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A plate filled with buffalo turkey meatballs with a side of ranch and toothpicks also sitting on the plate.

Crockpot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs (Gluten Free, Whole30)

Kaleena Martinez
These Crockpot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs are a delicious and healthy twist on the classic buffalo chicken and are a tasty appetizer for football Sundays or any big game.
4.82 from 11 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground turkey I use 97/3
  • 1 egg
  • 1 celery stalk diced
  • ¼ cup onion diced
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups hot sauce (1 ½ cups will be used while cooking and ½ cup will be used after they are cooked) I use Frank's Original Hot Sauce

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

  • Crockpot
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Cutting board
  • Knife

Instructions
 

  • Dice the celery and onion
  • Add the celery, onion, ground turkey, egg, almond flour, and seasonings to a large mixing bowl and combine. Make sure not to over mix or the meatballs will get tough.
  • Using your hands, roll the mixture into one inch balls and place in the bottom of your crockpot
  • Cover the meatballs with 1 and ½ cups of hot sauce and cook for 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low
  • When the meatballs are done cooking, use a spoon to skim the fat off the top of the sauce
  • Add the meatballs to a plate and pour the remaining ½ cup of hot sauce on top

Notes

Substitutions
Ground turkey- I like to use lean ground turkey (usually 97/3). You can use lean ground chicken if you don't have ground turkey. Note: If you use 99% ground turkey or ground chicken your meatballs might be slightly dry. Having a little extra fat helps keep them from drying out. You can also make this with ground beef if you don't have turkey or chicken.
Hot sauce- I love using Frank's Red Hot Sauce but you can use whatever brand you like or bottled buffalo sauce like Frank's Buffalo Sauce or Primal Kitchen's Buffalo Sauce. Any buffalo wing sauce will work, just make sure to read your labels if you want to keep this a Whole30 or Paleo friendly recipe.
Almond flour- You can substitute gluten free breadcrumbs or gluten free panko breadcrumbs. I have not tried this recipe with any other gluten free flour but I would suggest sticking with almond flour, breadcrumbs, or panko. Note: if you substitute gluten free breadcrumbs or gluten free panko then this recipe will no longer be Whole30 or Paleo.
Onion- I like to use yellow onion but you can use red onion or even green onions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep meatballs from sticking to my hands?
I like to keep a small bowl of water next to me while rolling the meatballs so I can easily dip my fingers in the water to keep the meat from sticking to my hands.
Why are my turkey meatballs rubbery?
If you overwork the meatball mixture then your meatballs will be rubbery. You want to combine the ground turkey with the other ingredients gently.
Tips and notes
The meat mixture will be sticky so I like to keep a small bowl of water next to me while I'm rolling the meatballs. I dip my fingers in the water to help me have clean hands and keeping your fingers wet will help prevent the meatball mixture from sticking to your hands.
When the meatballs are done cooking there will be a layer of fat on the top of the sauce/meatballs. I use a spoon to skim as much of the fat off the top as I can before adding extra hot sauce for serving.
What to serve with
These easy buffalo turkey meatballs are great on their own, or here are some ways you can serve them.
    • Serve with a side of ranch, celery sticks, and carrot sticks.
    • Serve with a side of blue cheese dressing or blue cheese crumbles (serving with blue cheese dressing or crumbles will make this not Whole30 or Paleo).
    • Add to a fresh salad and top with ranch dressing.
    • Serve with a side of rice and veggies for an easy weeknight dinner.
Serving and reheating
You can store these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
I usually reheat these in the microwave and they still taste great! You can also reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 41gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 2403mgPotassium: 624mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 249IUVitamin C: 61mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 3mg

*nutrition information is an approximate

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