These Buffalo Quinoa balls are a great vegan option to get that hot sauce fix without any meat. They’re perfect for game day, parties or anytime you want a little kick!

I love anything spicy. I try to hold back from making too many spicy recipes but I can’t help myself sometimes. Some of my favorite recipes include a bit of heat like my Vegan Buffalo Chicken Rice Skillet, Buffalo Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, and my Spicy Sesame Noodles (trust me, they’re good).

Hot sauce has been a staple of mine since my undergraduate days. My roommate Alana was from Buffalo and Buffalonians always had some hot sauce around to throw on just about anything. Alana got me into that habit and now I carry around a small hot sauce in my purse just in case (don’t judge).

My friend Kevin shares my love of Buffalo sauce and I wanted to make a vegan version of the sauce for him because he has been partaking in some of my plant-based recipes lately.

I really enjoy seeing people add vegan meals to their diet so I wanted to create a special treat for him that would give him a taste of Buffalo wings without any meat so I came up with these Buffalo Quinoa Balls.

Buffalo Quinoa Balls

I’ve seen other bloggers use quinoa in burgers and I thought it might work in sort of a meatball shape as well and I’m happy to say it did! These Buffalo Quinoa Balls are versatile – I’ve had them as an appetizer, on salads, and as part of my main meals. The quinoa adds protein, carbs, fiber, and iron.

I first fry the balls then bake them – the frying seems to help the balls stay together better since I’m not using egg as a binder. I also put the balls in the freezer for about 10 minutes before frying as well which keeps them in better ball form.

Add a Side of Ranch

I was never a big fan of blue cheese but I have always loved me some ranch so the dipping sauce is my take on a healthy ranch dressing using cashews. The cashews add protein as well as magnesium (which many people in the US are deficient in).

If you make this recipe, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below.

📖 Recipe