Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce

Name: Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2 eggs (lightly beaten); 1/4 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs; 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt (or to taste); 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste); 2 pounds ripe tomatoes; 2 garlic cloves; 3 tablespoons white onion (chopped); 1 to 2 tablespoons chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (or to taste); 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce (optional); 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 to 3 fresh cilantro sprigs (or to taste)

Albóndigas al Chipotle

Recipe Yield

8 to 10 servings

Cooking time

1 hour

Rate this recipe

4 from 6 votes

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 garlic cloves minced
2 eggs lightly beaten
1/4 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
2 pounds ripe tomatoes
2 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons white onion chopped
1 to 2 tablespoons chipotle chiles in adobo sauce or to taste
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce optional
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chicken broth
2 to 3 fresh cilantro sprigs or to taste

To Prepare

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat with the eggs, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands or a spatula.
Place tomatoes in a saucepan and cover with water; simmer over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until cooked through and mushy.
In a blender, add the cooked tomatoes along with 1/4 cup of their cooking liquid, 2 garlic cloves, white onion, the sauce from the chipotle chiles in adobo and, if desired, one whole seeded chipotle chile. Purée until smooth.
Pour the oil into a large soup pot and place over medium-high heat. Once hot, pour in the puréed tomato mix. It will sizzle and jump, that is ok! Let it simmer, with the lid ajar, anywhere from 6 to 8 minutes, or until it has changed its color to a deeper red, thickened in consistency and lost its raw flavor. Add the chicken broth and salt to taste and reduce heat to medium low.
Place a small mixing bowl with water to the side of the soup pot with the simmering tomato broth. Wet your hands and start to make the meatballs, one by one. They should be anywhere from 1 to 2″. Gently place the meatballs in the simmering tomato broth.
Once you have shaped all the meatballs, add the cilantro sprigs to the pot, then simmer over medium-low heat for 25 to 30 minutes.
Serve hot with a side of Mexican avocado slices, some warm corn tortillas and, if desired, frijoles de olla or white rice and plantains.

Comments

40comments inMeatballs in Chipotle Sauce

Jim

Jan 23

Everything about this dish is just terrific: the meatballs, the sauce, the combination
of the two. The recipe is also easily adapted to different levels of spice and smoke.

Thank you, Pati, for opening so many doors and for crossing borders. And also for
featuring food from the Yucatan. My partner and I will return to Mérida next week,
for the fifth time, and will visit some of the restaurants you’ve mentioned, including
La Tradición (Mérida) and Kinich (Izamal), where we’ve had outstanding meals in the
past.

Saludos!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 27
  
  Saludos Jim, enjoy Merida and have the most delicious food!
  
Todd O'huigin

Aug 26

I’ll try this as I love smoked flavor.
Having lived in numerous places this appeals to the appetite just thinking of these simmering.
Aside;
I usually smoke my chicken thoroughly before hand on a completely different thought.
Hickory, Apple, oak, mesquite has a wonderful taste carried through certain dishes!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Yum! Thanks for sharing Todd 😉
  
Elsa

Aug 25

Patti, I tried your Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce and they are to die for! My family loved them. I enjoy trying your recipes as they are always wonderful. I still cook for my 101 year old Mom and she also enjoys your recipes. I am very blessed to have my mom and I am delighted being able to cook your spectacular dishes for her. Thank you for sharing your beautiful knowledge in the world of cooking.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Thanks to you for your sweet words Elsa, and big hugs to you and your mom!
  
Alba

Aug 25

Sabrosa receta, me quedaron muy bien hechas
Gracias por compartir.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Con gusto Alba, que bueno que te gustaron 🙂
  
Josephine Jackyra

Aug 25

Thank you Patti, delicious meatballs and so easy to make. Your recipes are relatively easy and so satisfying. Keep them coming😋!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Thanks to you Josephine, so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
  
Harry Valle

Aug 25

I’m excited to make these meatballs thank you.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Let me know how you like them Harry 😉
  
Toni

Aug 25

Looks delicious will give them a try .I love your cookbook.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Thanks so much Toni!
  
Sandra Reyes

Aug 24

Sounds Delicious 🤤 I’m going to try it! Hola 👋🏽 from So. Cal🥰

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Hola Sandra, hope you enjoy the meatballs!
  
Foodhuntermark Brownstein

Aug 24

Rico e suave,
Bravo Patti!!
Saludos
MB

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 04
  
  Saludos back 😉
  
Carol

Mar 05

Made this tonight and it’s wonderful! Used 1T adobo plus 1 pepper, will use 2T adobo next time. Great recipe.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Mar 06
  
  Awesome, you’re on my spicy team Carol 😉
  
Erika

Feb 06

Puedo usar harina de almendra en vez de pan molido para q sea gluten free?

Tmbn usaria aceite de coco o ahuacate

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Feb 08
  
  Adelante Erika, muy buenas ideas 🙂
  
Sandra Velasco

Oct 13

Hy Jesus de Veracruz!!!
Las albondigas tanto como El arroz con chepil salieron delicious. No pense que respetar las instrucciones de una receta Daria excelentes resultados
Gracias por Las recetas
Mi familia y amigos te lo agradecemos

Bendiciones
Saludos desde Madera CA. Yo soy de Tijuana B.C.MX

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Oct 29
  
  Sandra, que alegria que el arroz con albondigas fuera un exito y les gustara tanto. Les mando un abrazo a todos 🙂
  
Mary Thomas

Jul 18

Hi Pati I love all your shows and try to not miss an episode. I have not tried the meatballs but planning to do so todsy. Thank you for your shows.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 21
  
  Hola Mary! Hope you liked the meatballs, yay!
  
Julia Mendieta

Jul 01

Hola Patty, deliciosa receta. Por favor me gustaria tener la receta de pan de yema, a mi familia le gusta mucho.
Gracias.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 03
  
  Por supuesto Julia, aqui esta la receta, espero que la disfruten mucho! http://patijinich.com/es/pan-de-yema/
  
Carole Smith

Jun 30

I am so anxious to try this recipe. But more than that I am so happy to hear you will return in the fall!! I just love your show!!!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 04
  
  Thanks so much Carole! It will be lots of fun from Jalisco 😉
  
Paul O.

Aug 23

I made this with canned tomatoes (diced and crushed) and it turned out delicious. Thank you, Pati!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Aug 26
  
  Awesome Paul, happy you liked these Albondigas 😉
  
Emma

Sep 15

Yum! I’m an Arizona girl living in Sweden and the cold autumn season has just started. I wanted to make an albondigas soup but decided to try this instead. I’ve tried three of your recipes so far which me and my boyfriend have both loved. Your recipes bring such a home feeling. Thank you Pati!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 17
  
  Oh I hope many more recipes bring back a home feeling for your Emma and help keep you warm.
  
SamanthaS.

Jul 09

Could this be made ahead, and warmed up in a slow cooker the next day? I would love to bring this to a luncheon at work. It sounds amazing, and easy to “share”!!!

1. Pati
  
  Jul 09
  
  That will work just fine, Samantha! Have a great luncheon 🙂
  
Frierce&wild

Jun 04

Like the amazing chef Pati jinich this is an amazing recipe. I fixed it’s a number of times in my family loves it. Tonight I fixed it with farro and garlic spinach on the side. My family loves this recipe!

1. Pati
  
  Jun 05
  
  Oh wow…thank you!
  
Jon

Apr 17

Hi Pati, Eres una dama muy hermosa😘
This is the first time I have seen your program about making meat balls and now I’m hooked on your recipes
I would love for you to have an hour program. Please don’t stop letting us have your recipes
tuyo sinceramente Jon

1. Pati
  
  Apr 18
  
  I for sure will keep sharing recipes!

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