For those following a ketogenic or low-carb lifestyle, finding satisfying and flavorful recipes can sometimes be a challenge. Chicken, a versatile and protein-rich ingredient, can be transformed into a variety of delicious keto-friendly dishes. This article explores two exciting recipes: Keto Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls and Keto Chicken Meatballs, offering both as appetizers, snacks, or main courses.
Keto Buffalo Chicken Cheese Ball
This recipe combines the flavors of buffalo chicken wings with the creamy texture of a cheese ball, creating a crowd-pleasing appetizer with minimal carbs. A keto buffalo chicken cheese ball is covered in bacon and absolutely delicious! Perfect for a low carb appetizer or just a high protein snack. This bacon cheese ball is great with low carb crackers or with raw veggies. The whole cheeseball has less than 10g net carbs! It is high protein with a whopping 4.6 grams of protein per tablespoon.
Ingredients
- Cooked Chopped Chicken: Rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken or canned chicken.
- Cream Cheese: Full fat cream cheese is recommended.
- Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar cheese goes best with this recipe but you could use a Mexican cheese blend or Monterey Pepper jack if you want.
- Hot Sauce & Jalapeno Pepper: Buffalo hot sauce or wing sauce. Jalapeno pepper for flavor and not heat because of the hot sauce.
- Chives: Finely chopped chives (or green onion).
- Bacon: Cooked bacon, crumbled.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Bacon: Make the bacon anyway you want. Once nice and crispy, let cool then crumble into bacon bits. Pour them into a bowl and set aside.
- Combine Ingredients: Get out a large mixing bowl and add the softened cream cheese and cooked chopped chicken. Use a large fork and mix the chicken into the softened cream cheese as best as you can. Then add the cheddar cheese, hot sauce, jalapeno and chives. Mix well so everything is incorporated.
- Form the Cheese Ball: Get out a large piece of plastic wrap and scoop the cheese mixture onto it. Wrap up and form into a cheese ball. You an also use your hands but it's messy.
- Coat with Bacon: Put the ball into the bowl with the bacon bits and roll it around to coat the whole ball with bacon.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate until ready to eat. Serve with low carb crackers or celery sticks and raw veggies.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this cheeseball with low carb crackers (like Mary’s Gone Crackers) or with raw vegetables like celery sticks. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Variations and Tips
- For a spicier cheese ball, leave some seeds in the jalapeno pepper.
- If you don’t like bacon, cover the cheeseball with chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans.
- Instead of cheddar cheese, use a Mexican cheese blend or Monterey Pepper jack for a different flavor profile.
Keto Chicken Meatballs
These meatballs are incredibly easy to make with just 4 ingredients + spices, a large mixing bowl, and a baking sheet! Easy to make, easy to freeze, and delicious to eat. These juicy flavor bombs pair perfectly with any sauce. Oven-baked for a mess-free, crispy finish with minimal cleanup. Plus, they’re kid-friendly (basically a chicken nugget!), gluten-free, full of protein, and have ZERO carbs.
Ingredients
- Ground Chicken: Plain ground chicken rather than a pre-seasoned variety
- Egg: 1 large egg
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Olive Oil: 1-1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- Spices: 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup fresh parsley
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, then spray with avocado oil spray.
- Combine Ingredients: Add ground chicken, parmesan cheese, egg, oil, Worcestershire sauce, fresh parsley and spices to a large bowl and using your hands, mix well until everything is well incorporated.
- Form the Meatballs: Using a large spoon or a scooper, portion out your meatballs and place them on your baking sheet. You should get approximately 28-30 meatballs.
- Bake:Bake the meatballs for 30 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container refrigerated for at least 5 days, or frozen for at least 6 months.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Variations and Tips
- Pork Rind Panko: To keep these low-carb and gluten-free, I love using pork rind panko. You could also use regular or gluten-free bread crumbs, almond flour, or regular or gluten-free panko bread crumbs.
- Freezing from Raw (my preferred method): Form the meatballs, line them on a baking sheet, spray them with avocado oil spray, and then freeze uncovered on that baking sheet. Once fully frozen, transfer the frozen meatballs to a freezer container or ziploc bag.
- Freezing from Cooked: After the meatballs have baked and cooled completely, transfer them to a freezer container or ziploc bag.
Additional Tips for Keto Chicken Meatballs
- Try to form your Keto Chicken Meatballs to be all the same size so that they all cook evenly in the oven.
- These Keto Chicken Meatballs freeze beautifully so it’s very easy to always have these on hand to add into your favorite recipes. Simply let your baked meatballs cool from the oven, line them up on a clean cookie sheet and freeze them for about 30 minutes before moving them to a plastic zip top freezer bag.
Keto Chicken Fritters
These easy Chicken Fritters are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with savory flavor. Made with keto-friendly ingredients, they come together quickly for a delicious low carb meal or appetizer. These keto chicken fritters have been insanely popular from the moment I hit publish. And it’s not hard to see why. They’re made with simple, wholesome ingredients. And the cheddar melts into the fritters as they cook, creating a crispy golden crust and a tender, cheesy interior. It’s easily one of my most popular keto appetizer recipes.
Ingredients
- Ground chicken
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Almond flour
- Egg
- Garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Combine the ingredients: Combine the chicken, cheddar, almond flour, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix with your hands to make it all nicely uniform.
- Form the patties: Use about 2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time and form into small patties about 2 ½ to 3 inches across.
- Cook the patties: Heat the oil or butter in a large skillet and add butter.
- Drain: Place the patties on a paper towel lined plate to drain off any residual oil.
Serving Suggestions
Make a big batch to serve to friends with some feta dressing or chipotle ranch dressing for dipping. Or keep them all for yourself for quick lunches or high protein snacks. They’re great over salad too!
Variations and Tips
- Customizable: Feel free to use ground turkey or a different cheese like pepper jack. I have one reader who made a Tex Mex version!
- Make ahead: You can easily prep these ahead for easy appetizers or family-friendly dinners.
- Make them any size! I like the small fritters for appetizers and snacks but many readers turn them into full size burgers.
- Yes, you can air fry them! Grease the basket well and then brush a little melted butter over the fritters to help them brown. I suggest cooking them at 400ºF for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking.
General Tips for Keto Cooking
- Always double check your own information with the Carb Manager app or My Fitness Pal based on the brands and weights you use.
- When used in a recipe, erythritol has been removed from the carb count as it is a sugar alcohol.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
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