Mexican Meatballs with Tomato Avocado Salad — These FAST and EASY ground beef meatballs are coated are loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors the whole family will LOVE!! Great for busy weeknight dinners or easy-breezy entertaining!!
This post is sponsored by Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. The recipe, images, text, and opinions expressed are my own.
Spiced Mexican Meatballs
If you need a recipe that the whole family will love and that’s fast, easy, and loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors, look no further than these ground beef meatballs.
The Mexican meatballs are coated with enchilada sauce and are infused with cilantro, cumin, chili powder, onions, and garlic. Can you say flavor bombs? They’re not your average (i.e. dry, boring, or tasteless) meatballs, that is for sure.
I made these spiced meatballs with 93% lean ground beef. Beef is a top protein choice that not only tastes great, but it’s also a source of strength to fuel you through your busy workday, your kid’s after-school sports practice, or your own CrossFit or yoga classes. Beef helps you be your best self and provide strength for your family.
Whether it’s incorporating beef into your weekly meal plan for the versatility, like this easy beef southwestern skillet, the convenience of a 15-minute beef and broccoli sheet pan dinner, or making a healthy beef taco salad that’s bursting with flavor, regularly incorporating beef into your diet can help give you the mental and physical strength needed to take on all that life throws your way.
People love beef’s rich flavor and it’s a complete, high-quality protein food that contains all the essential amino acids the body needs to support physical activity and a strong, healthy life. The iron in beef, which is more easily absorbed than iron from plant sources, can help prevent fatigue, and the protein in beef contains the optimal mix of amino acids for building and repairing muscle.
Visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com/nutrition for more recipe inspiration and education surrounding beef.
What’s in Mexican Meatballs?
To make these easy ground beef meatballs, you’ll need:
- Ground beef
- Enchilada sauce
- Eggs
- Italian breadcrumbs
- Fresh cilantro
- Garlic
- Minced onion flakes
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Dried oregano
- Cayenne pepper
How to Make Mexican Meatballs
These spiced meatballs couldn’t be simpler to make! Just add all the ingredients into a large bowl, making sure to reserve some enchilada sauce for later on. Combine all the ingredients with your hands or a spoon, then scoop into balls.
Place the rolled Mexican meatballs into a greased 9×9-inch baking dish and top with remaining enchilada sauce. Bake until cooked through and serve with tomato avocado salad if desired.
Can I Prep Meatballs in Advance?
You can prep the Mexican meatballs in advance and just pop the baking dish in the fridge for up to two days before you’re ready to bake them off. Note that if you’re prepping in advance, add the enchilada sauce right before baking.
Can I Freeze Meatballs?
Yes, freezing meatballs is a great way to save leftovers! Let the Mexican meatballs cool completely, then seal inside a freezer bag. To thaw, place in your fridge overnight or reheat in the oven from frozen.
What to Serve with Meatballs
I served these Mexican meatballs with a tomato and avocado salad that complements the Mexican vibe. If you’re looking for more side dish inspiration, here are a few other things I like serving with meatballs:
- Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad
- Mexican Mango Chickpea Salad
- Veggie-Packed Rice and Beans
- Grilled Mexican Corn
- Avocado Black Bean Salad
- Mexican Wedge Salad with Avocado-Cilantro Dressing
Tips for Making Mexican Meatballs
Make the ground beef meatballs as mild or kicked up as you like based on the type of enchilada sauce you use from mild to wild, as well as the amount of chili powder and optional cayenne pepper used.
Note that it’s not necessary to roll the meatballs in your hands after scooping them out if you are in a rush, but they will look neater if you take the time to give each meatball a quick roll between your palms.
This is a great busy weeknight dinner or easy-breezy entertaining recipe. No time to sit down for a dinner and need to have something more portable? Put the meatballs on bread or buns for a grab-and-go sandwich.
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Mexican Meatballs with Tomato Avocado Salad
Ingredients
Meatballs
- one pound 93% lean ground beef
- one 10 to 12-ounce jar enchilada sauce, I use medium heat, divided
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup seasoned, Italian breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, plus more for garnishing
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely pressed or minced
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onion flakes
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 to 3 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste (I used 3)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- pinch cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
Salad
- about 3 Roma tomatoes or 2 medium/large tomatoes, diced chunky
- 1 large ripe Hass avocado, diced into bite-sized pieces
- about 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- pinch sugar, optional and to taste
Instructions
Make the Meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 350F and spray an 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking or casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
- To a large bowl add all the ingredients noting that you will only add 1/4 cup enchilada sauce now; reserve the remainder to pour over the meatballs before baking.
- Using your hands or a large wooden spoon, combine all the ingredients.
- Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out the meatballs. It’s not necessary to roll them in your hands after scooping them out if you are in a rush, but they will look neater if you take the time to give each meatball a quick roll between your palms.
- Place rolled meatballs in prepared baking dish and evenly drizzle the reserved enchilada sauce over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove pan from the oven, remove the foil, and bake for about 10 more minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.
- While meatballs bake, prepare the salad.
Make the Salad:
- To a large bowl, add all ingredients, and toss gently to combine.
- After the meatballs are done, serve with the salad.
Notes
- Meatballs are best fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days. Salad is best fresh.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Mexican Ground Beef Recipes:
ALL MY FAVORITE BEEF RECIPES HERE
ALL MY FAVORITE MEXICAN RECIPES HERE
One Skillet Beef Taco Pasta – An easy recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes, made in one skillet, and loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors! A family favorite that’s great for busy weeknights!
Easy 30-Minute Southwestern Beef Skillet — Easy, family friendly, ready in 30 minutes, and comfort food at its best! Ground beef, pasta, black beans, tomatoes, taco seasoning, and cheese for a Southwestern flair!
Loaded Beef Taco Salad with Creamy Lime Cilantro Dressing — Loaded with your favorite taco fixings, minus the shells, to keep things healthier without sacrificing any flavor! The dressing is easy, creamy and irresistible!
Cheesy Beef Taco Pie — Your favorite taco ingredients baked into a savory, cheesy pie! Ground beef, tomatoes, tortilla chips, and more! Great for parties, tailgating, or easy family dinners and everyone loves it!
Loaded Smothered Beef Burritos – Mexican comfort food that’s loaded with seasoned ground beef, refried beans, rice, and smothered with sauce and CHEESE!!
Loaded Beef Skillet Nachos — EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and LOADED with taco-seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, cilantro, and lots of CHEESE!! Great for parties, game days, after school snacks, or a cheat night dinner!!
Mexican Taco Pizza – EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and like eating a taco in pizza form!! Taco-seasoned ground beef on top of refried beans with melted cheese and your favorite taco fixings!!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Beef. It’s What’s For DInner. The opinions and text are all mine.
Hi Averie
Thank you for your wonderful recipes. Wanted to know what’s the difference between Mexican meatball recipe and tex Mex meatballs recipe? I’m deciding on which to make. Thank you!
Thank you for the compliments on the recipes. The main difference is that the Mexican version does not have a cheese and it’s a baked version. Whereas the Tex-Mex version is smothered with cheese. And they’re a beef and pork combo rather than all beef in the Mexican version. They’re both great!
great
great
Delicious and Easy to make. I served it along yellow rice and salad. Great paring. I’ve also used left over meatballs in flour tortillas. Delicious. Liked the salad also.
Averie, these meatballs were absolutely delicious!
I’ve never made meatballs before, and you presented this recipe in such an approachable way that I felt like I could try it. Whenever I must, I substitute with gluten free ingredients (for this recipe, GF bread crumbs) and I have never had a recipe from your site fail.
Thank you for another winning recipe that my family loved :)
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you loved the meatballs! Great that you felt the recipe was approachable enough to make meatballs for the first time!
hey girl- this looks really tasty!
Thanks and have a great week!
These were so easy to make and so DELICIOUS. I served it with Bastmati rice that I mixed in fresh cilantro before serving.
Yummmm!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you loved these!
Did somebody get sponsored by the California Beef Council? LOL! That was A LOT of beef propaganda even for me, and I LOVE beef! No malice, just giggles! Your Mexican meatball recipe is DELICIOUS just like all of your recipes. Every time I make your Pineapple Upside Down Cake, at least three people ask me for “my” recipe. One of my daughters is a Johson & Wales trained Pastry Chef, and she loves it! Hey, see if you can get the Hawaiian Board of Pineapple Growers on board! I would love to know what enzymes and vitamins are assisting my body when I eat your cake!!! Rock-on girlfriend! I love your stuff!
Yes it was sponsored as I mentioned at the top of the post. Some brands have more messaging than others.
I am so glad my pineapple upside down cake is a bit hit and that it even impresses your Johnson & Wales pastry chef daughter! That’s high praise – thank you!
Could I precook the meatballs ahead of time and not in the enchilada sauce? I’m looking to help drain off some fat from the beef I have available, but I’m also looking to maybe freeze some of the meatballs for a quick meal during the week. Thoughts?
With the 93% lean that I used, there really wasn’t any fat to drain off but you could try to pre-cook, drain, then add sauce and bake if you think that would work better for you.
I love this recipe!! So fun, and I adore tomato avocado salsa so sign me up!
You can’t go wrong with avocados, right! :)
I would love to try these! I had meatballs at a Mexican tapas restaurant and they were excellent. I think the enchilada sauce and spices in your recipe will be quite similar.
I was recently at a Mexican tapas bar too. Don’t recall seeing meatballs on the menu but so much other great food. If you try these, let me know! Have a nice weekend!