Creole Chicken Artichoke Balls

I have to admit everyone in my house is a sports fanatic.

We love all sports, football, basketball, baseball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, you name it and we love it!

But you can’t watch sports without something to eat!

Enter my Creole Chicken Artichoke Balls!

It’s football time and I am getting ready for my super bowl party. A little background on my super bowl parties.

I have been having super bowl parties since I was about 13 years old.

I would plan the party and invite all of my older brothers friends.

I cooked all of the food and my brother would come home and say why did he find out I was having a party from his friends and not me?

My parties became so popular because the food was excellent and I was just as rowdy as the boys when it was game time.

I would make fried chicken, fried fish, dips, hot wings, you name it and I was cooking it.

I happen to be the only girl in a party full of big boys but I held my own and I always picked the winning team.

When I met Big Goo he was lucky that he loved sports because he would have gotten only one date.

Anyone who was going to date me, must love sports.

The funny part is when Big Goo came to one of my sports parties and he was trying to figure out why everyone there was a guy, except me!

I told him you have to accept that all of my sports buddies are guys and they have been coming to my parties for years.

Big Goo asked me was this even legal (yes, we were betting on sports, don’t tell anyone) hey, I was a minor and I always won.

Big Goo has gotten over the initial shock 20 years later.

We have turned my baby girl into the next generation of a party planning sports fanatic, without the betting of course.

I decided to have a cooking session to decide which appetizers I think would hold up to all the screaming and yelling that will take place super bowl day!

This is so simple, just take artichokes, pre-cooked chicken, cheese, onions, and a little seasonings and mix well.

Create a dredging station which includes panko bread crumbs, lightly seasoned, a flour station and an egg station.

Roll these babies into golf ball size balls and dredge them.

This is what you will end up with. Look at them saying, fry me!

You could bake them if you want, but it’s the super bowl people, fry them!

These could be called golden nuggets, look at them. It just takes about 5 minutes of fry time.

After you fry all the balls, drain them on paper towels and allow them to cool slightly.

When you pop them open yell TOUCHDOWN!

I like to serve these with a side of minced red and green onions, lots of hot sauce and ranch dressing if you like.

Creole Chicken Artichoke Balls

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 20 medium size balls

Ingredients:

2 cups chicken, precooked, chopped

1 (14 oz) can of artichokes, drained

1 ( 8 oz. ) pack of cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup jack cheese, grated

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

2 eggs

1 cup dry Italian bread crumbs

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. creole seasonings

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

1/4 c. red onion, minced

1/4 c. green onion, minced

For the Dredging Station:

2 c. panko
2 c. flour
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. creole seasoning
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions:

In a food processor, blend all ingredients well. I did this in two batches then mixed everything together well in a bowl.

By rounded tablespoons shaped mixture into balls about the size of golf balls and set aside.

Prepare the dredging station. In three bowls create a dredging station. Put panko, black pepper and creole seasoning in bowl 1.

Place flour in bowl 2, place beaten eggs and cayenne pepper in bowl 3.

Take each ball in place in flour first, tap off excess flour in your hand like if the balls were marbles.
Step 2, drop floured ball in eggs and roll around removing excess egg from ball.
 
To cook, in a large pan heat oil to 350 degrees and fry balls for about 5 minutes or until golden brown turning regularly to make sure all sides brown evenly.

Drain and serve with a side of Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce.