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Easy baked Mexican meatballs covered in thick red enchilada sauce and garnished with fresh cilantro, served with cilantro lime rice and pinto beans

Easy Baked Mexican Meatballs

Juicy baked Mexican meatballs packed with roasted poblano, crushed Fritos, and fresh cilantro, simmered in a rich red enchilada sauce. Bold, satisfying, and ready in 45 minutes for a weeknight dinner the whole family loves.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 portions
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Calories: 437

Ingredients
  

  • 1 poblano pepper roasted, skin stem and seeds removed
  • 1.5 cups Fritos corn chips original flavor, crushed into about 1/2 cup fine crumbs
  • 0.25 cup whole milk
  • 1 small onion cut into chunks
  • 2-3 garlic cloves
  • 0.5 cup fresh cilantro firmly packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 2 lbs ground beef 80/20 blend recommended for juicy results
  • 20 oz red enchilada sauce mild or spicy based on preference
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp sugar balances acidity in the enchilada sauce

Equipment

  • Baking sheet
  • Food processor or blender
  • Large pot
  • Aluminum foil
  • Zip-lock bag
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Tongs

Method
 

  1. Set broiler to high and place oven rack 5 to 6 inches below the heat. Place the poblano on foil on a baking sheet. Broil for 6 to 8 minutes, turning every 1 to 2 minutes with tongs, until the skin is fully blistered and blackened all over.
  2. Transfer the hot pepper immediately into a sealed zip-lock bag and let it steam for 10 minutes. Open the bag, peel off the charred skin, and remove the stem and seeds. Set aside.
  3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray generously with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  4. Pulse Fritos in a food processor until you have about 1/2 cup of fine crumbs. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, add the milk, stir together, and let soak for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
  5. Without washing the food processor, add the onion, garlic, cilantro, and roasted poblano. Pulse until finely chopped. Add this mixture to the Fritos bowl and stir to combine.
  6. Stir in the eggs, kosher salt, and black pepper until fully mixed through.
  7. Add the ground beef and fold in using your hands just until combined. Stop as soon as no streaks of plain meat remain. Do not overwork or the meatballs will be tough.
  8. Roll into 1 1/2-inch balls, about 35 total. Keep them uniform in size for even baking. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned on top.
  9. While the meatballs bake, combine the enchilada sauce, chicken broth, and sugar in a large pot over high heat. Bring to a simmer.
  10. Lift the baked meatballs from the pan with a fork, scraping off excess fat from the edges, and transfer to the simmering sauce. Bring to a boil, stirring gently only along the bottom and edges to avoid breaking the meatballs.
  11. Reduce to medium heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Serve hot with rice, beans, warm tortillas, or scoop-style Fritos and sour cream.

Notes

For more heat, choose spicy enchilada sauce. Fritos can be swapped for crushed tortilla chips if needed. Meatballs and sauce freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth to loosen the sauce.