Buffalo quinoa bites are a crowd pleasing snack even non vegetarians will love. Perfectly crispy, straight from the air fryer with a melty blue cheese center.
**This post was updated in 2020
I cannot adequately express in words the awesomeness that is these buffalo quinoa
bites. When I first saw the recipe I was skeptical, but they turned out exactly as advertised.
The Hubs is a buffalo wing fanatic. It is not an exaggeration that he lives on pizza and wings ONLY when I go out of town.
Pizza for dinner one night. Leftover pizza for lunch the next day. Buffalo wings for dinner.
Repeat.
When I decided to make this recipe, I figured there was NO WAY I could sell him on a vegetarian quinoa version of his most favorite food. He did make his usual aw-shucks-no-meat face when I told him they were quinoa, but one or two bites later he was declaring his love for them.
**This post contains affiliate links***
Buffalo Quinoa Bites (vegetarian, air fryer)
Update: I have been making Tieghan’s recipe for years. It’s flawless and delicious. Finding such a well tested recipe online that we love and becomes part of our regular food rotation is such a great thing.
Lately I’ve been air frying a ton, and realized while making a batch of these for weekend snacks that they may just work in the air fryer. This led me to remember the goat cheese stuffed risotto balls I videoed for Chefs Catalog a while back and that’s when I knew that it was time for a quinoa bites upgrade.
The only way to improve a crunchy snack in my opinion is to add cheese, and that’s just what I did. I stuffed the middle of each quinoa bite with a lump of blue cheese. No dipping sauce necessary (although still a delicious option).
A built in cooling blue cheese bite to counteract the spicy buffalo sauce.
The air fryer worked perfectly. I mean, I was stunned at how well they held their shape, how perfectly crispy the outside was, and how ooey gooey, melty the cheese inside became.
Total winner.
I’ve been a bit wary of all these new small kitchen appliances that have been coming out of the woodwork lately, but I have to admit that I am HOOKED on air frying. It seems as though there is nothing it can’t do. Even The Hubs was asking me about how to use it the other day. If he started cooking for himself instead of just making frozen pizza I would be THRILLED!
Game day, light lunch, even just an afternoon nosh. Buffalo quinoa bites need to be your go-to snack food. If buffalo flavor is not your fave, you can definitely reimagine these healthy bites into other flavors. BBQ, lemon pepper, or even everything bagel seasoning are just a few ideas that pop into my head to begin with. Make them your own!
If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to see it! Tag me @betsylife on Facebook or Instagram and I’ll share your creations!
Try these other great buffalo recipes
- Healthy Buffalo Cauliflower
- Game day Buffalo Chicken Celery Appetizers
- Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sub Sandwich
**this post contains affiliate links
Buffalo Quinoa Bites
Buffalo quinoa bites are a crowd pleasing snack even non vegetarians will love. Perfectly crispy, straight from the air fryer with a melty blue cheese center.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 cup cannellini beans mashed
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 oz. crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
-
In a large bowl combine the quinoa, mashed cannellini beans, bread crumbs, egg, salt, pepper and 1/4 cup buffalo sauce.
-
Mix well to moisten the ingredients and then form into 16 equal size balls. (I used a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop)
-
Flatten each ball into a pancake shape in the palm of your hand. Place a pinch of blue cheese crumbles into the center, then fold the sides up to enclose the cheese in the center of the ball. Squeeze tightly to seal.
-
Air fry balls in a single even layer at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Rotate the balls and continue air frying for 8 more minutes until crispy.
-
Toss quinoa bites into remaining buffalo wing sauce. Serve.
Recipe Notes
If you don't have an air fryer, cook according to Tieghan's instructions FOUND HERE
Ps. I’ve got more recipes like this one available in my ebook!
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Teresa says
O-M-G these look ah-mazing!!
Nicole says
YUM! I am so going to try to make a vegan version of these. chicken wings were the hardest thing for me to give up when I stopped eating meat.
Mary Papoulias-Platis says
These are going out first on my BBQ days! They can also be served with a great salad, as an option for chicken.
Jenni says
That looks amazing. I am a HUGE fan of buffalo chicken bites, but my husband doesn’t like the bones or the chicken part of that mix. This would be a great compromise!
Tonya says
I love when recipes turn out the way their suppose to. (: Pinning this and will try it myself soon. Thanks!
Ray Carr says
Dry and not very good..
Melissa says
YUM! These look so good and I’m a big buffalo chicken fan so this is a must try. 🙂
Galit Breen says
Oh my, these sound absolutely amazing and the perfect blend of my husband and my favorite ingredients! (Can you guess who loves what? :))
Amy says
I made it tonight for dinner for me and my hubby and it was such a hit!! Thank you for such a wonderful WW recipe.
donna says
MADE THESE YESTERDAY FOR MY VEGETARIAN DAUGHTER, SHE LOVED THEM, AND SO DID HER FIANCE AND HER FATHER. I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOOD, BUT NOT A BIG FAN OF QUINOA. SHE ACTUALLY TOOK THE LEFTOVER ONES HOME, SO I KNOW SHE LIKED THEM!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR THE RECIPE!!
Hilary says
I cannot pull up the recipe
Esther says
Hello Betsy 🙂
i just wanted to ask, if you have to “pre-cook” the quinoa or just put them together like it is, with all the ingredients?
greetings from germany
betsy says
yes, the quinoa should be cooked first
Tina says
Can u make a big batch then freeze them for later?
Sarah Vaughan says
I just made these and they were packed full of flavour. I will be making these again. First time quinoa user and love this ingredient!
Mario & Michelle says
You’re great, Betsy! It look very attractive and appetizing, wishing I had at least one if front of me now…but would prefer 10 🙂
Gloria says
i am going to definitely. Try your Quinoa Buffalo Bites tonight. Quinoa and cannellini beans are two of my favorite foods. Can’t wait!!
Gloria
Laina says
These look so delicious. Thanks for posting them. You said you baked them and I was wondering at what temperature and for how long???
Thanks!
betsy says
click through the link to view the complete recipe
Tara says
I can’t find the recipe but would really like to make them. Looked on your website after being unsuccessful on Pinterest where I found them in the first place. Please let me know how I can find the recipe. My mouth is already watering…
Nancy says
How would you bake them?
JKD says
The link goes to a recipe for a salad. Not this appetizer.
betsy says
Right. If you read the recipe, she makes the bites then puts them on a salad. I skip the salad part but the bites recipe is the same.
David says
I just purchased your cook book expecting to get the recipe for Quinoa buffalo bites,,,not there. neither is it on your website
betsy says
Hi David! As I mention in the post, this is Teighan’s recipe so I link directly to her site. Head over and check it out on Half Baked Harvest. Thanks!
Eric says
Just a quick comment, the title of the recipe says “egg-free” but the recipe that is linked requires one large egg. Looks delicious otherwise!
betsy says
Thanks for the heads up! A flax egg will work great too
Leslee Storey says
Would love to have your quinoa buffalo bites recipe, please email it to me, and any other recipes you have , thank you
betsy says
The recipe is available via link within the body of the post. Hope you enjoy!
AC says
I know I’m super late to the party but I just made these and they were delicious! I didn’t have the beans so I just used tricolor quinoa, regular breadcrumbs, an egg, roasted garlic powder, salt, and the hot sauce. Perfection. My husband who is not a vegetarian couldn’t stop raving about them. So satisfying. Thanks for the recipe!
betsy says
I love hearing this! A family favorite over here too