Homemade Spicy Mexican Donkey Balls Recipe
Homemade spicy meatballs with Mexican flavors, made from ground beef, jalapeños, cheese, and spices, served with an optional tomato sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: About 20 meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1–2 jalapeño peppers, deseeded and finely chopped (adjust for heat)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips (for binding)
- 1 large egg (for binding)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained (for sauce, optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (for sauce, optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin (for sauce, optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste (for sauce, optional)
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped onion, fresh cilantro, finely chopped jalapeño, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
- Gently fold in the shredded cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips into the meat mixture. Add the egg and mix until just combined, ensuring not to overmix.
- Form the mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs. If desired, you can place a small cube of extra cheddar in the center of each before rolling.
- Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the meatballs on all sides until browned, working in batches if necessary, to develop a nice crust.
- If making a sauce: Once all meatballs are seared, you can drain excess fat if desired. Add the diced tomatoes, chili powder, and cumin to the skillet, stirring to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Transfer the skillet (with or without sauce) to the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the cheese (if stuffed) is melted and bubbly.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro. These are excellent on their own, with a side of rice, or in warm tortillas.
Notes
- Adjust the number of jalapeños based on your preferred level of heat.
- The sauce is optional; meatballs can be served plain.
- For extra cheesiness, stuff each meatball with a small cube of cheddar before rolling.