My first sign that it’s fall isn’t the leaves changing or even a chill in the air: it’s when I look at our list of recorded TV and see that my reruns of The Pioneer Woman and Rachael Ray have been replaced by every football game on every station from now until the end of January. Yes, football season has arrived. Or, as I prefer to think of it, football FOOD season has arrived! First up: Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.

These super juicy, buffalo-sauce-bathed, cheese-sprinkled slow cooker chicken meatballs are the essence of football food.

They’re a little messy.

Everyone loves an excuse to eat them.

They might stain your couch.

You can DEFINITELY turn what would at other times be considered an appetizer into a full meal and not be judged.

Why I Love These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

While I won’t prioritize watching a football game over socializing with friends, here in Wisconsin, where Packer games are the state religion, the two are often the same event.

Football has grown on me considerably since college, and while I can’t break down the strategy of a game and I fall for the fake play Every. Single. Time., I love getting together with friends to cheer, to eat, and to eat some more.

These easy buffalo chicken meatballs are a done deal crowd favorite for any game day. Since they cook in the crock pot, you can easily transport them from place to place if you’re heading to friend’s house to watch.

If you are the one hosting, these buffalo chicken meatballs will ease your party prep. They can be made in advance, and guests can serve themselves right out of the slow cooker.

How to Make Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Although I created this recipe with football on the brain, I’d also like to stress that you do not need to wait for a football game to make them. These tasty buffalo chicken meatballs are lean, low carb, protein rich, and legitimately dinner appropriate.

The Ingredients

Chicken . The base for these meatballs.

. The base for these meatballs. Panko + Egg . Helps bind the meatballs together.

+ . Helps bind the meatballs together. Spices . Flavor. Flavor. Flavor.

. Flavor. Flavor. Flavor. Green Onion . A delicious addition!

. A delicious addition! Buffalo Sauce . The most important flavor ingredient.

. The most important flavor ingredient. Cheese. My topping of choice! Both blue cheese and feta would be tasty.

The Directions

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with nonstick spray. Coat your slow cooker with nonstick spray. In a mixing bowl, add the chicken, bread crumbs, egg, spices, and onion. Mix ingredients until combined, and shape into balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet. (You will have about 22 to 24 meatballs total.) Bake for 4 minutes at 400 degrees F until browned, then flip and bake for 2 additional minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker. Pour the buffalo sauce over the meatballs and stir. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours. Serve hot, sprinkled with green onion and cheese. ENJOY!

What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Sweet Potato . Take a note from my Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken and serve these alongside baked sweet potatoes for an ultra tasty, healthy dinner. The combo of the spicy buffalo sauce with the natural sweetness of the potatoes is a keeper.

. Take Tater Tots . For a perfect game day spread, serve these with with my homemade . For a perfect game day spread, serve these with with my homemade Tater Tots

Veggies. Easy Sautéed Zucchini with Parmesan and Roasted Zucchini would be delicious with these.

Whether or not you watch football, with these slow cooker buffalo chicken meatballs, everyone wins!