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Spicy Mexican Donkey Balls Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 130 reviews

These Spicy Mexican Donkey Balls are flavorful, tender beef meatballs infused with aromatic spices, fresh cilantro, and jalapeños, baked in a savory Mexican-style tomato sauce. Perfect as a hearty appetizer or main dish, they bring a deliciously spicy twist to classic meatballs, garnished with fresh lime for an extra zesty finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatball Mixture

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
  • 1 egg, beaten

Cooking

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 can (15 oz) Mexican-style tomatoes with green chilies
  • Fresh lime wedges, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs after searing.
  2. Make Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped onion, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute all the spices and vegetables.
  3. Add Binding Ingredients: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips ensuring they are well incorporated. Then, pour in the beaten egg and mix everything well to help bind the mixture.
  4. Form Meatballs: Using clean hands, shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, making sure they are even in size for consistent cooking.
  5. Sear Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and sear them, browning all sides evenly. This should take about 5 minutes and adds great flavor and texture.
  6. Add Tomato Sauce: Pour the can of Mexican-style tomatoes with green chilies over the seared meatballs in the skillet to coat them with the spicy sauce.
  7. Bake: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until fully cooked through and tender.
  8. Serve: Remove from oven and serve the spicy meatballs hot, garnished with fresh lime wedges to squeeze over for a bright, tangy finish.

Notes

  • Deseeding the jalapeño controls the heat level; keep seeds if you prefer spicier meatballs.
  • Use an ovenproof skillet for easy transfer from stovetop to oven without transferring meatballs.
  • For a gluten-free option, verify that the crushed tortilla chips are gluten-free or substitute with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
  • Leftover meatballs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
  • Serve with rice, tortillas, or a fresh salad for a complete meal.

Keywords: spicy meatballs, Mexican meatballs, baked meatballs, ground beef recipe, jalapeño meatballs, Mexican-style tomatoes, cilantro, easy dinner

Find it online: https://leofoster.com/spicy-mexican-donkey-balls-recipe/