These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs take ground chicken, season it with Cattleman’s carne asada blend, then smoke or bake them until juicy and golden brown. A final toss in honey‑habanero wing sauce brings sticky sweetness with just enough heat.
Honey‑Habanero Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Tom Jackson
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Category
Appetizer
Cuisine
American
Servings
8
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Calories
393
Perfect for game day or backyard gatherings, this recipe uses ATBBQ's pitmaster flair to deliver bold, smoky flavor in every bite. Simple, shareable, and unforgettable—these meatballs deliver wings-like character without the fuss.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Ground Chicken
-
Cattleman's Grill Carne Asada Seasoning
-
Bone Suckin' Honey & Habanero Wing Sauce
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
Directions
Mix & Form Meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, eggs, and panko until the mixture holds together.
- Form into roughly 1½″ balls—aim for uniform sizing.
- Lightly sift Carne Asada seasoning over meatballs.
Smoke or Bake Meatballs
- Preheat your Yoder Smoker (or oven) to 350 °F, setting up for indirect grilling.
- Place meatballs on an oiled baking sheet or FrogMats over the grates.
- Smoke or bake until internal temp reaches 160 °F (about 30 minutes).
Rest & Toss in Sauce
- Let meatballs rest 5 minutes off heat.
- Place 8–10 meatballs at a time into a bowl with honey-habanero wing sauce.
- Toss thoroughly, then let sit a few minutes before plating. Repeat until all are coated
Serve Hot
Serve immediately, either sauced or alongside extra wing sauce for dipping. Great with blue cheese or ranch.
Recipe Note
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Carne asada charisma meets Buffalo wings—grilled meatballs rub down with Cattleman’s seasoning before coating in sweet‑heat sauce.
Juicy, tender inside—two eggs and panko gently bind the meat for perfect texture.
Easy BBQ workflow—indirect grilling on a Yoder smoker or oven bake at 350 °F; hot sauce coating rounds it out.
Crowd-pleaser crowd control—hand-sized bites that hold up well for parties or served hot from the smoker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cook these indoors?
We rate these as a 3 out of 5. Works indoors with adjustments, but the grill is recommended.
What if I don’t have honey‑habanero sauce?
You can substitute any buffalo-style wing sauce or mix hot sauce with honey and melted butter.
How do I know when meatballs are done?
Use an instant-read thermometer and pull them at 160°F, then let them rest before saucing.
Can I make these in advance?
Yes—meatballs can be smoked or baked ahead, cooled, then tossed in sauce just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition
- Serving Size
- 7.1 oz
- per serving
- Calories
- 393
- Carbs
- 10 grams
- Protein
- 52 grams
- Fat
- 14 grams
- Sodium
- 743 milligrams
