Crack Chicken Meatballs Recipe – the best chicken meatball recipe! Made with ground chicken, ranch dressing mix, cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon; these meatballs are comfort food at its finest. Baked to perfection, they’re perfect for parties, appetizers, or a hearty meal.
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Pin This RecipeChicken Meatballs with Cheddar Bacon & Ranch
Stop what you are doing and add these Crack Chicken Meatballs to your menu! They are AH-MAZ-ING! Ground chicken loaded with cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch seasoning. The chicken is tender and juicy, the ranch mix adds a tangy kick, and the cheddar cheese brings a creamy richness. Let’s not forget the bacon, which adds a smoky and crispy surprise in every bite. These meatballs are a savory sensation that’s impossible to resist. They’re the ultimate comfort food, whether served as an appetizer, a main dish, or tucked into a sandwich. You won’t be able to resist going back for seconds and maybe even thirds!
What does CRACK mean?
If a recipe has “crack” in the title it means that the recipe has cheddar, bacon, and ranch in the ingredients. It all started with my Crack Dip way back in 2007. I made the dip for a Titans football game. Everyone went crazy over it. We couldn’t stop eating it and said it was like crack. The name stuck.
According to the dictionary, the definition of crack is “of superior excellence or ability”. We think the flavor combination of cheddar, bacon, and ranch fits this definition! This recipe is most definitely of superior excellence!
How to Make Crack Chicken Meatballs
This recipe is easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Combine ground chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, ranch seasoning, egg, panko bread crumbs, and olive oil in a large bowl. Scoop the chicken mixture with a small cookie scoop and roll into balls. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven until golden brown. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- I use store-bought ground chicken. You can make your own ground chicken with boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs. I recommend using ground chicken thighs or a combination of breast and thighs for best results.
- You can use ground turkey or ground pork.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, salt, and black pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
- Variations/Additions:
- onions
- peppers
- Can I make Crack Chicken Meatballs in advance? Yes. You can prepare the meatballs and store them in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
- Can I freezer Crack Chicken Meatballs? Yes. You can freeze the meatballs baked or unbaked.
- To freeze the uncooked meatballs, assemble the meatballs and place them on a baking sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer. Once the meatballs are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to four months.
- When ready to eat, bake the meatballs as directed and add a few minutes to the cooking time.
- To freeze baked meatballs, cool them to room temperature. Place the meatballs in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to four months.
- Reheat in the microwave.
- To freeze the uncooked meatballs, assemble the meatballs and place them on a baking sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer. Once the meatballs are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to four months.
- For a gluten-free dish, use gluten-free panko bread crumbs.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
What to Serve with Baked Chicken Meatballs
These meatballs have been on repeat at our house. I love to make several batches on the weekend for easy meal prep during the week. We love them as an appetizer or main dish.
- Consider placing them over a bed of al dente pasta, drizzled with a creamy Alfredo sauce and garnished with fresh herbs.
- For a heartier meal, serve the meatballs with garlic mashed potatoes, roasted green beans, and dinner rolls.
- If you’re in the mood for something lighter, serve them atop a crisp green salad with your favorite dressing for a delightful contrast of textures.
- For a crowd-pleasing appetizer, offer a platter of these meatballs with toothpicks for easy snacking during gatherings.
- You can also create a meatball subs with a soft roll, some lettuce, and a dollop of ranch dressing for an irresistible handheld treat.
No matter how you choose to serve them, these meatballs are sure to be a hit! Looking for more appetizer recipes? Here are some popular recipes from the website:
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Crack Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1 -lb ground chicken
- 2 Tbsp ranch dressing mix
- ⅓ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1½ Tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Combine ground chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, ranch seasoning, egg, panko bread crumbs, and olive oil in a large bowl.
- Scoop the chicken mixture with a small cookie scoop and roll into balls. Place the meatballs on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown. For extra color, place under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes.
Notes:
- I use store-bought ground chicken. You can make your own ground chicken with boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs. I recommend using ground chicken thighs or a combination of breast and thighs for best results.
- You can use ground turkey or ground pork.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, salt, and black pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
- Variations/Additions:
- onions
- peppers
- Can I make Crack Chicken Meatballs in advance? Yes. You can prepare the meatballs and store them in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
- Can I freezer Crack Chicken Meatballs? Yes. You can freeze the meatballs baked or unbaked.
- To freeze the uncooked meatballs, assemble the meatballs and place them on a baking sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer. Once the meatballs are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to four months.
- When ready to eat, bake the meatballs as directed and add a few minutes to the cooking time.
- To freeze baked meatballs, cool them to room temperature. Place the meatballs in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to four months.
- Reheat in the microwave.
- To freeze the uncooked meatballs, assemble the meatballs and place them on a baking sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer. Once the meatballs are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to four months.
- For a gluten-free dish, use gluten-free panko bread crumbs.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Steph
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This Recipe
Made tonite,best chicken ball recipe I’ve ever made. Maybe cook 1-2min less, but we’re okay.