming you’ve got olive oil, S&P, and garlic…this big bowl of goodness is yours for the taking.

How To Make This Bowl Come Together

Essentially what is happening here is the meatballs, peppers, and zucchini get roasted on one single pan.

I know technically this isn’t the correct way to do it because you want each veggie to be cooked to its own perfection. And if you are particular about your zucchini, feel free to give it its own pan for optimal zucchini-specific roasting. But I found it most efficient (and 100% delicious) to just add the zucchini on the same pan – not for the whole time, but just for the last few minutes of roasting. If there’s an easy way to do something that still gets the same super-yum end results, you know I’m all over that. And in this case, everybody-on-one-pan is the way.

The Whipped Feta Is a Must-Make

The only other really “active” cooking step here is blitzing up a block of feta cheese in a food processor or mini chopper (I love this one (affiliate link)) until it becomes a creamy, spreadable, dollop-able wonder that you might be tempted to put on, like, everything from here on out.

This recipe, this combo of flavors, this textural heaven? This one is for those of us who like to go big. Lots of color, lots of puckery zip, lots of salt, and a good amount of heat from that harissa paste… more of all, please.

In terms of eating this, you can just fork-and-knife it, OR you can get right up in there with your pillowy pita and swoop it directly into the hummus, top with a meatball and some veggies, and do a final dunk into that whipped feta to just take this day right over the top. (10/10 would recommend.)

Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta: Frequently Asked Questions

What type of store-bought meatballs do you recommend?

Any kind! I’ve tried pork, beef, chicken, and turkey meatballs – and I think veggie meatballs would also work really well as a vegetarian option! This recipe is very forgiving – it can work with meatballs that are pre-cooked, and I’ve also enjoyed this recipe with the pre-made, UNCOOKED meatballs that you can often buy in the meat department. For a specific brand, I really enjoyed these with the ALDI pre-made uncooked Italian style meatballs (I know, wrong flavor profile, but it worked just fine and the meatballs were amazing). I just brushed them with the harissa sauce before baking.

I have some extra time. Can I make my own meatballs for this recipe?

Sure can! These baked chicken meatballs are perfect in this recipe, and major bonus – they’re freezer-friendly if you wanted to prep these ahead of time. Doubling the recipe is not a bad idea!

Is harissa paste spicy?

It’s not terribly spicy, but harissa paste does pack some heat. I would rate it as mild+ or medium- level heat. I left a few meatballs un-sauced for my toddler just to make sure it wasn’t too spicy for her.

I can’t find harissa paste. What else can I use?

Chili oil or even sriracha could work here instead! Just adjust the amounts as necessary so that you don’t make it too spicy.

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Click here to watch step-by-step stories for how to make this recipe!

Source Notes: Harissa paste is “a Tunisian hot chili pepper paste, the main ingredients of which are roasted red peppers, Baklouti peppers, spices and herbs such as garlic paste, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, cumin and olive oil to carry the oil-soluble flavors.” (definition from Wiki!) It reminds me a little bit of curry paste – it’s packed with flavor and vibrantly red in color. In the US, you can find it at many grocery stores that have a solidly stocked “global foods” section. It’s usually is sold in small jars. If you want to dabble with making your own (and I am actually tempted to after reading Suzy’s description), here is a recipe for homemade harissa paste.

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These Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta are perfect for an easy SOS dinner! Store-bought meatballs, bell peppers, zucchini, harissa, and whipped feta all in one bowl. YUMMY!

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Meatballs and Such:

Whipped Feta:

Extras:

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1. Sheet Pan, Part One: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the peppers on one side of a large sheet pan. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt. Mix the harissa with a little bit of olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic powder until you have a nice spreadable red paste. Coat your meatballs with the sauce (you can do this by tossing the meatballs in a bowl with the sauce if they’re pre-cooked, or just brushing the meatballs directly on the sheet pan if your meatballs are raw). Add meatballs to the center of the sheet pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

2. Sheet Pan, Part Two: Add the zucchini to the pan with some olive oil and salt. Roast for another 10 minutes. For extra browning on everything, broil for about 5 minutes.

3. Whip That Feta: In a food processor, chopper, or blender, whip up the feta, cream cheese, and garlic until a thick and creamy sauce forms. 

4. Serve: Serve meatballs and veggies with a dollop of hummus, your whipped feta, pita wedges, and anything else you like (olives, lemon, etc.). And now DEVOUR. And repeat. And repeat. And repeat.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sheet Pan
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: harissa paste, meatballs, whipped feta

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One More Thing!

This recipe is part of our collection of savory meatball recipes. Check it out!

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Spiced baked meatballs with potatoes, finished with garlic yogurt and paprika butter sauce. This one-pan meal is inspired by a viral Turkish pasta recipe, and is hearty, high in protein, and packed with flavor.

Jump to: Overview | Ingredients | How To Make | Watch The Video | Recipe Tips |  Serving Suggestions | Full Recipe Card | More Meatball Recipes And More Recipes With Potatoes

You might be familiar with Turkish köfte (meatballs) AND you might have seen a viral Turkish pasta with garlic yogurt sauce and paprika chili oil, and if you like the sound of either of those, you will love this dinner meal.

I wanted to create something more protein-rich and veggie-forward, so I swapped the pasta for crispy potatoes, sweet red peppers, and tender green beans, all baked together with seasoned beef meatballs.

The whole tray soaks up the savory goodness as it bakes. But the real magic is in the toppings — a creamy, garlicky yogurt sauce and that golden, earthy, slightly sweet paprika butter drizzle. Both are non-negotiable, trust me.

It’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner and impressive enough to serve guests. It’s not spicy, but the flavors are complex, which some kids might not be used to, in which case you serve the meatballs and potatoes without the sauces.

Nutrition per serving: 550 calories, 40 grams protein, 8 grams fiber.

This meatballs and potatoes recipe is part of my high-protein and fiber meals series, try some of the dishes: smashed chicken tacos, steak and potatoes with chimichurri salsa, chicken shawarma with baked rice, grilled salmon salad with kale, corn & Parmesan, or honey soy chicken & rice bowls.

What You’ll Need

Here is what you’ll need for this Turkish meatballs and potato bake. Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

For the meatballs:

• Lean ground beef – the main protein star, rich and juicy. You can swap for lamb or chicken if needed. I used 5% fat ground beef mince.
• Breadcrumbs – use GF breadcrumbs to keep it gluten-free.
• Spices – paprika (both sweet and smoked), cumin, cinnamon, coriander seed, and onion powder. These give it that unmistakable Turkish-inspired depth. If you happen to have some pul biber or Aleppo pepper (Turkish chili), add a bit of that as well.
• Olive oil & water – for moisture and binding without eggs.

For the veggies:

• Potatoes – classic, comforting, and fiber-rich. Use sweet potatoes for extra nutrients or swap for cauliflower if low-carb.
• Red bell pepper & green beans – for color, texture, and crunch (and fiber). Zucchini or carrots also work.
• Dried thyme & olive oil – herby and fragrant, bringing it all together.

Garlic yogurt sauce:

• Greek yogurt – low-fat, high-protein yogurt is best.
• Garlic, lemon juice, salt, water – tangy and punchy, this sauce ties everything together. Coconut yogurt can be used for dairy-free.

Paprika butter sauce:

• Salted butter – rich and golden. You can use olive oil for a dairy-free version.
• Paprika (sweet + smoked), chili, honey, lemon juice – buttery, smoky, and slightly tangy-sweet.

How To Make Turkish Baked Meatballs & Potatoes With Garlic Yogurt

Find the full recipe and nutritional information below. Here are some handy step-by-step photos for Turkish baked meatballs & potatoes with garlic yogurt.

• Mix all meatball ingredients and roll into 1 oz (30 grams) balls. Set aside.
• Bake diced potatoes first with thyme and salt for 15 minutes at 200°C (400°F).
• Add peppers and green beans, toss with oil and salt.
• Nestle meatballs on top and bake for another 20 minutes.

• Meanwhile, mix garlic yogurt sauce.
• Melt butter and spices for paprika sauce; finish with lemon juice and honey.

• Once everything is cooked, serve with dollops of garlic yogurt and drizzle with paprika butter sauce.

Watch The Video

Recipe Tips

• Don’t skip the sauces! Seriously. The yogurt and paprika butter are what make this whole thing sing.
• Batch it – Make double the meatballs and freeze half for later.
• Low-carb? Use cauliflower or rutabaga instead of potatoes.
• Meal prep friendly – Store in airtight containers for up to 3 days (keep sauces separately, or I would even make the paprika butter fresh). Reheat gently to keep meatballs juicy.
• Make-ahead tip – Prep meatballs and chop veggies the night before.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this cozy tray bake straight from the oven with a side of fresh greens or a simple cucumber-tomato salad. I also love a bit of crusty bread to scoop up that garlic yogurt + paprika oil situation (but hey, that’s optional if you’re keeping it gluten-free). A glass of chilled ayran or sparkling water with lemon? Chef-style finish.

If you’ve tried these Turkish baked meatballs & potatoes with garlic yogurt or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and or sign up to my Newsletter to see more of my delicious food.

More Meatball Recipes

More Recipes With Potatoes

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This super nourishing soup of turkey meatballs and kale braised in lemony garlic broth is full of flavour and makes for a great comfort dish that is still very healthy. You get the benefits of antioxidant-packed kale, chicken broth and protein-rich turkey or chicken meat, plus all those beautiful notes of citrus and garlic. I made this dish for my Paleo reset program and it’s become a crowd-favourite, so I am sharing it on the blog as well.  It’s paleo, gluten-free, Whole30 and keto-friendly. 

I love making this soup when I feel like something nourishing and warm. It’s great for when you’re feeling under the weather or coming down with a cold as it’s full of nutrients, Vitamin C and healing broth. In my true style, I made sure it’s also packed with flavour and in this case you get lots of umami, citrus and garlic.

How To Make Braised Turkey Meatballs & Kale Soup

There are two parts to making this lovely turkey meatball soup dish.

First, you make the meatballs and you can use ground turkey, chicken or pork. Fish can also be ground up into mince and will work well in this recipe. The meatballs are partially pan-fried before you add them to the soup. 

The soup base is very easy to make and I used a few spices, citrus and garlic to give it a lot of flavour. The addition of fish sauce gives the broth saltiness and that lovely umami flavour but you can always use a little extra salt instead. 

I used kale but any leafy greens with work. You might like to add some collard greens or Chinese greens like bok choy or broccoli, Swiss chard etc. To be honest, you can add as many different veggies as you like. Add starchy roots earlier so they can cook and leafy, fibrous ones towards the end. I often use kale in soups, like this chicken tortilla one.

Dietary Modifications

This soup has a few starchy vegetables, so if you’re following a low-carb or keto diet, replace the carrots and potatoes with zucchini and/or broccoli. You might want to keep some carrots. You can also use a little less leek. White potatoes can be swapped for sweet potatoes or parsnips. 

Make-Ahead Tips

You can make the meatballs ahead of time. You can pan-fry them or keep them raw in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before using as per recipe instructions. I also love keeping some homemade chicken broth in the freezer or fridge but you can also use store-bought broth. 

Pre-chopping the kale and leeks and peeling garlic will also save you some time. You can store those in an airtight container in or Ziploc bags in the fridge for 2-3 days before using. Use the potatoes when needed, though. 

More make-ahead friendly recipes here. 

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Juicy little sheet pan meatballs that are salty, zesty, briney, and so so delicious. Pile them on tzatziki, spoon some punchy green sauce over top, and serve with a simple salad and crusty bread.

This post is sponsored by ButcherBox

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We’re no strangers to sheet pan meatballs around here. We love to love them! Easy clean-up, no frying mess, but still oven-crisp goodness, and they’re always the easiest option for straight-off-the-pan sneaks.

Super juicy and deeply flavored thanks to some delicious briney green sauce – made with parsley, cilantro, walnuts, capers, garlic, and more – that will go not only inside but also on top of these little beauties. Serve them alongside some juicy marinated tomatoes, swoop them through tzatziki, douse them in that green sauce, grab yourself a buttery hunk of crusty bread, and let’s have the best meatball party in town, shall we?

Salty, Zesty, Briney Goodness

This isn’t just any old meatball. Not only is the quality of beef A+ (we’re using ButcherBox Grass-Fed Grass-Finished – more on that later), but that little green sauce magic concoction in the mixture brings a whole explosion of flavor with salty brininess from the capers, a little zest from the lemon, and our favorite punch of all punches, the garlic punch. It all just sort of swims together to bring maximum flavor to this little guy. It’s like a whole meal of tastes in one bite!

And you better believe you save some of that green sauce to put on top of your meatballs, and bread, and any kind of veggies. We’re nothing if not sauce hogs.

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A Word About This ButcherBox Beef

Okay, if you’re not on the ButcherBox train yet, we highly recommend you climb aboard! The quality of their meat and seafood is top-notch.

This is why we love them:

• They are a certified B Corp company, which means they are mission-driven to do some environmental good in this world and that is always something we can get behind.
• They source from family farms and are committed to humane practices, and have a focus on sustainability for their seafood offerings which we also feel really good about!
• Plus, sustainable and recyclable insulation and packaging whenever possible? Yes, please.

There is so much care put behind their product and it really shows. And, ultimately, this grass-fed, grass-finished ground beef is SO flavorful and cooks up beautifully.

ButcherBox has a deal going right now where you get two pounds of free (yes, FREE) grass-fed grass-finished ground beef in every single box for the life of your membership. WHAT.

Click here to learn more about the boxes (or add this deal to your existing membership)!

For burgers, for spaghetti, for meatballs, and everything else in between, this ground beef is such good quality and it is a total freezer essential. And it’s free in every box right now. Do not miss this deal!

How To Make These Meatballs (Sheet Pan FTW!)

Get your sheet pans and your food processor at the ready and let’s get down to business.

1. Green Sauce. Pulse everything up in a food processor until chopped very finely (but not a paste). This is your flavor base! Transfer half of the flavor base to a large bowl for the meatballs and then use the rest make your sauce.
2. Meatballs. Mix the egg, paprika, salt, panko, ground beef, and reserved flavor base green sauce in a bowl until evenly distributed. Roll into balls. Place the rolled meatballs on sheet pan, brush with olive oil, and bake!

Then serve those meatballs over creamy tzatziki, heavily dolloped with your green sauce, along with a pile of tzatziki and simple tomato salad, add a big torn-off hunk of rustic bread, and oof, what a satisfying flavor extravaganza you’re in for!

Will these juicy delicious little sheet pan meatballs absolutely steal your hearts? Yes. Does green sauce, just in general, make the world better? Also yes. Let’s get to it, pals.

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Description

Juicy little sheet pan meatballs that are salty, zesty, briney, and so so delicious. Pile them on tzatziki, spoon some punchy green sauce over top, and serve with a simple salad and crusty bread.

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1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 
2. Make your tomato salad and throw in some sliced cucumbers too!
3. Pulse the garlic, parsley, cilantro, capers, and walnuts in a food processor until chopped very finely (but not creamy / not a paste – you just want a fine chop! and you could do this by hand as well). This is your flavor base!
4. Transfer half of the flavor base to a large bowl for the meatballs. Add all other meatball ingredients and mix thoroughly with your hands to combine. Roll into balls and bake for 10-12 minutes.
5. Add the other half of the flavor base to a smaller bowl; add lemon zest and lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste to make your sauce. Add red pepper flakes for heat if you want. It should look similar to a loose pesto or chimichurri.
6. Serve meatballs over a swipe of tzatziki, with a hunk of rustic bread and a scoop of tomato salad. And drizzle, dip, and swish all of it through that punchy green sauce! BIG, BIG FLAVORS! So good!

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired

Keywords: sheet pan meatballs, meatball bowls, green sauce

Thank you to ButcherBox for sponsoring this recipe!

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More Meatball Recipes We Can’t Stop Talking About

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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are a surefire hit for all your celebrations. Juicy and flavorful, they make the perfect game day appetizer or easy keto dinner recipe! Make a double batch because they will go fast!

These low carb, gluten-free Buffalo Chicken Meatballs have a very special place in my heart. I created the recipe back in 2016 for a friend’s Super Bowl party and they became an instant hit. Ever since, my friends insist that I bring my “balls” to any get together.

Being the lovely, goofy friends that they are, they have even hatched a plan for a local food truck called Carolyn’s Ballz. (Because it has to end with a z!). The idea being that I will serve all sorts of balls at this imaginary food truck, both savory to sweet. Everything from peanut butter protein balls to keto chocolate truffles to classic keto meatballs.

Round, bite-sized food is the name of the game, my friends. And these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are the delicious appetizers that started it all.

Why we love these meatballs

I originally created this recipe with some Buffalo flavored chicken sausage. But the brand is no longer available and I decided that using ground chicken would make the recipe more accessible.

I also decided to lower the carb count by reducing the added flours. The meatballs still hold their shape and stay juicy, but now they have only 2.5g net carbs per serving (appetizer servings).

The original recipe called for adding crumbled bleu cheese into the meatballs themselves. But not everyone likes bleu cheese, so I scrapped that and simply added it to the dipping sauce. And you can still skip it, if you prefer!

This buffalo chicken meatball recipe makes a big ol’ batch and serves at least 12 as an appetizer. But you can scale it back and make a half batch easily, too.

Ingredient Notes

• Ground chicken: You can also use ground turkey. Ground beef and ground pork tend to have a lot more fat so while they will be tasty, they will shrink a lot as they cook.
• Shredded cheddar cheese: You can use sharp or mild cheddar. I think sharp adds more flavor.
• Almond flour and coconut flour: I use a combination of these keto flours to help the meatballs hold their shape and retain moisture.
• Buffalo sauce: Make sure to use Frank’s Original sauce rather than a pre-mixed wing sauce. The wing sauces often contain additives that raise the carb count. For super clean ingredients, check out the sauce from The New Primal. It’s my absolute favorite!
• Mayonnaise: I usually use an avocado oil mayo, to avoid the soybean oil. Also make sure to look for added sugar, as a few brands have them.
• Almond milk: This is the lowest carb option, and I use unsweetened and unflavored. But you can also mix a little cream and water (about half of each).
• Garlic: I prefer the flavor of fresh garlic, but you can substitute with garlic powder instead.
• Bleu cheese: This is entirely optional. If you don’t like it, simply skip it and make a ranch style sauce.
• Seasonings: Cayenne pepper, dried dill, dried parsley, salt and pepper

Step by Step Directions

1. Prepare the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cheddar cheese, almond flour, coconut flour, Buffalo sauce, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Mix thoroughly until well combined.

2. Shape the balls: Roll into 1-inch balls and place about an inch apart on two rimmed baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

3. Bake: Bake at 350ºF for about 25 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF on an instant read thermometer.

4. Prepare the sauce: Combine mayonnaise, almond milk, garlic, dill, parsley, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir well and then mix in crumbled bleu cheese.

Expert tips

Ground chicken can be very soft and quite sticky when trying to form meatballs. The added almond flour and coconut flour help to firm it up a bit, but if the mixture is sticking to your hands, try wetting them a bit while shaping the balls.

You can prep the mixture and roll into balls the night before baking them. Simply keep them covered with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. You can also freeze the meatballs after they have been baked.

Frequently Asked Questions

More delicious keto appetizer recipes

Keto Buffalo Chicken Sausage Balls

Servings: 12 servings

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are a surefire hit for all your celebrations. Juicy and flavorful, they make the perfect game day appetizer or easy keto dinner recipe! Make a double batch because they will go fast!

Bleu Cheese Ranch Dipping Sauce:

• 1/3 cup (74.67 g) mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup (78.86 ml) unsweetened almond milk, (or a mix of cream and water)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried dill
• ½ tsp dried parsley
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• ¼ cup (33.75 g) crumbled bleu cheese, or more, if desired

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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

• In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cheddar cheese, almond flour, coconut flour, Buffalo sauce, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Mix thoroughly until well combined.

• Roll into 1-inch balls and place about an inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake about 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm with dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce

• Combine mayonnaise, almond milk, garlic, dill, parsley, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir well and then mix in crumbled bleu cheese.

Storage Information: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. They also freeze very well. Arrange the cooled meatballs on a baking sheet and freeze for a couple hours. Once frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Nutritional information without the dipping sauce:
Food energy: 202kcal
Total fat: 14.02g
Carbohydrate: 3.90g
Total dietary fiber: 1.67g
Protein: 14.54g

Serving: 4balls | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.2g | Protein: 15.3g | Fat: 19.3g | Fiber: 1.7g

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