Buffalo Chicken Meatball Recipe

It is hard to believe that today is July 1st. Where on earth has 2013 gone? While the heat of July isn't one of my favorite things of the year, I love 4th of July celebrations. Spending a day on the boat or at the beach with friends and family, eating and drinking way too much, all followed by fireworks. What could be better?

One of my favorite things to eat at a picnic is buffalo wings but I hate when they get cold. I cannot stand cold fried chicken (or cold pizza for that matter). When I first tried Pretzel Crisps new Buffalo Wing flavor, I knew I wanted to make something with it. My first attempt was baked fried chicken with the pretzels instead of bread crumbs. It was good, but not what I was looking for. Then it hit me - buffalo chicken meatballs!

These were so much healthier than chicken wings and still gives you the flavor you love blowing your diet on. They are super easy to make too and boy approved. You use the flavored Pretzel Crisps instead of bread crumbs. You can technically do this with any of their flavors.

Ingredients
Preheat oven to 450

Vegetable Spray
3/4 cup finely ground Pretzel Crisps Buffalo Wing
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/3 cup hot sauce
1 pound ground chicken, I used chicken breast
1 large egg
1 stalk celery minced

• Finely grind up the pretzels in a food processor or blender. Set aside. 
• Melt the butter on med-low heat and add the hot sauce. Stir well and set aside to cool.
• Add the chicken, egg, celery, pretzels and hot sauce mixture in a large bowl. 
• Mix and roll into medium size meatballs. 
• Lightly coat a baking pan with vegetable spray. Place meatballs on the pan and lightly coat their top with the vegetable spray.

Bake for 15 minutes, flip with a metal spatula and bake for 10 additional minutes. Serve with ranch and celery. I was out of ranch and needed something to dip them in, so I used honey Greek yogurt, which was VERY good as odd as it sounds. You can top the meatballs with additional buffalo wing sauce if needed (mine were spicy enough without).

I will be making these again!

What do you like to eat at 4th of July festivities?