These super tasty Leftover Buffalo Turkey Meatballs are a great way to use up leftover turkey or chicken! They're quick and easy, and can be baked or air fried in no time at all! Serve some up for post holiday entertaining, as game day appetizers, or just to enjoy as a snack with the family!
Leftover Buffalo Turkey Meatballs Recipe
I'm like so many of you, looking for great recipe ideas to use up leftovers from the holidays. Since we cook turkey throughout the year, I'm always trying creative ideas and I'm just in love with this easy appetizer!
Since chicken is so often paired with buffalo sauce, I thought 'why not turkey?'. The results are wonderful! I have made these in both the oven and air fryer with fantastic results and am happy to finally share this easy snack!
How to Make Leftover Buffalo Turkey Meatballs
To make your turkey meatballs using a food processor: pulse your food processor until the leftover cooked turkey meat has a fine consistency and is about pea sized.
Add the remaining ingredients including eggs, breadcrumb, parsley, salt and pepper, then pulse the food processor until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
To make your turkey meatballs by hand: finely chop the leftover cooked turkey meat and combine with the remaining ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl. *Add additional breadcrumb in tablespoon size portions, if needed, to get your meatballs to hold their shape.
Continue to shaping your meatballs, after combining by food processor or by hand. Use a tablespoon to portion out the meatballs, and roll into roughly 1 to 1 ¼ inch meatballs.
Place formed meatballs onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, or air fryer trays or an air fryer basket that have been coated with olive oil or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Leave about one inch spacing between the meatballs to allow for even cooking.
Transfer the baking sheet of leftover turkey meatballs into a preheated oven and bake at 350ºF ( 175ºC ) for 20 - 25 minutes, or until golden brown and the meatballs are firm to the touch.
Leftover Buffalo Turkey Meatballs {Oven Style or Basket Air Fryer}
To cook the meatballs in a convection oven style air fryer ( I'm using a Instant Pot Vortex Plus ): preheat your air fryer to 400ºF ( 204ºC ) on the 'AIR FRY' setting for 8 minutes cook time. Arrange the meatballs on the oiled air fryer trays with one inch spacing between them for even cooking.
Once the meatballs are ready on the air fryer trays and the air fryer indicates to 'ADD FOOD', set the air fryer trays on the guide racks and close the door to start the cooking process. Rotate the trays at the halfway point when the air fryer indicates to 'TURN FOOD' moving the bottom tray to the top and vice versa.
Close the door and finish the cooking cycle. Cook until the meatballs are lightly golden on the outside, and firm to the touch.
To cook the turkey meatballs in a basket style air fryer: preheat your air fryer to 400ºF ( 204ºC ) and place the meatballs in the oiled basket with one inch spacing. Once the air fryer is preheated, add the basket with meatballs and set the timer for 8 minutes.
Halfway into the cooking time, be sure to remove the basket and turn the meatballs for even cooking. Return the basket to your air fryer and continue the cook cycle for 8 - 10 minutes, or until the turkey meatballs are lightly golden browned and firm to the touch.
How To Make Buffalo Sauce
While your leftover turkey meatballs are cooking, combine the melted butter with your favorite hot sauce ( I use Frank's Original Red Hot Sauce, not the buffalo wing sauce ). Whisk the butter and hot sauce together until completely smooth.
Remove the cooked meatballs when done, and toss them in the buffalo sauce until well coated. Serve immediately with your choice of ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing. Enjoy!
📖 Recipe Card
Leftover Buffalo Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
Leftover Turkey Meatballs
- 4 cups turkey (cooked leftover turkey or chicken, finely chopped if not using a food processor)
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ tablespoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup hot sauce (I like to use Frank's red hot sauce, regular style not wing sauce)
- ½ cup butter (melted)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Leftover Turkey Meatballs (baked)
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a food processor, pulse until the leftover turkey meat has a fine consistency and is about pea size. Add eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, salt and pepper then pulse the food processor to combine ingredients.To make by hand, finely chop the leftover turkey meat and combine with ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl. *Add breadcrumb in tablespoon size amounts, as needed, to get the meatballs to hold their shape.
- Portion out the meatballs using a tablespoon and shape into approximately 1 inch meatballs. Place onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about an inch spacing between each of the formed meatballs.
- Place the baking sheet into the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, until lightly golden on the outside and meatballs are firm.
Leftover Turkey Meatballs (air fryer)
- To cook the meatballs in a convection oven style air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) on the 'AIR FRY' setting for 8 minutes and coat the baking trays with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.When the oven is preheated and indicates to 'ADD FOOD', set the air fryer trays on the guides and close the door. When the air fryer indicates to 'TURN FOOD' adjust trays from top to bottom, and vice versa. Close the door and finish the cooking cycle. Cook until lightly golden on the outside and the meatballs are firm.
- To cook the meatballs in a basket style air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) and coat the basket with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.Once the air fryer is preheated, set the basket in your air fryer and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning at the 4 minute mark. Cook until lightly golden on the outside and the meatballs are firm.
Buffalo Sauce
- While the meatballs are cooking, mix your favorite brand of hot sauce with the melted butter. Whisk until smooth and completely incorporated.
- Remove the cooked meatballs when done, and toss them in the buffalo sauce until well coated. Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
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