Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Buffalo chicken is a popular phrase around my house, we love chicken, we love hot sauces, we love funky cheese, so buffalo chicken is a really natural fit. I've experimented with it on pizza's, on sandwiches and even pasta, we've ordered it out a time or two and its a flavor combination that can truly stand the test of time. Man meat and myself love heat, you see he has not only sweet teeth, but spicy teeth as well. He LOVES all things hot and spicy, to the extremest of extremes. He buys sign-a-waver hot sauces and often complains that no one can keep up with his hot-tooth. Myself, well I do love my spice but I'm more into the weenie-hut spice level. I adore franks red hot, I use it like any one would use ketchup and buffalo chicken is usually an easy to tolerate heat level. If I venture out too far beyond Tabasco, well I'm down and out with heart burn for a week. No thank you. So when I make curry and other spicy meals at home I really try to find a happy medium, my hottest hot and somewhat hot-ish for Stephen. Since the kids won't even consider trying it, there's no use in going totally mild. It took me a few years but eventually I grew a pair, and I started dabbling in the world of heat. This recipe is a great one, Its a combo of concepts, meatballs meets buffalo ... balls? Spicy chicken balls with funky cheese, its a great snack or supper. 

Buffalo chicken is a naturally mild-ish spicy dish, its an easy win that we both love. Although it is still a salty-bloaty food, the heartburn doesn't knock me out into a food coma. In the past year there has been a huge rage around meatballs, the meatball shop has been featured on every food show imaginable from Unique Eats, to The Martha Stewart show's meatball episode. This recipe was loosely based on the recipe from the guys at the meatball shop. I really twisted the recipe up a bit, I made them without bread crumbs or butter, and I loaded them with gorgonzola cheese, I  served them topped with ranch dressing, green onions and celery seed. Without bread crumbs to hold in the goo they oozed in the oven, although it may look and sound somewhat unappealing, the ooze made for a great flavorful cheesy, hot sauce. 

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs:

I made these without breadcrumbs, it made them fairly moist and less easy to shape, and they oozed in the oven. I'm watching my "white food" intake, if you are not by all means add those bread crumbs.

Original Recipe Idea- The Martha Stewart Show, The Meatball Shop

Mini Spicy Buffalo Chicken Balls with Blue Cheese and Hot sauce 

1 pound ground chicken or turkey

2 cloves minced garlic

3-4 tablespoons blue cheese

1 egg

1/4 cup franks redhot sauce

3/4 cup bread crumbs (optional, but easier to handle and bake)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine ingredients and shape into same sized balls. (I used a cookie scoop) Place on a baking dish. Roast for 15-20 minutes or until the temperature reads 165 degrees. ( I usually go for 155-160 degrees)

Allow to cool slightly. Top with additional hot sauce, ranch dressing, green onions and celery seed. Can be served with bread, rice, or alone as an appetizer. 

Garnish with-

ranch or blue cheese dressing

1/4 cup of Additional Hot sauce

sliced green onion

celery seed