Crock Pot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs
Crock Pot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs deliver juicy, tender turkey meatballs simmered in a rich, tangy buffalo sauce. This slow-cooked recipe offers an effortless, flavorful meal perfect for weeknights, parties, or game day. Lean turkey keeps it healthy while bold buffalo flavors and a silky buttery sauce create an irresistible, spicy punch everyone will love.
- Author: Mary
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours (low) or 2 to 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 5 hours (approximate, including prep and cook time)
- Yield: About 24 meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Meatball Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs (use gluten-free if desired)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Buffalo Sauce
- 3/4 cup buffalo hot sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until all ingredients are just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- Shape the Meatballs: Using your hands or a small scoop, form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter to ensure even cooking and perfect bite-sized portions.
- Brown the Meatballs (Optional but Recommended): For extra flavor and firmer texture, quickly brown the meatballs in a skillet with a little oil over medium heat until lightly crusted. This step can be skipped if short on time.
- Mix the Buffalo Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buffalo hot sauce and melted butter until smooth, creating a rich, buttery sauce to coat the meatballs.
- Combine in Crock Pot: Place the meatballs in the slow cooker and pour the buffalo butter sauce over them, making sure each meatball is evenly coated in sauce.
- Cook Slowly: Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours, allowing the meatballs to absorb the sauce and become incredibly tender.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the turkey mixture to maintain tender, juicy meatballs.
- Browning the meatballs before slow cooking enhances flavor and texture.
- Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce and butter to control spiciness and sauce thickness.
- Use fresh or well-stored garlic and onion powder for brighter flavor.
- Keep meatballs uniform in size for even cooking and optimal texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: buffalo turkey meatballs, crock pot meatballs, slow cooker buffalo meatballs, lean turkey recipe, game day appetizer, healthy buffalo meatballs, spicy meatballs, gluten free meatballs