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buffalo turkey meat balls with sauce, stacked on a plate

Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

Gina Dickson
Buffalo Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are the perfect quick snack or appetizer that you can make ahead and freeze in large batches. Then when you need a quick party snack just place them in your air fryer and bake. Sauce them up mild, medium, or extra hot.

Note:

Be sure to read through the recipe's post for tips and details about this recipe. To save you ink, video and equipment images will not print.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Course Appitizer
Cuisine American
Servings 30 meatballs
Calories 32 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 15 saltine crackers finely crumbled
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup green onion chopped small, green and white part
  • 1/2 cup celery chopped very small
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce Not wing sauce

Topping sauce

  • 1/3 cup hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons ranch dressing

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Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
  • Place ground turkey in your kitchen aid bowl or a large mixing bowl if you would like to mix them by hand. Mix the meat together for about 30 seconds. Note* For best results start with chilled lean turkey.
  • Crumble the crackers in your hands adding them into the bowl of turkey ground meat. Mix them in for a few seconds.
  • Next, add 1 egg. Mix for 30 seconds
  • Add green onions, celery, garlic powder salt pepper, and hot sauce. Mix until everything is well incorporated, about 30 seconds.
  • Using a 1 inch cookie scoop pull out even size balls of the meat mixture. Roll them in your hands and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Continue until all the meat mixture is gone.
  • At this point, you can freeze the meatballs to bake in your air fryer later or bake them right away.
  • Place half of the meatballs in your air fryer basket. Bake for 5 minutes and then turn meatballs over and bake for another five minutes. Check that they have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees on the inside. If they are not 165 degrees return to the air fryer and bake two more minutes and check again. They should be golden brown. *Note cook time may vary with ovens.
  • When the meatballs are done place them into a large bowl and drizzle the buffalo sauce over them. Toss until coated well or stir with a large spoon until coated. Serve warm.

Buffalo sauce

  • Place 2 tablespoons of real butter in a small mixing bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds or until butter is completely melted.
  • Add the hot sauce and 1 tablespoon of ranch dressing and stir well. Set aside for when the meatballs are done.

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Video

Notes

Tip: For mess-free clean-up on your hands use disposable surgical gloves. Give them a quick spritz of cooking spray on the outside so the meat mixture will not stick to them. When finished pull them off inside out and throw them in the trash.
How to freeze meatballs
This is an easy meatball recipe that can be frozen raw and then baked in your air fryer just before a big party or to make a quick dinner. Having snacks like these meatballs is a great idea during the busy holiday season.
  • Using a 1-inch cookie scooper, place a ball of meat mixture into your and roll into a ball. Place it on the parchment paper. When you have all the turkey balls rolled, place the cookie sheet into the freezer. Allow freezing for 24 hours.
  • Next, remove frozen turkey balls from the cookie sheet and place meatballs in a freezer bag. Be sure the bag is labeled and dated. They will remain fresh in your freezer for up to 6 months.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 171mgPotassium: 65mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 38IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
Appitizer
American
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