Sweet and Spicy Firecracker Chicken Meatballs

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

These Sweet and Spicy Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are the perfect combo of heat and sweetness. Juicy chicken meatballs are baked until golden, then tossed in a sticky firecracker sauce made with hot sauce, brown sugar, and a touch of apple cider vinegar. The result? Meatballs that are slightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor in every bite. Whether you’re serving them for dinner or as an appetizer, they’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and take less than 30 minutes to whip up. Trust me, you’ll be making these on repeat!

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Servings

Ingredients

2 pounds ground chicken
2 cloves garlic minced
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 large eggs
1 c Panko breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp onion powder

For the sauce:

1/2 c hot sauce
1 c light brown sugar
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 475°F and position two racks in the center of the oven. Grab two baking sheets, line them with parchment paper, and set them aside for later.
In a medium saucepan, combine the hot sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mix to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower to a simmer. Let it cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the ground chicken, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, eggs, Panko breadcrumbs, paprika, and onion powder. Make sure everything is combined well, but don’t overmix or the meatballs can become tough.
Roll the chicken mixture into meatballs, about 3 tablespoons each. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them out so they cook evenly.
Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes, or until they’re cooked through and golden.
Once the meatballs are done, dip each one into the firecracker sauce, making sure they’re coated. Place them back on the baking sheets and bake for another 2 minutes to set the glaze.
If you like, drizzle the meatballs with any extra sauce before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Making these meatballs gluten-free is super easy! Just swap out the Panko breadcrumbs for a gluten-free version, which is now available at most grocery stores. Everything else in the recipe is naturally gluten-free—ground chicken, eggs, spices, and the sauce ingredients are all safe. Just double-check your hot sauce and any seasonings to ensure they don’t have hidden gluten. With that simple breadcrumb substitution, you’ll have delicious, gluten-free firecracker meatballs that everyone can enjoy without sacrificing any of the flavor or texture.

Nutrition

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