Mexican Meatballs

These homemade Tex-Mex Mexican meatballs are deliciously flavored and perfect for a main dish or a tasty appetizer. The best part about these meatballs is they are stuffed with cheddar cheese for a melty filling.

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Change up Taco Tuesday with taco meatballs, they won't disappoint because honestly anything stuffed with cheese is a winner.

Jump to:

• These cheesy meatballs are...
• Ingredients
• Hey, let's change things up
• How to serve these stuffed meatballs
• How to Make Meatballs: Step-By-Step
• Storing
• Meatball FAQ's
• Hungry for more recipes? Try these
• Recipe

These cheesy meatballs are...

• Super quick to make, just mix in one bowl
• A go-to favorite when life gets busy and the family wants something yummy
• Stuffed with cheese because cheese makes everything better
• Oven baked
• Freezer friendly
• Serve as a Main Dish or Appetizer
• A favorite recipe for game day, I usually triple the recipe

Ingredients

• Ground beef - An 80/20 or 90/10 works great as the fat helps to create juicy meatballs.
• Egg - the egg will bind all the ingredients together.
• Breadcrumbs - I used plain breadcrumbs or panko works too.
• Taco Seasoning - You can use homemade taco seasoning, or use a packet of taco seasoning.
• Milk
• Cheese - You can use any type of cheese, we used Colby jack cheese.
• Cilantro - An optional garnish.

Hey, let's change things up

• You could use ground turkey if you wanted instead of beef. Or do half ground pork and half beef for a double meat mixture that will still create a flavorful and juicy meatball.
• Swap out the bread crumbs with saltine crackers. Just finely crush the crackers and then place them in the meatball mixture.
• Sprinkle with cotija cheese or another shredded cheese in the last 5 minutes of baking.
• If you have a lime, cut it open and drizzle the lime juice over the meatballs.

How to serve these stuffed meatballs

Serve with salsa for dipping, or top with this deliciously spiced pineapple habanero sauce for a kick of flavor.

Heat some enchilada sauce and place the cooked meatballs in the sauce

Serve over a bed of white rice, Mexican rice, or mashed potatoes.

You can pair these meatballs with this Corn and Bean Soup that has a spicy kick of flavor and a creamy broth. And, bake a pan of our favorite Veggie Cornbread to serve with the meatballs.

How to Make Meatballs: Step-By-Step

This is a quick walkthrough on how to make this recipe. Full directions on how to make these meatballs are in the printable recipe card.

Step 1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2. Cut the cheese into small cubes.

Optionally you can use shredded cheese, or use presliced cheese and cut it into small slices.

Step 3. In a large bowl add all the ingredients and mix well until combined.

Meatball tip #1 Don't overmix the meatball mixture or it will make them heavy and dense. Mix lightly and don't press too hard when shaping into balls for moist meatballs.

Step 3. Use a tablespoon and scoop out two tablespoons and roll the mixture into a ball.

Meatball tip #2 Another way to form the meatballs is to spread the hamburger mixture out on a piece of wax paper and form it into a square about 8" x 8" then cut it into twelve squares and make balls. I just kind of eyeballed this to make 12 balls of even size. If one is small than the other, just pinch off some hamburger from the larger ball and add the smaller ball to equal them out.

Step 4. Flatten the balls out like a hamburger patty.

Step 5. Place the cheese cube in the center of the meat, and then create a round ball covering the cheese with meat. Make sure the cheese isn't exposed or it will melt out when baking.

Step 6. Place the cheese-stuffed meatballs in the baking pan.

Step 7. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

One of my meatballs lost some of the cheese, so make sure to get that cheese stuffed inside.

When done top with cilantro and serve.

Storing

Refrigerate - You can refrigerate the meatballs in an air-tight container for up to three days in the fridge. Then reheat the meatballs in the microwave, oven, or even air fryer.

Freezing Raw Meatballs - You can prep your meatballs and freeze them raw. If you do place them in a freezer-friendly container using wax paper between layers if you stack them. Then place the uncooked meatballs on the prepared baking dish and bake the same way in the oven just add time for the meatballs to cook fully.

Freeze Cooked Meatballs - Go ahead and freeze any meatballs you don't plan to eat right away. Just place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze for 4-6 months. Then, you can thaw in the fridge or reheat it straight from frozen. This is a great make-ahead meal to reheat and serve for an easy dinner.

Meatball FAQ's

Just in case you are looking for more meatball recipes, you gotta try this 4-Cheese Meatball Casserole. Who said meatballs have to go with spaghetti? Or these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs that can be an appetizer or main dish.

Hungry for more recipes? Try these

Recipe

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About Jere'                             

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.