Chaos Buffalo Pretzel Balls (Print)
Crispy pretzel balls with spicy buffalo chicken and gooey cheese. Ideal for snack time or sharing.
# Components:
→ Buffalo Chicken Filling
01 - 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
02 - 1/2 cup buffalo hot sauce, such as Frank's RedHot
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
04 - 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
06 - 2 green onions, finely sliced
07 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Pretzel Dough
09 - 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
10 - 1 1/4 cups warm water, approximately 110°F
11 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
12 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
13 - 1 teaspoon salt
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
→ Pretzel Bath & Topping
15 - 1/2 cup baking soda
16 - 8 cups water
17 - 1 large egg, beaten
18 - Coarse salt, for sprinkling
# Directions:
01 - In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, melted butter, mozzarella, blue cheese, green onions, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until the filling is evenly blended. Set the mixture aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast and granulated sugar in the warm water. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.
03 - Add all-purpose flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 to 7 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.
04 - Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm environment for 30 minutes, or until doubled in volume.
05 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
06 - Punch down the dough and divide it into 24 equal portions. Flatten each portion into a 3-inch circle. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of buffalo chicken filling in the center of each circle, then seal the edges tightly to form smooth balls.
07 - In a large pot, combine 8 cups water with baking soda and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
08 - Gently drop 4 to 6 pretzel balls at a time into the simmering bath for 30 seconds. Remove using a slotted spoon and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
09 - Brush the pretzel balls with beaten egg and sprinkle generously with coarse salt.
10 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the pretzel balls are golden brown. Serve while warm with additional buffalo sauce or ranch dressing as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Great appetizer for parties or gatherings
- Easy to customize spice or cheese level
02 -
- Contains: Wheat (gluten), Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Butter
- Freeze unbaked balls after step 7; bake from frozen, adding 3 ( ) 5 extra minutes
03 -
- Swap blue cheese for extra mozzarella for a milder flavor
- Serve with extra buffalo sauce or cool ranch for dipping