• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Air Fryer

Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Meatballs

5
/5
30 minutes
16 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 09/01/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

No more boring chicken meatballs! These Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are delicious on their own, but SO much better with the sweet, savory and spicy firecracker sauce! Perfect for a party or fun dinner! #appetizer #meatballs #firecracker #airfryer
No more boring chicken meatballs! These Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are delicious on their own, but SO much better with the sweet, savory and spicy firecracker sauce! Perfect for a party or fun dinner! #appetizer #meatballs #firecracker #airfryer
No more boring chicken meatballs! These Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are delicious on their own, but SO much better with the sweet, savory and spicy firecracker sauce! Perfect for a party or fun dinner! #appetizer #meatballs #firecracker #airfryer

No more boring chicken meatballs! These Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are delicious on their own, but SO much better with the sweet, savory and spicy firecracker sauce! Perfect for a party or fun dinner!

This is one of my Appetizer recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!

pile of chicken meatballs on parchment paper with firecracker sauce
Pin this recipe for later!

Firecracker chicken is a recipe with so many great flavors. It’s sweet, savory and spicy all at the same time! If you’re a fan of sweet heat, firecracker chicken is for you.

This recipe takes all those amazing flavors, and pops them into fun meatballs!

We love them as a fun dinner, but they’re also great to make for parties, lunches or meal prepping, since they store and reheat well.

Plus, since they’re made in the air fryer, there’s no need to heat up your house with a hot oven. But don’t worry, I’ve included oven directions as well, in case you don’t have an air fryer.

How to make firecracker chicken meatballs?

This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.

step by step how to make firecracker chicken meatballs
  1. Make sauce. While the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce and let it cool a bit.
  2. Assemble meatballs. These are a hearty 2″ diameter meatballs.
  3. Air fry. Make sure you spray the basket, add the meatballs, spray the tops, and then air fry.
  4. Turn over. Flip the meatballs over and continue cooking until done.
  5. Dip and air fry. Dip the cooked meatballs in the sauce, then add them back to the basket to air fry another couple of minutes. This adds that sticky glazed texture!
  6. Serve. We like to serve these with any remaining sauce on the side for dipping.

Helpful Tip!

Using a “cookie” scoop is the best way to make uniform looking meatballs. I like to use this scoop, and it should yield meatballs that are about 2″ in diameter. Once you scoop them, just a quick roll in between your palms should give you a great looking meatball. If you find the meat is sticking to your hands, wet them or spray them lightly with cooking spray before handling the meat.

firecracker chicken meatball on a toothpick

Variations of this recipe

  • Turkey – ground turkey is a great substitute if you don’t have ground chicken. In general, the higher the fat content, the more moist the meatballs will be.
  • Sriracha – we really like the flavor of regular hot sauce, but if you love sriracha, it also works really well in this recipe.
  • Less heat – to reduce the amount of spiciness in this recipe, I would start by reducing or even omitting the red pepper flakes.
  • Oven – if you don’t have an air fryer, no worries, you can absolutely bake these in the oven instead! Detailed oven instructions will be in the “Chef Tips” section at the end of written recipe card.
couple of chicken meatballs in a small bowl

FAQ’s

What is firecracker sauce made out of?

The base for a firecracker sauce is hot sauce, brown sugar and cider vinegar. But this version also has soy sauce, garlic powder, and some red pepper flakes.

Are these firecracker chicken meatballs spicy?

I think the flavor is really balanced with this firecracker sauce, it’s not too hot, and not too sweet. However if you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to adjust the amount of sugar vs hot sauce.

Can you use frozen meatballs for this recipe?

Absolutely! For a super quick and easy dinner idea, pick up a bag of your favorite frozen pre-made chicken or turkey meatballs and cook according to the package directions. Toss with the firecracker sauce and you’re good to go!

No more boring chicken meatballs! These Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are delicious on their own, but SO much better with the sweet, savory and spicy firecracker sauce! Perfect for a party or fun dinner! #appetizer #meatballs #firecracker #airfryer

Making firecracker chicken meatballs ahead of time

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how it can be made ahead.

The meatballs can be rolled, covered tightly and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Freezing

They can also be rolled, placed on a wax paper lined baking sheet and frozen for 1 hour, until hard. Once hardened, add the meatballs to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator and cook as directed.

firecracker chicken meatball with bite taken out of it

Storage

Leftover chicken meatballs should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eaten with 4 days or so.

Other Meatball Recipes:

forkful of spinach and feta turkey meatball
Spinach and Feta Turkey Meatballs
thai meatballs
Sticky Thai Meatballs
honey garlic meatballs
Honey Garlic BBQ Meatballs
pile of bbq meatballs in white bowl
Bourbon BBQ Meatballs

My Favorite Air Fryer!

I love the larger, rectangular basket, and the basket is nonstick, removable, and dishwasher safe!

Get on amazon

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

No more boring chicken meatballs! These Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are delicious on their own, but SO much better with the sweet, savory and spicy firecracker sauce! Perfect for a party or fun dinner! #appetizer #meatballs #firecracker #airfryer

Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Meatballs

5 from 9 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 18 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 548
Servings: 6 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
These Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are delicious on their own, but SO much better with the sweet, savory and spicy firecracker sauce!

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp minced chives optional but recommended
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 3/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 2 lbs. ground chicken or ground turkey
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp minced parsley optional – for garnish

Firecracker Sauce

  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup hot sauce we normally use Franks
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt use less if your soy sauce was regular instead of light or reduced sodium
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

Make firecracker sauce

  • In a small saucepan, add all firecracker sauce ingredients (brown sugar, hot sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes).
  • Cook over MED heat, stirring often, until sauce is combined and thickened. This will take about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Be aware the sauce will thicken as it cools, but if it gets TOO thick during the cooling process, add a teaspoon of water at a time until it reaches the consistency you're looking for.

Make the meatballs

  • In a large mixing bowl, add olive oil, garlic, chives, salt, onion powder, pepper, smoked paprika, and eggs, and whisk well to combine.
  • Add the ground chicken, panko, and Parmesan cheese and use your hands to combine, being careful not to over mix. Over mixing meatballs can yield meatballs that are tough, instead of tender.
  • Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
  • Scoop meat (we like to use a cookie scoop), and form into meatballs, roughly 2 inches in diameter.
  • Spray the basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray (we like to use an olive oil or avocado oil spray), then add meatballs in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
  • Spray the meatballs with nonstick spray and air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes is up, use tongs to flip meatballs over, spray again with oil spray, then air fry another 5-7 minutes.
  • Meatballs are done cooking when an instant read thermometer reads 165°F.

Glaze meatballs

  • Remove meatballs and dip them, one at a time, in the firecracker sauce. After dipping one, return the meatball to the air fryer basket and repeat for all remaining meatballs.
  • Air fry for 2 more minutes, then remove and serve with any remaining sauce. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

  1. Recipe will yield around 18-21 meatballs.
  2. Calorie information is for one serving, which is around 3-4 meatballs.  However the calorie count assumes you’re using the entire sauce, which isn’t generally the case.

Oven Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 475°F.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside.
  2. Cook sauce as directed.
  3. Assemble meatballs as directed.
  4. Add meatballs to prepared baking sheet, and bake for about 12-13 minutes, until cooked through.
  5. Dip meatballs, one at a time, in the sauce, then add back to baking sheet and bake another 2 minutes or so.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

You May Also Like...

  • This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is made super easily with a handful of ingredients, uses less oil, and no messy pan-frying! Air fryer and oven instructions included. #airfryer #chickenparmesan #chickenrecipes
    Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
  • Kung-Pao-Chicken-Spaghetti-and-Meatballs | This version of Kung Pao chicken has all the flavors you'd expect from the classic dish, but in a comforting, homestyle spaghetti and meatballs package! | http://thechunkychef.com
    Kung Pao Chicken Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Perfectly baked sweet potatoes, every time!  Crispy on the outside and oh so fluffy on the inside, and with a quick 5 minute prep too!  Perfect side dish for dinner or a holiday event. #sweetpotato #sidedish #side #holiday #baked #airfryer #roasted #thanksgiving #recipe
    Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes
  • Cranberry BBQ Crockpot Meatballs | The perfect appetizer for a party or game day... with just 3 ingredients and just 5 minutes of prep!  Pop it all in your slow cooker and enjoy! | https://www.thechunkychef.com | #appetizer #meatballs #party #easyrecipe #crockpot #slowcooker
    Cranberry BBQ Crockpot Meatballs
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Amy says

    Posted on 1/7 at 11:03 pm

    These were a hit with my family…..Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Amy Banas says

    Posted on 12/29 at 6:58 pm

    Could you use this sauce for ground beef meatballs?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 12/29 at 8:28 pm

      I haven’t tested this sauce with beef, so I’m not sure how well the flavors would go together.

      Reply
  3. Nell says

    Posted on 12/7 at 5:28 pm

    After cooking can they be kept in a crockpot?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 12/7 at 8:10 pm

      Yes, although they may lose some of the stickiness of the glaze.

      Reply
  4. Tina says

    Posted on 11/3 at 8:39 pm

    Just made these this evening using ground Turkey and served over rice. DELISH!!! We will definitely be making these quite a bit!!!

    Reply
  5. Annette says

    Posted on 10/16 at 9:26 pm

    Amazing chicken meatball first time making them my family loved it

    Reply
  6. Bonita says

    Posted on 10/8 at 3:56 pm

    Has anyone tried the recipe with gluten free panko?

    Reply
  7. Danielle Farnham says

    Posted on 9/13 at 2:14 pm

    These are AMAZING!! We made them a bit smaller and I think we overcooked them a bit, but they were still outstanding. These will be on rotation for meals and would be a great appetizer for football Sundays!

    Reply
  8. Cathy says

    Posted on 9/4 at 2:05 pm

    The sauce on these is DELICIOUS!

    Reply
  9. Allyson Zea says

    Posted on 9/4 at 2:03 pm

    These are so juicy and delicious! I love the air fryer for everything!

    Reply
  10. Sandra says

    Posted on 9/3 at 4:05 pm

    I just tried it and it turned out so good! Everyone loved it!

    Reply
  11. Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says

    Posted on 9/3 at 8:51 am

    These meatballs are incredibly delicious!! LOVE the flavors!

    Reply
  12. katerina @ diethood.com says

    Posted on 9/3 at 8:51 am

    I love that I can make these in the air fryer!! They are amazing!

    Reply
  13. Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 9/3 at 8:31 am

    These Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Meatballs are on my must-make list!

    Reply
  14. Krystle your Smith says

    Posted on 9/2 at 10:28 pm

    The sauce on these is lick your plate clean good. Will make again!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours 5 minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours 10 minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2023 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top