Sunday, September 22, 2024 · 92 Comments

Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce

These chicken meatballs with chipotle-honey sauce are saucy, a little sassy, and packed with flavor. I love making them for game day, holidays, or even just a Friday night.

Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce

These chipotle chicken meatballs are always well-received. I love how the honey balances out the spicy chipotle, so they work for all kinds of taste buds.

Using ground chicken keeps them a little lighter, but you can swap in any ground meat you like. They’re perfect for game day or really any time you need some crowd-pleasing finger food.

Why I Love This Recipe

I like how easy it is to switch up the protein in this recipe.
The chipotle honey sauce really sticks to the meatballs, making each bite flavorful.
They’re perfect for serving at parties or casual get-togethers.

Ingredients

Here’s what goes into these chipotle-honey chicken meatballs:

Plain dry bread crumbs – Not panko and not seasoned.
Chipotle peppers in adobo – Smoky flavor, big payoff.
Salt – Regular table salt’s fine.
Vegetable oil – Any neutral oil works.
Honey – Clover or hot honey if you want heat.
Chicken broth – Low-sodium if you can.
Tomato paste – Adds that deep, rich flavor.
Dijon mustard – Skip yellow; Dijon keeps it sharp.
Ground chicken – Light but still rich.
Eggs – Bind it all together.
Fresh cilantro – Adds freshness.
Lime juice – Always fresh, never bottled.
Garlic – You need it.

How To Make Ground Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce

Find the complete printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card at the BOTTOM OF THE POST.

Step One (preheat the oven):
Set your oven to 400°F so it’s ready when you are.
Step Two (mix the meatballs):
In a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken with the eggs, bread crumbs, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce, and salt. I always mix it by hand so I can tell when the texture’s right, just firm enough to roll.
Step Three (shape and chill):
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the mixture into about 48 small meatballs and place them on the trays. Cover with plastic wrap and let them chill for about an hour so they firm up.
Step Four (blend the sauce):
While the meatballs are chilling, blend the honey, chipotle peppers in adobo, chicken broth, tomato paste, lime juice, Dijon, and a pinch of salt until smooth. The Dijon and lime keep the sauce sharp instead of sweet.
Step Five (bake the meatballs):
Pull the trays from the fridge, brush the meatballs lightly with vegetable oil, and bake for about 12 minutes.
Step Six (add the sauce):
Take them out, move them to a baking dish, and brush generously with the chipotle-honey sauce so they’re well coated.
Step Seven (finish baking):
Pop the dish back in the oven until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce thickens slightly. Serve warm. If you like using ground chicken in bold, spicy recipes, my ground chicken chili
takes those same flavors in a hearty, tomato-based direction.

Recipe Tips

Form the meatballs the same size so they bake evenly.
Chill them for an hour to help them hold shape and build flavor.
Brush with oil before baking for a golden edge.
Serve extra chipotle-honey sauce on the side.
They’re great over rice with a veggie or as sub sandwiches with cheese.
If the sauce runs hot, add more honey or start with fewer chiles.
Taste as you go and skip the chipotle seeds if you want less heat.
Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Reheat gently on the stove or in a slow cooker on warm.
Double the recipe in two separate batches so the meat doesn’t get overworked.

Storage and Freezer

Here are some storage and freezer tips to keep your meatballs fresh:

Let the meatballs cool completely before storing them.
Place the cooled meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge, where they’ll stay good for about 3-4 days.
If you want to freeze them, arrange the meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They should be good for about 3 months.
To reheat, just thaw them in the fridge overnight and warm them up in a saucepan or the oven until heated through.

I enjoy the versatility of chipotle flavor – it pairs well with a variety of ingredients and cuisines. If you also love it, give my chipotle beef tostadas a try, or make a batch of these chipotle chicken bites for your next taco night. If it’s chilly out, make a bowl of this chipotle tomato soup and serve it with a side of grilled cheese. These soup-sized turkey chipotle meatballs are perfect in a steaming bowl of soup.

More Meatball Recipes

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chicken meatballs with honey-chipotle sauce

Print Recipe

5 from 14 votes

Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce

These Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce are saucy, a little sassy, and packed with flavor. They're perfect for game day, holidays, or even just a Friday night.

Prep Time30

Cook Time30

chilling1

Total Time2

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce

Servings: people

Calories: 366kcal

Author: Cathy Pollak

Equipment

Ingredients

Meatballs:

2 lbs. ground chicken
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup plain, dry bread crumbs
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
2 tbsps fresh lime juice
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (4 oz) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce divided
1 tsp table salt
vegetable oil

Chipotle-Honey Sauce:

3/4 cup clover honey
2-3 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (leftover from the meatballs)
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup tomato paste
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsps Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp table salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Combine ground chicken, eggs, bread crumbs, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, 1 Tablespoon of adobo sauce and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well.
2 lbs. ground chicken, 2 large eggs, lightly beaten, 1/3 cup plain, dry bread crumbs, 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, 2 tbsps fresh lime juice, 4 cloves garlic, crushed, 1 (4 oz) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 1 tsp table salt
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and form chicken mixture into 48 meatballs. Place the meatballs on the baking sheets and cover with plastic wrap; chill 1 hour. While the meatballs are chilling, make the sauce.
In a food processor or blender combine honey, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chicken broth, tomato paste, lime juice, Dijon mustard and salt. Process until smooth. Set aside.
3/4 cup clover honey, 2-3 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce , 1/3 cup chicken broth, 1/3 cup tomato paste, 1 tbsp fresh lime juice, 2 tsps Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp table salt
Remove meatballs from the refrigerator and lightly brush with vegetable oil. Bake both trays in the oven for 12 minutes.
vegetable oil
Remove the trays from the oven and place meatballs in a baking dish. Add Chipotle-Honey Sauce and brush the meatballs until they are coated.
Bake another 12-15 minutes until meatballs are heated through and glazed with sauce.

Video

Notes

For optimal outcomes when preparing these chipotle chicken meatballs, it's recommended to refer to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented in the recipe card, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations

The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce

Amount Per Serving (6 meatballs)

Calories 366 Calories from Fat 149

% Daily Value*

Fat 16.5g25%

Saturated Fat 4.3g27%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2.6g

Monounsaturated Fat 1.3g

Cholesterol 132mg44%

Sodium 511mg22%

Potassium 170mg5%

Carbohydrates 33.3g11%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 28g31%

Protein 23.6g47%

Vitamin A 28IU1%

Vitamin C 14mg17%

Calcium 16mg2%

Iron 12mg67%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Have you made these Chicken Meatballs with Chipotle-Honey Sauce? I’d love to hear how they turned out — leave a comment below and let me know.

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Comments

5 from 14 votes