Take the flavor from those buffalo chicken wings you love so much and transform it into this recipe for buffalo chicken meatballs and cheesy orzo!
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Cheesy Orzo
If there is one thing I love most in this world it’s buffalo chicken wings. Love them…especially as football and basketball season rolls around. The problem with chicken wings is that you need to either deep fry them, air-fry, or bake the heck out of them in order for them to come out crispy. They are also a little messy. These buffalo chicken meatballs are simple to make and so much less messy. They are also super versatile in that you can eat them in a roll, by themselves, or how I like to enjoy them: over a bed of super cheesy orzo. This recipe for buffalo chicken meatballs and cheesy orzo is one of my favorite weekend meal prep dishes. Get the recipe and some FAQs below!
What will I need to make these buffalo chicken meatballs (see recipe below for entire ingredient list)?
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 lb ground chicken
a large egg
one cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tbsp olive oil
garlic powder
onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup cayenne pepper sauce like Frank’s Red Hot
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Could I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken?
Oh yeah. Turkey is a great substitute for chicken in this recipe. I prefer chicken, but I understand that ground turkey is a lot easier to find in the grocery store…And who has the time to grind out your own chicken? Either turkey or chicken works perfectly in this recipe!
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Cheesy Orzo
Can I use reduced-fat cream cheese?
Of course you can! Use whatever creamy element you have on hand: cream cheese, reduced-fat cream cheese, sour cream, mascarpone cheese. You don’t have to get super specific with this recipe. Cream cheese is just an ingredient that I normally have on hand.
Can I use a different pasta?
Again, yes! Some great substitutions are pearl couscous and ditalini, but any short pasta will do the trick just fine. I also like to use grains instead: grain couscous, quinoa, rice. All of these are great substitutions.
Are you looking for more great chicken recipes on Cooking and Beer? Well, we have a ton of them! Check out some of my favorite chicken recipes!
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup cayenne pepper sauce like Frank's Red Hot
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Cheesy Orzo
- 8 oz uncooked orzo
- 1/4 cup cream cheese
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and black pepper to taste
Additionals
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1 cup chopped celery
Instructions
- Meatballs: Preheat the oven 425 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix all ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Roll the mixture into 1-2 tbsp-sized balls and place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.Bake the meatballs for 30 minutes or until cooked through and slightly brown. Eat immediately with buffalo sauce and cheesy orzo (below), or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Buffalo Sauce: Combine hot sauce and 2 tbsp butter in a small pan over medium-low heat. Heat until butter has melted. Remove from heat. Toss the sauce with the meatballs in a large bowl.
- Cheesy Orzo: Cook the orzo according to package's instructions. Drain. Stir in cream cheese, butter, parmesan cheese, and salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve the meatballs on a bed of cheesy orzo. Add celery and blue cheese crumbles. Enjoy!
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, and be sure to tag us if you make this dish!
