Appetizer

Spicy Buldak Chicken and Cheese Potato Balls

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If you’ve ever stood in line at Porto’s Bakery for one of their famous potato balls, you already know the hype is real. Buttery mashed potatoes, seasoned meat, crispy coating, perfection. But let me put you on something even better: Spicy Buldak Chicken and Cheese Potato Balls. Think of them as the bold, spicy, cheese stuffed cousin of the classic Porto’s version. We’re leveling up everything, the flavor, the texture, the drama, and turning your favorite bakery treat into something next level that you can make right at home.

Instead of the traditional picadillo style filling, we’re going all in with spicy shredded Buldak chicken, inspired by the viral Korean fire noodles. It’s saucy, flavorful, and has just the right kick to keep you coming back for more. And to really take it over the top, there’s a melty cheese center that turns every bite into a creamy, gooey, spicy explosion. Porto’s could never.

And the best part? These are super easy to make in your own kitchen. The mashed potatoes wrap around that spicy chicken and cheese like a warm hug, and once you bread and fry them to golden brown, the result is something crispy on the outside, tender and cheesy on the inside, and packed with flavor in every bite. It’s comfort food that bites back in the best way.

You can serve them as party snacks, weeknight treats, or even meal prep them and pop them in the freezer for those days when you need something extra satisfying. They’re crowd pleasers for sure, but fair warning: once your friends try these, they’ll expect you to bring them to every hangout.

So if you love Porto’s but wish their potato balls had a little more spice and a lot more cheese, this is your sign to try making this upgraded version. It’s nostalgic, spicy, and totally irresistible, a potato ball glow up you didn’t know you needed.

Spicy Buldak Chicken and Cheese Potato Balls

Recipe by Julia Vuong
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: AppetizerCuisine: American, Korean
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

45

minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 2 medium sized russet potatoes

  • 1 tsp 1 kosher salt (for boiling water)

  • 1 tbsp 1 butter

  • 1 tbsp 1 milk (adjust for dryness)

  • 1 1 jalapeno (diced)

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 green onions (sliced)

  • 1/3 cup 1/3 shredded mozzarella

  • 1 tsp 1 garlic salt

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 paprika

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 garlic powder

  • 1/4 tsp 1/4 pepper

  • Chicken and Cheese Filling
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 shredded chicken breast

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 garlic salt

  • 1/4 tsp 1/4 paprika

  • 1/4 tsp 1/4 garlic powder

  • 3 3 garlic cloves (minced)

  • 2 tbsp 2 oil (for cooking)

  • 1 tbsp 1 Buldak hot sauce (adjust for spice)

  • 1 tsp 1 corn starch

  • 3 tbsp 3 water

  • 1/3 cup 1/3 shredded mozzarella

  • Toppings
  • 1 tbsp 1 chives

  • 2 tbsp 2 grated parmesan cheese

  • 1 tsp 1 Buldak hot sauce

  • Dredging Station
  • 2 2 eggs

  • 1/2 cup 1/2 flour

  • 1 tsp 1 garlic salt

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 paprika

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 garlic powder

  • 1 cup 1 Panko bread crumbs

  • Wingstop Style Ranch
  • 1/4 cup 1/4 buttermilk

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 mayo

  • 1 tbsp 1 ranch seasoning

  • 1 tbsp 1 milk (adjust to thin out)

  • 1 tsp 1 chives

Directions

  • Make the mashed potatoes:
    Boil the potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain and mash with butter until smooth. Add a bit of milk if it’s too thick/dry. Mix in seasonings.
  • Cook the filling:
    In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic. Lay seasoned chicken breast on the pan. Cook until internal temperature is at least 165F degrees. Remove and shred chicken. Throw the shredded chicken back on the pan, add Buldak hot sauce. Make a slurry with cornstarch and water. Cook for 2 minutes until well combined.
  • Assemble the balls:
    Scoop about 2 tablespoons of mashed potatoes into your hand. Flatten it slightly, add about 1 tsp of the chicken filling and 1 tsp of cheese in the center. Wrap the potato around it and roll into a ball. Repeat until all are shaped.
  • Coat and freeze:
    Roll each ball in seasoned flour, dip in beaten egg, then coat in panko breadcrumbs. Freeze the balls for 30 minutes before frying.
  • Fry:
    Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry the balls in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 3–4 minutes. Drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
  • Garnish:
    Sprinkle on chives, grated Parmesan, and a drizzle of Buldak hot sauce.
  • Make the ranch:
    In a small bowl, mix in mayo, buttermilk, chives, and ranch seasoning. To adjust the thickness, add milk to thin it out.
  • Dip and enjoy!