BEST Tex Mex Meatballs Recipe - Juicy And Delicious!
OMG our Tex Mex Meatballs are just so juicy, so flavorful and so super easy to make! Serve with rice, creamy mashed potatoes or on sub rolls for an easy dinner!
Why You'll LOVE These Juicy Meatballs
They're SO DELICIOUS - our Tex-Mex meatballs are super tasty! Juicy, tender, completely melt in the mouth. You're going to want them on repeat!
Really Easy To Make - meatballs are simple to make, even kids can help out in the kitchen making these.
Versatile - you can serve these spicy, cheesy meatballs with rice, wedges, fries, as subs, loaded into baked potatoes or with pasta!
Tex Mex Meatball Recipe
Serves – 4
Prep Time – 10 minutes
Cook Time – approx 20 minutes
Total Time – 30 minutes
Our Most Popular Alternative – Easy Meatball Traybake
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl - or other large bowl
- Tablespoon
- Teaspoon
- American measuring cups
- Large skillet pan (or large frying pan with a lid that you can fit over it)
- Grater
- Jug
- Cooking spoon
- Fork
Tex Mex Meatballs Ingredients
Everything you'll need to make delicious spicy meatballs with rich tomato sauce and cheesy topping
For The Tex Mex Meatballs
- 1lb ground beef (500g beef mince)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon chipotle seasoning (add more if you like a kick of heat)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 egg beaten
- pinch salt
- pinch ground black pepper
- 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the spicy tomato sauce
- 600g passata - if you can get it I recommend using Mutti brand, they just make the BEST canned tomatoes and sauces!
- 2 teaspoon chipotle seasoning - we use a seasoning that contains garlic and onion powder but if your's doesn't then add in a teaspoon onion powder and teaspoon garlic powder.
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- pinch salt
- pinch ground black pepper
If you're feeding BIG appetites, you may want to double this recipe
How To Make Tex Mex Meatballs
Step by step instructions for making juicy Tex-Mex Meatballs
Step One - add the meatball ingredients to a mixing bowl
- To make the meatballs - grab a bowl, add the ground beef, breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoon chipotle seasoning, 1 teaspoon dried garlic, pinch of salt and pinch of black pepper.
Step Two - mix in the seasonings
- Then using a fork, fork the seasonings through the ground beef - this gives a much better spread of the flavors than you get when you just scrunch up the meat with your hands.
- Then stir in the beaten egg and mix it through the meatball mixture.
Step Three - make the Tex-Mex meatballs
- Then make the meat mixture into 16 equally sized meatballs - just roll them between your hands into a ping pong size ball.
Step Four - cook the meatballs
- Then add a tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet pan (you want one with a lid).
- Fry the meatballs in a little oil over a medium-hight heat, for around 6-7 minutes to brown the outsides.
Step Five - make the chipotle tomato sauce
- Then take a jug, pour in your passata, add the chipotle seasoning, dried oregano and salt and pepper. Give it a mix together.
- And then pour it over the meatballs in the skillet pan, stir around the meatballs gently so you don't break them up.
- Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for around 15 minutes or until they're cooked through properly right to the centres.
Step Six - melt the cheese over the Tex-Mex meatballs.
- Next take the grated Cheddar cheese and scatter it over the meatballs and sauce in the skillet pan.
- Put the lid back on the pan and leave it for 2-3 minutes so that the cheese melts over the meatballs. Serve straight away, these are far too good to wait! You can sprinkle with a little chopped cilantro (coriander) and chopped jalapeño peppers if you've any to hand.
Get Our Easy Meatball Subs Recipe Here
What To Serve With Tex Mex Meatballs
My kids LOVE Tex-Mex meatballs with savoury rice and sweet potato fries. But we've popped some more serving suggestions below for you try out (and they're all DELICIOUS)
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Boiled Rice
- Load into Baked Potatoes
- Stuff into Sub Rolls
- Corn Chips
- Homemade Ranch Coleslaw
- Potato Salad
Recipe Tips And Variations For Tex Mex Meatballs
Can I Make These Meatballs In Advance
If you're wanting to prep-ahead, we'd recommend making up the meatballs and then storing them raw in the fridge in an airtight container and cooking them fresh as you want to eat them. They will keep for up to 48 hours in the fridge. They just taste better cooked from fresh.
Find All Our Mexican Recipes Here
How To Store Leftover Tex Mex Meatballs
If you have leftover meatballs, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours, reheat them thoroughly to the correct temperature throughout using the microwave.
Get All Our Mince Recipes Here
Can I Use Store Bought Meatballs Instead?
Absolutely you can use store-bought meatballs. If you want to infuse them with a little chipotle flavor, we'd recommend sprinkling over some chipotle seasoning before you fry them.
Get More Ground Beef Recipes Here
Ingredient Substitutions And Add-Ins For Your Tex Mex Meatballs
Swap the meat - You can make these meatballs from ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
Go Italian - And if you want an alternative to the Tex-Mex vibe, flavor them up using Italian seasoning and swap out the chipotle sauce for a classic marinara.
Use Cooking Shortcuts - we totally get it, life is busy and cooking short cuts are often needed. So feel free to swap to shop-bought meatballs, or shop bought sauce, like a red enchilada sauce for speed.
Add Some Crunch - sprinkle over a handful of crushed tortilla chips as you serve for added taste.
Get More Beef Recipes Here
What is the secret to tender meatballs?
Well, the secret is definitely using ground beef that's at least 20% fat, this is what helps the meatballs stay juicy and tender.
Why are my meatballs falling apart?
If your meatballs fall apart, it's probably because you didn't put enough beaten egg in the mixture. Beaten egg acts as a binder and helps the meatballs stick together. They are also less likely to break, if you rest them in the fridge for a while before cooking.
Why are my beef meatballs tough?
Tough meatballs are usually down to low-fat meat or over cooking.
What ingredient makes meatballs stick together?
Using beaten egg and breadcrumbs helps the meatballs stick together properly. Some people also like to soak the breadcrumbs in a little milk, for extra stickiness!
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Tex Mex Meatballs
Our juicy, delicious, tender Tex Mex meatballs just make meal times better!
Ingredients
For The Tex Mex Meatballs
- 1lb ground beef (500g beef mince)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon chipotle seasoning (add more if you like a kick of heat)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 egg beaten
- pinch salt
- pinch ground black pepper
- 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the spicy tomato sauce
- 600g passata
- 2 teaspoon chipotle seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- pinch salt
- pinch ground black pepper
Instructions
- To make the meatballs - grab a bowl, add the ground beef, breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoon chipotle seasoning, 1 teaspoon dried garlic, pinch of salt and pinch of black pepper.
- Then using a fork, fork the seasonings through the ground beef - this gives a much better spread of the flavors than you get when you just scrunch up the meat with your hands.
- Then stir in the beaten egg and mix it through the meatball mixture.
- Then make the meat mixture into 16 equally sized meatballs - just roll them between your hands into a ping pong size ball.
- Then add a tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet pan (you want one with a lid).
- Fry the meatballs in a little oil for around 6-7 minutes to brown the outsides.
- Then take a jug, pour in your passata, add the chipotle seasoning, dried oregano and salt and pepper. Give it a mix together and then pour it over the meatballs in the skillet pan.
- Cook the meatballs in the sauce for around 15 minutes or until they're cooked through properly right to the centres.
- Next take the grated Cheddar cheese and scatter it over the meatballs and sauce in the skillet pan.
- Put the lid back on the pan and leave it for 2-3 minutes so that the cheese melts over the meatballs.
- Serve straight away, these are far too good to wait!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 601Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 175mgSodium: 766mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 43g
Nutritional content will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use and how careful you are with measuring - this nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate - you should always calculate your own nutritional information especially if you have specific dietary requirements.
Get more delicious meal ideas and easy recipes here
straight from the Daisies & Pie kitchen
More Tasty Meatball Recipes To Try
- Meatball Pasta Bake
- Meatball Tray Bake
- Sausage Meatballs
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Meatballs
- Air Fryer Meatball Tacos
Wendy is the creator of Daisies & Pie, a UK food blog sharing easy meals and home lifestyle tips since 2012
