Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Meatballs

These super easy slow cooker firecracker chicken meatballs are the perfect blend of spicy and sweet. They make a great appetizer or main dish! Perfect for holiday parties and meal-prep.

If you love easy appetizers, then you need to try my Italian pinwheels and my easy BLT dip!

closeup of Crockpot Firecracker Chicken Meatballs on a white plate | chefsavvy.com

Why This Recipe Is So Good

These slow cooker firecracker chicken meatballs are one of my favorite meatball recipes to make. I added a sweet and spicy twist to these meatballs and cooked them low and slow in the slow cooker.

This is a perfect make-ahead appetizer or dinner. You can toss them in the sauce and throw in a crock pot to keep warm or make the meatballs in advance and freeze any leftovers.

These chicken meatballs are simmered in a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce. I use equal parts buffalo sauce and brown sugar with a splash of soy sauce. Its the perfect combination of sweet and spicy!

Do you love firecracker sauce? Then try my firecracker baked chicken and my firecracker salmon!

Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Meatballs inside the crock pot with a wooden spoon | chefsavvy.com

Key Ingredients

  • Ground Chicken: I prefer ground chicken for this recipe, but you could also use ground turkey, ground pork, or even lean ground beef.
  • Garlic: I prefer to use garlic in the meatballs rather than in the sauce so that it permeates the chicken thoroughly and you get a taste of it in every bite.
  • Firecracker Sauce: You only need to make your own restaurant-quality firecracker sauce at home — buffalo sauce, brown sugar, and soy sauce. It’s tangy, sweet, and packed with some heat.

Firecracker Chicken Meatballs uncooked on a baking sheet | chefsavvy.com

How To Make Them

  • In a large bowl combine chicken, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic and parsley. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
  • Form into meatballs. I made about 2 dozen meatballs.
  • Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with foil. Spray with a bit of cooking spray.
  • Brown meatballs under the broiler (I use the high setting) until browned. About 6 minutes on each side. Flip half way through.
  • Place meatballs in the slow cooker and add in the buffalo sauce, brown sugar and soy sauce.
  • Cook on low for 2 hours or until cooked through.
  • Serve warm with chopped parsley and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired!

Serving Suggestions

They make an awesome appetizer or can be served as a main course. If you serve these as an appetizer I like to make the meatballs a bit smaller. This makes them easier to eat and serves more people! I also like to serve these meatballs for dinner with a side of mashed potatoes, zucchini noodle stir fry, or roasted veggies.

closeup of Crockpot Firecracker Chicken Meatballs on a white plate | chefsavvy.com

Storage Instructions

  • Store cooled, leftover firecracker chicken meatballs in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store any leftover sauce in a separate container.
  • Freeze cooked, cooled chicken meatballs in an airtight, freezer-safe container or plastic bag for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat from chilled in the microwave or in a skillet until warmed through. Be careful not to dry out. You can reheat from frozen in the microwave, but I recommend letting them thaw first.

More Meatball Recipes To Try

Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Meatballs

5 from 5 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Super Easy Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Meatballs. The perfect blend of spicy and sweet! They make a great appetizer or main dish!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground chicken
  • 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper

Firecracker Sauce

  • 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

For Serving

  • chopped parsley for serving if desired
  • crushed red pepper flakes for serving if desired

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine chicken, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic and parsley. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
  • Form into meatballs. I made about 2 dozen meatballs.
  • Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with foil. Spray with a bit of cooking spray.
  • Brown meatballs under the broiler (I use the high setting) until browned. About 6 minutes on each side. Flip half way through.
  • Place meatballs in the slow cooker and add in the buffalo sauce, brown sugar and soy sauce.
  • Cook on low for 2 hours. Serve warm with chopped parsley and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired!
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
Amount per Serving
Calories
375
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
185
mg
62
%
Sodium
 
1176
mg
51
%
Potassium
 
892
mg
25
%
Carbohydrates
 
30
g
10
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
19
g
21
%
Protein
 
31
g
62
%
Vitamin A
 
135
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
 
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
 
63
mg
6
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Appetizer, Asian Turkey Meatballs, chicken, firecracker chicken meatballs, Firecracker Sauce, Slow Cooker

 

 

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Recipe Rating




Comments - page 1/2

  • Sarah

    These look amazing but we don’t have buffalo sauce here in Ireland. Do you have any ideas for an alternative sauce that would work with these?

    • Hi Sarah!

      You can make your own buffalo sauce at home with hot sauce and butter!

      Thanks!

      Kelley

    • Carrie

      Frank’s Red Hot Sauce would be perfect for this.

    • Yes you can! I like to use lean ground beef. You can even use a mix of ground beef and pork or even ground turkey!

      Thanks!

      Kelley

  • Jennifer Leonard

    The meatballs are ok at the most. But the sauce is one of the best!!! Will try to reconfigure out a better meat for this receipt.

  • Vicky Bryant

    This is a great recipe!! Different than the normal crockpot meatball. I made mine stovetop. Keeper!!

  • Tanna J.

    Omg I made these yesterday! I used frozen turkey meatballs and doubled the sauce because we like saucy meatballs. These were sooooo yummy! I also used Splenda sugar. Wow! We loved this! We ate the meatballs with a side of smashed cauliflower.

    • Elizabeth

      How did you go about cooking frozen turkey meatballs with this recipe? I have already cooked frozen turkey meatballs that I want to use. Thanks!

  • JP

    I’m never good at guessing how much salt and pepper to use when the instructions don’t tell me specifically how much should be in the recipe. Since the salt and pepper are being added to raw meat here, there isn’t any way to season to taste.

    Can you give me a ball park amount to start with, for each, so that my first attempt at this recipe isn’t too bland to be enjoyed?

  • Colleen

    If I double this recipe, does it need to cook longer in the slow cooker? Thanks!

    • Hi Colleen,

      No this should not take much longer with double the meatballs. I would just check them after 2 hours.

      Thanks!

      Kelley

    • Hi Melissa,

      Yes you could cook them on low for 6 hours and keep warm for two.

      Thanks!

      Kelley

  • Aly

    Was wondering what kind of ground chicken you used – was curious when checking out the nutritional information – I used lean. By the way these are THE BEST meatballs I’ve ever had! Eat them as a main course, on a sandwich, just to pick .. delicious!!! Thanks for the reciepe!

    • Hi Aly!

      I used lean ground chicken as well! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed these. Thanks so much for sharing!!

      Kelley

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