These Chicken Firecracker Meatballs are bursting with flavor, they are perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. Great for dinner or as an appetizer.
Enjoy Firecracker Meatballs for a holiday or an ordinary dinner. These ground chicken meatballs are packed with flavorful ingredients including pork rinds in place of breadcrumbs. Make these keto friendly meatballs in less than 30 minutes.
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Why This Firecracker Meatball Recipe is a Keeper
What makes this recipe great? Create a list of items: Link to other relevant IAK content and/or affiliate products when possible. The list below has some ideas but you don’t have to use all of them and you can include others that aren’t listed.
- 20 Minute Meal: Make these ground chicken meatballs in under 20 minutes.
- Party Friendly: Firecracker buffalo meatballs make for a tasty party appetizer.
- Diet: This recipe also happens to be keto friendly, perfect for those who are looking for flavor packed recipes without the carbs.
If you’re looking for more meatball recipes, try these Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole, Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs and Taco Stuffed Meatballs.
What is a firecracker sauce?
Firecracker sauce is a sweet and spicy sauce that can be used as a dip or marinade. There are many variations of this sauce, but some common ingredients include Sriracha sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, red pepper flakes, honey, and rice vinegar
Ingredient Notes for the Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
It only takes a few ingredients to make these delicious meatballs. Just a combination of ground chicken and other delicious ingredients.
- Ground Chicken: This recipe calls for ground chicken but you can also use ground pork or turkey for this fresh recipe as well.
- Pork Rinds: This recipe uses pork rinds in place of panko crumbs, if you are not keto / low-carb or do not have pork rinds, you can substitute for a cup panko breadcrumbs.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions to Make Firecracker Meatballs
Of course there are ways to make these meatballs your own. Try to add different ingredients to make the meatballs or for the sauce.
- Turkey – You can also make this recipe for firecracker buffalo meatballs with ground turkey or ground beef in place of chicken.
- Air Fryer – Cook the meatballs in the air fryer basket instead. Cook for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees.
How to Make Firecracker Chicken Meatballs Easy Appetizer
It is easy to combine the ground chicken and make these hello fresh meatballs. You can make and take out the frozen meatballs when you are ready to serve.
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These are the basic steps for making buffalo chicken meatballs . Refer to the full recipe card below for detailed instructions. You will love this recipe serve these meatballs with rice and green beans.
STEP 1: Prep
Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees f and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and cooking spray.
STEP 2: Make Meatballs Place on Baking Sheet and Bake
In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, onion, Italian seasoning, egg, garlic, pork rinds, cheese, salt, and black pepper, mixed until fully combined. Next form the meat mixture into 20 evenly sized meatballs, then place meatballs on a baking sheet. Bake meatball for 15 minutes.
STEP 3: Sauce for Flavorful Meatballs
Make the savory firecracker sauce while the meatballs are baking, stir brown sugar, hot sauce, apple cider, vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a saucepan or large skillet over medium-high heat on the stove. Bring the sauce a boil, reduce heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes.
STEP 4: Meatballs are fully Cooked and Place in Sauce
Once your firecracker sauce has cooled and thicken, use a basting brush to brush the top of the meatballs with the sauce. Broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes. Finally, serve as appetizer or along side rice and veggies. Serve with more spicy firecracker sauce on the side.
Recipe FAQs for Baked Firecracker Meatballs and Sauce Recipe
Expert Tips to Make Hello Fresh Firecracker Meatballs This Recipe
It is so easy to make your own special sauce with soy sauce or sriracha sauce to enhance the meatballs flavor. You can make a spicy sauce with some chili flakes or a drizzle of your favorite firecracker sauce. You can serve these firecracker meatballs in so many different ways.
- Double the Asian Inspired Meatballs: This is a great recipe to bring to a gathering. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking sheets before baking.
- Don’t Overcook: It is important to not over cook your meatballs, otherwise they will get really dry. Make sure that you pull them out after 15 minutes as you have to keep in mind they will be getting broiled for additional 2-3 minutes.
- Make Sauce Before: For a faster cooking process, I recommend that you make the firecracker sauce ahead of time for the meatballs.
- Serving: If serving as an appetizer, serve along with toothpicks or mini forks for guests to snack on.
- Asian Soy Sauce Flavors: Replace the sauce with one made of soy sauce, onion powder, paprika and sesame seeds and other asian inspired flavors.
What to Serve Firecracker Meatballs With
Chicken Firecracker Meatballs
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Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 pound Ground chicken
- ½ Onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- 1 Large egg
- 3 teaspoon. Minced garlic
- 1 cup Pork rind crumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ teaspoon Salt and pepper
For the sauce:
- ½ cup Swerve brown sugar substitute
- ¼ cup Hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees f.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, onion, Italian seasoning, egg, garlic, pork rinds, cheese, salt, and black pepper, mixed until fully combined.
- Next form the meatball mixture into 20 evenly sized balls, then place onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake meatball for 15 minutes.
- Make the sauce the meatballs are baking, place brown sugar, hot sauce, apple cider, vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a saucepan over medium heat on the stove.
- Bring the sauce a boil, reduce heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Then baste the meatballs with the sauce, and broil for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Christina’s Notes
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe to bring to a gathering. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking sheets before baking.
- Don’t Overcook: It is important to not over cook your meatballs, otherwise they will get really dry. Make sure that you pull them out after 15 minutes as you have to keep in mind they will be getting broiled for additional 2-3 minutes.
- Make Sauce Before: For a faster cooking process, I recommend that you make the firecracker sauce ahead of time.
- Serving: If serving as an appetizer, serve along with toothpicks or mini forks for guests to snack on.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.