Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (2024)

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This Mexican Meatballs recipe is chock full of authentic flavors. The juicy meatballs are made from a combination of ground beef and crumbled Mexican chorizo, are browned to create a delicious outer crust and flavor, and then enveloped in a sauce made from roasted garlic, tomatillos, onions, and chipotles en adobo to create an absolutely flavor-packed dish everyone is sure to enjoy!

These Mexican Meatballs are made with our signature Homemade Mexican Chorizo that is so easy to make, can be frozen to conveniently have on hand, and tastes absolutely incredible!

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (1)

This was a spur of the moment creation several years ago just after newly launching my blog in 2013. I had some thawed ground beef in the fridge and some tomatillos that needed to be used. I grabbed some white onions, a can of chipotles en adobo, and some garlic. As I was gathering these ingredients, I remembered reading about a technique used by well-known Mexican cook Margarita Carrillo de Salinas in which she places a little bit of hard-boiled egg in the center of each meatball. I decided to do that for this recipe to add to the flavor and texture. It was a great touch.

Another highlight of these meatballs is the inclusion of Mexican chorizo which is raw ground pork that is mixed with spices and is crumbled and cooked; a popular additional in Mexican cuisine. I’m not a fan of some of the ingredients used in commercially sold Mexican chorizo so years ago I started making my own homemade Mexican chorizo. The flavor is out of this world and you can make a big batch of it, freeze it in smaller portions, and conveniently take out what you need. Many meatball recipes call for a combination of beef and pork and for these “Mexican Meatballs” I thought chorizo in place of the pork would be the perfect substitute.The end result was a hit around our family table and they have been a family favorite ever since. Tender, juicy meatballs coated with a smoky, creamy roasted garlic, chipotle and tomatillo sauce. These Mexican meatballs are a flavor powerhouse!

What to Serve with Mexican Meatballs

Depending on whether you’re wanting a carb or you prefer to go low-carb there are several great options. Here are a few things you can serve with these Mexican meatballs:

  • Steamed rice
  • Cilantro lime rice
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Quinoa
  • Black beans
  • Refried beans
  • Crusty bread
  • Warm corn tortillas
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Leafy green salad

Can These Be Made in Advance?

Yes. To save time you can assemble the meatballs a day in advance and then fry them the following day. Likewise you can roast the vegetables a day in advance, cover and refrigerate them until ready to use. These Mexican meatballs also make great leftovers; just in the microwave. They also freeze well; let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Mexican Meatballs Recipe

Let’s get started!

Quarter one of the onions (the other onions is going to be diced and added to the meatball mixture), peel the husks off the tomatillos and wash them, and leave the garlic cloves in their peels. Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle some olive oil over all of them. Heat the oven to 425 F and roast them until the skins are starting to blacken and blister, about 35-40 minutes.

Remove the vegetables from the oven. Squeeze the garlic from their peels.

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (2)

Place the vegetables in a blender along with the beef broth, chipotles, salt and puree until smooth. Pour the sauce in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chorizo, onion, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, cilantro, oregano and pepper. Using your hands, knead the mixture together until thoroughly combined.

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (3)

Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls, flatten, put a piece of hard-boiled egg in the center, and close the meat around it forming it back into a ball.

Repeat with each meatball.

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (4)

Heat some oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry the meatballs on all sides until browned.

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (5)

Place the meatballs on paper towels to absorb the grease.

Pour the roasted tomatillos sauce into the large skillet and nestle the meatballs in the sauce. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add a little extra beef broth to thin the sauce as needed.

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (6)

Serve with your choice of sides, for example a salad and some good crusty bread.

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (7)

For more delicious Mexican recipes be sure to also try our:

  • Albondigas Soup
  • Pozole Rojo
  • Queso Fundido
  • Steak Fajitas
  • Mexican Corn Salad
  • Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • BEST Enchilada Sauce
  • Stuffed Mexican Cornbread
  • Restaurant Style Mexican Salsa
  • Sincronizadas
  • Tinga Poblana Tacos

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (8)

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce

Kimberly Killebrew

Chock full of authentic flavors, these juicy beef and chorizo meatballs are served in a fabulous roasted garlic, chipotle, tomatillo sauce!

Print Recipe

5 from 74 votes

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4

Calories 582 kcal

Ingredients

  • For the Sauce:
  • 1 lb tomatillos , husks removed and washed
  • 1 small white onion , quartered
  • 1 small white onion , finely diced
  • 5 cloves garlic , peels left intact
  • 2 chipotles en adobo , seeds removed if you prefer less spicy
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • For the Meatballs:
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/4 lb Mexican chorizo , crumbled
  • Homemade Mexican Chorizo Recipe , easy to make and recommended for the BEST flavor!
  • 3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 eggs , lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro , chopped
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs , diced
  • chopped cilantro for garnishing

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425.

    Place the onion quarters, tomatillos and unpeeled garlic on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Roast the vegetables until they begin to blacken and blister, about 35-40 minutes. Squeeze the garlic from the peels and discard the peels.

    Place the vegetables in a blender along with the beef broth, chipotles and the 1/2 teaspoon salt. Process until smooth. Pour the sauce into a small saucepan, bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more salt to taste.

  • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chorizo, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, oregano, salt, pepper and cilantro. Using your hands, knead the mixture until thoroughly combined. Form the meat mixture into 1-inch balls, flatten them and place a piece of hard-boiled egg, and close the meat around it to form back into a ball. Repeat for all meatballs. Makes about 30 meatballs.

  • Heat some vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry the meatballs on all sides until brown. Transfer the meatballs to paper towels to drain the grease.

    Pour the sauce into the skillet and nestle the meatballs in the sauce. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Add a little more beef broth as needed to think the sauce.

    Serve with your choice of sides (e.g. rice, crusty bread, warm corn tortillas, a salad).

Nutrition

Calories: 582kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 274mg | Sodium: 1591mg | Potassium: 862mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 574IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 5mg

Keyword Mexican Meatballs

Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet

Inspired by Marilyn Tausend

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet February 10, 2013

Mexican Meatballs with Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between green sauce and tomatillo sauce? ›

Tomatillo sauce: A Sause made using tomatillos, most of the time the final result is a green looking salsa, but it can end up being other color depending on other ingredients that where used. Salsa verde = Green salsa, is just to generic.

What are Mexican meatballs made of? ›

ingredients
  • 1 12 lbs ground beef.
  • 1 12 lbs ground pork.
  • 2 eggs.
  • 1 12 cups dried breadcrumbs, plain.
  • 1 teaspoon salt.
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, ground.
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced.
  • 12 cup water.

Is chipotle green tomatillo sauce spicy? ›

Is Chipotle's Tomatillo Green-Chili Salsa spicy? Chipotle's tomatillo salsa is considered their medium spiced salsa. It is slightly spicy, but not overbearing.

Is tomatillo sauce the same as enchilada sauce? ›

The key difference in preparation compared to enchilada sauce is that only the tomatillos are cooked, which are boiled or roasted to soften and bring out the flavors. The rest of the ingredients are blended or chopped together into salsa.

What are Spanish meatballs made of? ›

My albondigas recipe is made from minced beef and pork blended with fried onions, cumin and smokey paprika and shaped into large Spanish meatballs that are slowly cooked in a rich tomato sauce made with roasted red peppers and Rioja wine.

What is the binding ingredient in meatballs? ›

Eggs are an important ingredient in any bowl of meatballs. They serve as a binder, which is like the glue that holds the actual ball and all of its ingredients together, and they provide moisture to the final product.

What's the difference between meatballs and Italian meatballs? ›

American meatballs are the biggest in size, with Italian and Swedish meatballs following on the depth chart. Italian meatballs call for seasonings like grated parmesan and oregano, while Swedish ones use seasonings like nutmeg and allspice. While it doesn't sound like a huge distinction, you'll notice it in the taste!

Is green enchilada sauce the same as tomatillo salsa? ›

Shortly, they share almost the same ingredients: green tomatoes (tomatillo), garlic, onions, water or chicken stock, salt, serrano or jalapeño chiles. But some recipes call for cummin, cilantro, lime juice, black pepper or sour cream (like enchiladas suizas). Also another difference is the texture of the sauce.

What is the difference between green salsa and tomatillo salsa? ›

The red salsa is made using a red tomato base, while the green salsa is made with a tomatillo base. Tomatillo is a small, green fruit that resembles a small green tomato. These tiny fruits grow on a vine and are covered in a husky that must be peeled away. They are acidic and sweet and give a nice tangy flavor.

Is green enchilada sauce made from tomatillos? ›

This vibrant, bright, green enchilada sauce is full of flavor thanks to roasted tomatillos. Plus, it's quick and easy to make with just 8 ingredients and 30 minutes required.

What is the difference between tomatillos and green tomatoes? ›

Tomatillos also tend to be juicier and not as firm as green tomatoes, so they are quite different in texture. When a tomatillo is ripe, it remains a small, green fruit, and it grows inside a papery husk called a calyx. On the other hand, a green tomato is the unripe fruit of any variety of tomato plant.

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