Perfect for game day or other get-to-togethers, these Honey BBQ Chicken meatballs are everything you love about chicken wings with no mess!
BBQ Chicken Meatballs
I know, let’s make an appetizer that has all the great things we love about chicken wings – sticky sauce, flavorful chicken, and some kind of dipping sauce – but do it in a way that doesn’t leave our hands, faces, clothes, and couches stained with all of those things that we love about them.
Sound good?
So put the wet naps away because these honey BBQ chicken meatballs will save your clothes, your couch, and maybe your ego. Don’t we all have fears of being that person with chicken wing sauce smeared on our face? Only to discover it, much later at home, long after the party, and then spend the next five years agonizing over the embarrassment and the recurring thought of “why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Seriously, let’s do everyone a favor and make these equally-as-delicious-yet-so-much-easier-to-eat tasty bites.
Please.
Some Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground chicken
- Things to make the meatballs like an egg, bread crumbs, onions, and garlic.
- Jarred BBQ sauce. I used Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce and doctored it up with some honey and lemon.
- Ranch dressing for dipping!
These little BBQ chicken meatball bites are addictive!
More Appetizer Ideas
Deviled Eggs with Bacon & Chives
Apple & Sage Pork Sausage Rolls
Print
Honey BBQ Chicken Meatballs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 25 meatballs 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
All the things you love about BBQ chicken wings, but meatball style!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (see note)
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup ranch dressing, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the egg, 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the ground chicken and mix until just combined. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the chicken mixture to form each meatball.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides. Depending on the size of your pan you may need to do this in batches. Once browned all over remove the meatballs and set aside.
- In the same pan, pour in the BBQ sauce and bring to a boil. Scrape up all the brown bits on the bottom of the pan using a spatula or wooden spoon. Add the lemon juice and honey. Stir the sauce and let it cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce and gently roll them around to get them fully coated. Let them cook a few more minutes just until they are cooked through (you can always cut into one to make sure it’s not pink inside). Serve them with ranch dressing on the side.
Notes
I used Stubb’s Original BBQ sauce, which I think can be found at most grocery stores.[br][br]My favorite ranch dressing is called Marzetti Simply Dressed Dressing, which is in the produce department near the bagged lettuce.
Nutrition estimates do not include the ranch dressing for serving.
- Category: Appetizers
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 260
- Fat: 10.6g
- Carbohydrates: 26.9g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Protein: 14.8g
Chelsea says
July 12, 2018 at 10:31 pmMade these for dinner! My husband and toddler loved them. A good recipe for picky eaters and my husbands dairy free diet 😊 delicious!
April says
July 13, 2018 at 5:48 amYay! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Cheyanne says
March 17, 2015 at 5:36 pmLooks fantastic… genius idea of combining meatballs with BBQ! ♡
Sarah Fuller says
January 31, 2015 at 6:14 pmLooks like the perfect nibbles for a Superbowl Party. Hopping over from SITS.
★★★★★
April says
February 1, 2015 at 4:12 pmThanks for stopping by, Sarah!
MCM Mama says
January 31, 2015 at 10:57 amOh wow, these sound amazing! My kids love meatballs and barbecue, so I think this might be a new main dish in our house.
LoveCompassionateLee says
January 29, 2015 at 11:23 pmThis recipe looks like the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and juicy. Perfect for Super Bowl Sunday…thank you and happy Thursday 🙂
http://www.lovecompassionatelee.com/
★★★★★
Agness says
January 28, 2015 at 5:45 amI’m in a food heaven! Omomomo! Absolutely loooove it!!
★★★★★
[email protected] says
January 27, 2015 at 8:54 amI’m in!! Such a perfect appetizer! All that flavor without the mess! Love it!
★★★★★
mymansbelly says
January 26, 2015 at 2:56 pmLove the idea that these eliminate the mess of chicken wings!
Keri says
January 26, 2015 at 11:52 amWhat a quick a great recipe for the super bowl! I love how easy and mess free they are!
Kelley @ Chef Savvy says
January 26, 2015 at 10:08 amThese look amazing perfect for superbowl! Love that they are boneless, not messy and easy to pop into your mouth! Looks great!