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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Dips

    Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

    Published: Nov 26, 2021 · Modified: Dec 14, 2021 by Kelsey Smith

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    Jump to Recipe

    Buffalo turkey meatballs are a tasty appetizer with tons of flavor. They are oven-baked and coated in homemade buffalo sauce.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Buffalo turkey meatballs garnished with fresh parsley on a small plate with a small dish of ranch.

    Baked turkey meatballs are a great hors d'oeuvre when entertaining. They are low-carb, making it an excellent keto appetizer idea. Turkey is a rich source of protein.

    These meatballs can be served with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping. For a delicious homemade ranch, try avocado lime ranch dressing.

    If you're looking for more buffalo recipes, try these buffalo chicken thighs or this Instant Pot buffalo chicken dip.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Mild Version
    • Top Tip
    • Equipment
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    You will be familiar with all of these ingredients.

    Buffalo turkey meatball ingredients:lean ground turkey, bread crumbs, minced onion, grated parmesan, fresh parsley, egg, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, ground black pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, olive oil, butter, hot sauce, garlic powder.

    For the meatballs:

    • lean ground turkey
    • bread crumbs
    • onion
    • grated parmesan cheese (shaker cheese)
    • fresh parsley
    • egg
    • garlic
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • salt
    • ground black pepper
    • dried basil
    • dried oregano
    • olive oil

    For the buffalo sauce:

    • butter
    • hot sauce (like Frank's RedHot Original)
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • garlic powder

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a wire rack with nonstick cooking spray and set it onto a rimmed baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.

    A wire rack on a baking tray that is covered in foil.

    In a large bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients except the olive oil.

    Lean ground turkey, bread crumbs, minced onion, grated parmesan, fresh parsley, egg, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, ground black pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano in a large mixing bowl.

    Using your hands, mix until fully combined. Shape the mixture into 1-½ inch balls, rolling the raw meat between your palms to create the meatballs. There will be about 20 meatballs.

    Raw turkey meatballs on a wire rack on a baking tray that is covered in foil.
    Don't let the meatballs touch, it could affect the cook time.

    Arrange meatballs on the wire rack and brush with olive oil.

    Tip: If you don't have a basting brush, you can use paper towels or your fingers for even coating.

    A silicone basting brush is being used to cover raw turkey meatballs with olive oil. The meatballs are on a wire rack on a baking tray that is covered in foil.
    Coat evenly with olive oil.

    Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the meatballs reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.

    Baked turkey meatballs on a wire rack on a baking tray that is covered in foil.
    This is what the meatballs will look like when they are done baking.

    Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the butter on medium-low heat. Once melted, whisk in the hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder, until combined. Keep warm on low heat until the meatballs are ready.

    Tip: Do not heat the buffalo sauce mixture on high heat. This can cause the butter in the sauce to split from the hot sauce.

    Cooked buffalo turkey meatballs in a saucepan that has buffalo sauce in it. A silicone basting brush is being used to coat the meatballs in sauce.
    Add the meatballs to the sauce pan in small batches to coat in sauce.

    When the meatballs are done, coat the meatballs in sauce either in the saucepan or using a basting brush to brush the sauce over top, rotating the meatballs until they are evenly coated.

    Food safety tip: If you reuse your basting brush, wash it after it comes into contact with raw meat before using it on the cooked meatballs.

    Buffalo turkey meatballs garnished with fresh parsley on a small plate with a small dish of ranch. The meatballs are drizzled in ranch.
    Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing.

    Garnish with parsley and serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional).

    Mild Version

    To make the sauce mild:

    • Use half the amount of hot sauce
    • Add 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce from a can

    Canned tomato sauce can be found on the same aisle as diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes.

    Buffalo turkey meatballs being held up on a toothpick. There is a plate of buffalo turkey meatballs in the background.

    Top Tip

    Baking the meatballs on the wire rack helps the meatballs hold their round shape instead of developing a flat bottom.

    Equipment

    • Baking sheet: You will want a rimmed baking sheet.
    • Wire rack: This helps keep the meatballs round while baking.
    • Aluminum foil: Foil makes for easy cleanup.
    • Large mixing bowl: You need a mixing bowl to mix the meat.
    • Basting brush: To coat the meatballs in olive oil and buffalo sauce.
    • Small sauce pan: For making the buffalo sauce.

    📖 Recipe

    Close up of buffalo turkey meatballs garnished with fresh parsley on a small plate with a small dish of ranch.
    Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Email Print

    Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

    Buffalo turkey meatballs are a tasty appetizer with tons of flavor. They are oven-baked and coated in homemade buffalo sauce.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Recipe by: Kelsey Smith
    Prep time: 20 minutes
    Cook time: 20 minutes
    Total time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 20 meatballs

    Equipment

    • Baking sheet
    • Wire rack
    • Aluminum foil
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Basting brush
    • Small sauce pan

    Ingredients
      

    For the meatballs

    • 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
    • ½ cup bread crumbs
    • ⅓ cup onion minced
    • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1-½ tablespoons olive oil

    For the buffalo sauce

    • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
    • ¼ cup hot sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a wire rack with nonstick cooking spray and set it onto a rimmed baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
    • In a large bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients except the olive oil.
    • Using your hands, mix until fully combined. Shape the mixture into 1-½ inch balls. There will be about 20 meatballs.
    • Arrange meatballs on the wire rack and brush with olive oil.
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the meatballs reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
    • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the butter on medium-low heat. Once melted, whisk in the hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder, until combined. Keep warm on low heat until the meatballs are ready.
    • When the meatballs are done, coat the meatballs in sauce either in the saucepan or using a basting brush to brush the sauce over top, rotating the meatballs until they are evenly coated.
    • Garnish with parsley and serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional).

    Notes

    Make the buffalo sauce on medium-low heat. Heating it at a temperature that is too hot will cause the sauce to split.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 77kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 206mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 147IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: turkey
    Tried this recipe?Rate it to let me know how it was!

    Food safety

    Food safety is always important, especially when working with raw meat.

    • Cook the meatballs to a minimum intenral temperature of 165°F (74°C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Buffalo Turkey MeatballsBuffalo Turkey MeatballsBuffalo Turkey Meatballs

    More Appetizers & Dips

    • Tofu Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
    • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
    • 48 Game Day Recipes for the Instant Pot and Slow Cooker

    About Kelsey Smith

    I am a freelance content writer for college-level textbooks by day, mommy by night, and a blogger in between. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, Xavier. When I'm not working on college textbooks, you might find me here, sharing recipes, social media tutorials, and more.

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    Hi, I'm Kelsey! I am a freelance content writer for college-level textbooks by day, mommy by night, and a blogger in between. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, Xavier. When I'm not working, you might find me here, sharing easy comfort food recipes.

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