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Paleo Buffalo Chicken Meatballs With Ranch

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These Paleo Buffalo Chicken Meatballs With Ranch are the perfect make-ahead food… and they are healing!

paleo buffalo chicken meatballs

Everyone seems to have a go-to dish that finds it way into every party or entertaining occasion. You know the one. It’s the one you can make easily, that can be made in advance, that looks pretty, and that everyone seems to like. For me, that dish is usually some type of meatball.

Meatballs are awesome. They make me happy. Dunno why… it just is so.

There are so many kinds to be made.

I love to think of the occasion, the season, the diners, and, then I figure out what kind of balls are called for.

These past few months alone, I think I’ve made Vietnamese meatballs, Italian meatballs, turkey meatballs, cheese-stuffed meatballs, and now… these Paleo Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.

So, are people tired of my meatballs? Nope. Why is that? Because no two varieties ever taste the same. And, I never serve them quite the same way.

If you’ve never had a baked meatball hero casserole, you haven’t fully lived.

And meatballs on skewers with grilled veggies… yum.

And, my personal favorite… meatball soup.

Okay, I guess I better get back to the present recipe, because, these Paleo Buffalo Chicken Meatballs With Ranch are quickly becoming a favorite in our house. First, they are made with ground chicken, which in my opinion tastes way better than turkey. Second, I use Paleo breadcrumbs. There are companies that actually sell these in bags now (ask me, and I’ll fill you in), or you can make them yourself out of store-bought or homemade grain-free bread. The scallions and parsley keep the balls fresh tasting. And the Buffalo sauce makes them… well… Buffalo-y.

Oh, and did I mention that there’s a dairy-free ranch dipping sauce? Well, there is and it’s the perfect compliment to the spiciness of these delicious meatballs.

But, perhaps the best part about this recipe is that after you bake the meatballs in the oven, you transfer them to your slow cooker, add the sauce and then they cook slowly and stay warm up until you are ready to serve them. Easy peasy. Make ahead meatballs… just awesome.

So, if you are a meatball lover like I am, you should also try my recipe for Lamb Meatballs With Herbs And Kale.

paleo buffalo chicken meatballs

paleo buffalo chicken meatballs

Here are some of the great healing ingredients in these Paleo Buffalo Chicken Meatballs With Ranch:

Chicken is something I push people to buy organic if possible. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first. For example, if you have a lot of burning stomach acid, you should avoid chicken for awhile…

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

Parsley has been shown to reduce tumors in the lungs and to neutralize the effects of carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. It is high in vitamins A and C, and is good for your heart. This herb is also a natural breath freshener. So, if you have a chance to use more than a few sprigs as a garnish, go for it.

Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healty choice. The cashews give this dip a velvety, creamy texture.

Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-y taste without using any dairy and it adds amino acids and Vitamin B, iron, zinc, and selenium to your diet. Nutritional yeast is a complete protein and also contains fiber, so it’s a really good thing!

paleo buffalo chicken meatballs with ranch

Paleo Buffalo Chicken Meatballs With Ranch
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Recipe type: meatballs, chicken, appetizer, main course
Cuisine: paleo, whole30
Author:
Serves: 44 balls
Meatballs are awesome, and these have just the right amount of spice... add the dipping sauce and oh my... so delicious!
Ingredients
  • For meatballs:
  • 2 lb ground chicken
  • 1-1/2 cups Paleo breadcrumbs (I ground up almond flour bread slices, but you can buy Paleo crumbs in a lot of markets now)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp dried minced onion flakes
  • 4 scallions, sliced
  • 2 Tbs minced fresh parsley
  • sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup paleo-friendly Buffalo wing sauce
  • For ranch dip:
  • ⅓ cup healthy mayonnaise (I used a chickpea based one)
  • ⅓ cup non-dairy plain yogurt (I used a cashew yogurt)
  • juice of ½ a lemon
  • 1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbs nutritional yeast
  • sea salt, to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. Place all meatball ingredients into a large bowl and mush it up with your hands until it is combined.
  4. Roll into golf-ball size balls and arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheets, making sure they are not touching each other.
  5. Bake in the oven for 7 minutes.
  6. Flip the balls over and bake for an additional 6 minutes.
  7. Place the balls into your slow cooker.
  8. Pour the Buffalo sauce over the meatballs.
  9. Set the cooker on low and cook for 2 hours, then leave them on warm until you are ready to serve them.
  10. Make the ranch dip:
  11. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy.
  12. Stick toothpicks in the meatballs and serve them alongside the dip, or place the balls on a platter and drizzle them with the sauce.
  13. Enjoy!

paleo buffalo chicken meatballs with ranch

Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup

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I bet you didn’t know that potatoes can relieve some inflammation in your joints are they are good for constipation…
paleo chicken pot pie soup

Everyone always assumes that I grew up in a foodie home. Ummmmmm… not so much. I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of frozen food I ate as a child. I remember frozen chicken pot pies. The ones that were tiny little frozen rocks with a thick crust and a gummy filling. As a kid, I think I must have thought they were good. But as an adult, I can’t even imagine eating one now. But a good pot pie… well, that’s a great thing. Enter this amazing paleo chicken pot pie soup.

I found the original recipe for this soup on a great blog called My Heart Beets. It’s a great recipe. I changed it up just a bit to make it a little more healing for Steve, who has a really obnoxious cold and cough that just keeps hanging on. But Ashley did an awesome job with this genius recipe.

We were on vacation in Mexico last week and it was so warm and beautiful. When we came home all I wanted was anti-Mexican food. I never thought I could have too much guacamole and too many margaritas, but it happened. So, this paleo chicken pot pie soup was just perfect!

This soup is creamy (but there’s no dairy) and rich and garlicky and healing. It’s just so comforting. And, it’s nothing like those frozen brick-like pot pies from my childhood.

This recipe is also super easy because it’s made with a rotisserie chicken. So, no excuses… come on, you’ve got to try it…

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For another creamy and warm paleo dish, try my recipe for Creamy Lentil And Kale Stew.

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now… let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a soup with your name on it…  So CLICK HEREto be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

paleo chicken pot pie soup

The ingredients in this soup with heal you:

Chicken is something I push people to buy organic if possible. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first. For example, if you have a lot of burning stomach acid, you should avoid chicken for awhile…

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better; they actually can rid the body of bacteria. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

Celery actually helps stop bleeding — so if you or anyone you know has just had surgery, start adding celery to your dishes! Celery is also great to help lower blood pressure and it’s been known to help with insomnia.

paleo chicken pot pie soup

If you make this Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Print
Recipe type: paleo, comfort food, soup, stew, whole30
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: My Heart Beets
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
This soup is like a creamy chicken pot pie... without the crust or the dairy. It's so comforting and satisfying. Oh, and it's easy to make too!
Ingredients
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, skinned and shredded (preferably organic)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 8 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 Tbs grass-fed butter or ghee
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 2 lb yellow potatoes (half of them peeled and roughly chopped; the other half cut into bite-size pieces)
  • 2 cups chicken broth (I used bone broth)
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped
  • 3 scallions, sliced
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried dill (use fresh if you have it)
Instructions
  1. Heat the butter in a large soup pot. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, 3 minutes.
  2. Add the peeled, roughly chopped potatoes and the broth.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Simmer, covered, about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes and onions to a blender and set aside to cool slightly.
  6. Whiz them up until nice and creamy.
  7. Add the carrots and celery to the broth in the pot.
  8. Add the bite-sized potatoes.
  9. Add the contents of the blender.
  10. Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
  11. Add the chicken, scallions, and herbs and cook another 5 minutes.
  12. Ladle into bowls.
  13. Enjoy!

 

paleo chicken pot pie soup

Raw Corn And Vegetable Salad

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This raw corn and vegetable salad is a great way to incorporate more raw foods into your diet…

raw corn and vegetable salad

Here it is the day before Thanksgiving. Eating  light and healthy just seems like the right thing to do. Even more so than usual. It’s like going into survival mode. If I want to eat all that I want to eat tomorrow (and that’s a lot), then I better stick to a smart plan today. This raw corn and vegetable salad is a big part of my perfect plan.

This year, I am not hosting the holiday in my home, so I don’t have as much control over the food as I usually do. If I had my druthers, I’d have a couple of raw dishes on the table, but the likelihood of this happening is next to none… so I did the next best thing and I made a big bowl of this raw corn and vegetable salad today. Yup, it was sashimi for lunch and raw veg salad for dinner. I should have enough room for all of that awesomeness tomorrow…

This is a big delicious bowl of crunchy, fresh tasting, deliciousness.

It’s kind of weird for a salad of mine, but there is no dressing on this salad.

That’s right. None. Just lime juice. And it’s perfect this way… and not just because I want to pig out tomorrow…

This salad has lots of veggies, some fruit (kiwis and pineapple), and lots of fresh herbs. It’s dishes like this that make me think I might be able to be a raw foodist. But, I know that’s not going to happen because I just love hot food. But, this raw corn and vegetable salad is really that good.

raw corn and vegetable salad

Here are just some of the ingredients that are so healing in this raw corn and vegetable salad:

Corn is one of the foods that if I can’t find organic, I just won’t eat because the crops are so heavily sprayed and are full of GMOs. As more people are expressing concern about GMOs, it seems to be getting easier to find good corn at the market. Corn actually benefits the gallbladder, is good for hepatitis, heart disease, and hypertension. Cornsilk is a Chinese herb (Yu Mi Xu). It’s often used to reduce edema, help with hepatitis and reduce the symptoms of some painful urinary conditions. If you can’t find organic fresh corn, buy a bag of organic frozen corn!

Cucumbers are awesome, both for taste and health reasons. In Chinese medicine, they are known to have exceptional healing capabilities. They cool the body, expel toxins, purify the blood, strengthen the heart, moistens the large intestines and the lungs and kill tapeworms. They are good to eat if you have swelling in your hands or feet, or if you have a bladder infection.

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

Bell peppers help with indigestion. If you are feeling bloated and full from over-eating a lot lately, consuming bell peppers will help reduce this feeling. They are also good for blood circulation and research has shown that they are good for people with a low appetite or anorexia. It used to be common in China to use green pepper tea to soothe indigestion.

Kale is everywhere these days. It is extremely nutritious, and because it to so popular you can find it already washed and prepared in lots of markets. I bought this kale already shredded and washed. If you are using a whole bunch of kale, make sure you clean the leaves thoroughly and remove the center thick stems if they bother you (me… I don’t really mind them if the kale is cooked). This dark leafy green is a great source of fiber and calcium. It’s also rich in many minerals, including magnesium, iron and potassium. One serving contains 200% of the daily requirements of Vitamin C and 180% of Vitamin A.

Cilantro is also known as Chinese Parsley. It is good for the common cold, indigestion, and energy flow in the body. An old Chinese remedy for the common cold and even for measles was to drink cilantro and mint tea. Cilantro is one of those herbs you either love or hate; I’m a lover…

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

Pineapple is great for your digestion and it can help stop diarrhea. It’s especially good in the summer because it fights against heatstroke.

Hot peppers contain more vitamin C than any other vegetable and they are good at fighting off the common cold. So, if you like spice, as I do, use a generous amount of whatever hot peppers you like. The main component of hot peppers is capsicum. Capsicum actually works with your body and mind to make you feel happy. It’s also good for reducing swelling and can relieve arthritic joint pain. If you have high blood pressure, check with your doctor before eating too many hot peppers because they can actually raise the blood pressure in some people.

raw corn and vegetable salad

Raw Corn And Vegetable Salad
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Recipe type: salad, vegetables, fruit, side dish
Cuisine: raw, vegan, vegetarian, whole30, paleo
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
There's nothing more delicious or cleaner tasting than this raw vegetable salad dressed with fresh lime juice. Serve it with whatever's on your menu today!
Ingredients
  • 2 small (Kirby) cucumbers, finely diced
  • 1 medium tomato, finely diced
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 scallions, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1-1/2 cups baby kale, chopped
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 cups corn kernels
  • 5 large basil leaves, chopped
  • ¼ cup finely diced fresh pineapple
  • 1 kiwi, diced
  • ½ an avocado, diced
  • 1-inch piece of jalapeño pepper, finely minced, or to taste
  • juice of 2 limes
  • sea salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Toss well.
  3. Let the healing begin.

raw corn and vegetable salad

Vegetable Hummus Dip

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This vegetable hummus dip make store bought hummus taste incredible!

vegetable hummus dip

I love to entertain. The whole process de-stresses me. I’m not one of those people who sits around ruminating about what to serve and how to present it and how to time everything just right. I just kind of wing it. Easy entertaining is one of the things people ask me about all of the time. Well, this dip is for all of you who want a great easy entertaining recipe to serve your guests while you are getting dinner ready.

This recipe is like a “food hack”. What I mean by that is that it easily takes a store-bought ingredient and turns it into something super awesome. I mean really, really awesome. So-good-that-everyone-will-be-asking-you-for-the-recipe awesome.

The base of this vegetable hummus dip recipe is store-bought hummus. Add then we add a bunch of stuff to it. And we make it pretty. And we spice it up.  And serve it with beautiful crunchy vegetables for dipping. And amazing sprouted grain crackers. And it’s truly incredible.

I saw a version of this dip on one of my favorite blogs (Minimalist Baker) and I took some creative license and made it suit my needs. My guests loved it and I’ve made different versions of it many times since (even when I didn’t have any guests)… it’s really that good. I really feel like I’m spoiling myself when I make this just for my family.

If you are looking for another great use for chickpeas, try my Spicy Chickpea, Turkey, And Tomato Stew. 

vegetable hummus dip
vegetable hummus dip

Here are some of the awesome healing ingredients in this vegetable hummus dip:

Chickpeas actually help calm the spirit. They relieve anxiety and soothe irritability… it kind of makes you realize why hummus is so popular…

Turmeric is a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Sesame seeds have many great nutritional benefits. They are an anti-aging food. If you have backaches, hair thats graying way too fast, ringing in the ears, weak knees, blurry vision or general weakness, go for the sesame seeds; just sprinkle them on everything. Long ago in China, sesame seeds were ground into honey to form a paste and was taken as a medicine to counter old-age and weakness. Black sesame seeds are a Chinese herb (Hei Zhi Ma). Black foods, in Chinese medicine, are knows as longevity foods. This recipe uses tahini sauce, which is a paste made from sesame seeds and oil (I buy this read-made in a can or a jar).

Parsley has been shown to reduce tumors in the lungs and to neutralize the effects of carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. It is high in vitamins A and C, and is good for your heart. This herb is also a natural breath freshener. So, if you have a chance to use more than a few sprigs as a garnish, go for it.

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

Dill is considered a chemoprotective herb that can help neutralize some carcinogens and it’s also an antibacterial herb.

In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

vegetable hummus dip

Vegetable Hummus Dip
Print
Recipe type: appetizer, dip, easy entertaining, Greek, Mediterranean
Cuisine: Recipe adapted from:Minimalist Baker
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-6
This is the perfect easy-entertaining dip. It takes store-bought hummus to amazing new heights. And it's healing and delicious and so pretty...
Ingredients
  • 1 15-oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1-tsp for the veg salad topping
  • 1 tsp coconut sugar
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ¾ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 10 grinds of black pepper
  • 1 cup store-bought hummus
  • ¼ cup tahini
  • juice of ½ a lemon, plus a bit extra for the veg salad topping
  • ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tsp minced fresh dill
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 20 grape tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1 scallion, sliced
  • hot sauce, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine the chickpeas in a small bowl with the oil, coconut sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, oregano, salt, and pepper.
  3. Spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. Roast in the oven until the chickpeas are beginning to brown and get a bit crispy (mine took about 35 minutes).
  5. Meanwhile, make the sauce: stir together the tahini, lemon juice, almond milk, dill, and garlic. Set aside.
  6. Make the salad for the top: In a small bowl, combine the parsley, tomatoes, scallion, 1-tsp of olive oil and a quick squeeze of lemon juice.
  7. Spread the hummus on a serving platter.
  8. Top with the tahini sauce mixture and the vegetable salad.
  9. Garnish with a bit of hot sauce if you like.
  10. Serve with crackers and/or fresh vegetables to dip.

vegetable hummus dip