Albóndigas al Chipotle con Arroz Rojo (Chipotle Meatballs with Red Rice)
Tender beef and pork meatballs scented with mint, simmered in a smoky chipotle tomato sauce and served with red rice.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade) and Mexican red rice (arroz rojo). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.10 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
In a large bowl, mix the beef and pork mince with the egg, masa harina, mint, grated onion, 1 crushed garlic clove and 1 tsp salt. Mix well and roll into 24 balls, wetting your hands to stop sticking.
- 2
Heat the oil in a wide, deep pan over a medium heat. Fry the chopped onion and carrots for 6 minutes until soft. Add the remaining garlic for 1 minute.
7 min - 3
Stir in the passata, water and your ready made chipotle in adobo sauce (see the base recipe). Bring to a simmer and season with salt.
- 4
Lower in the meatballs. Cover and simmer gently for 25 minutes, turning once, until cooked through with no pink inside.
25 min - 5
Meanwhile, warm your ready made arroz rojo (see the base recipe) in a covered pan with 3 tbsp water until steaming hot all the way through. Reheat chilled rice only once.
6 min - 6
Taste the sauce and adjust the salt. Serve the meatballs and sauce spooned over the rice.
Tips
- Keep the mixture gentle. Overworking it makes tough meatballs.
- Chipotle sauce is smoky and quite hot. Start with 80 ml if you prefer less heat and add more at the end.
- Simmer, do not boil, so the meatballs stay tender.
- Mint (hierbabuena) is traditional in albóndigas and gives a fresh edge.
Storing and freezing
Cool and refrigerate within 1 hour. Keep for up to 3 days. Freeze the meatballs and sauce for up to 3 months and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use only beef?
Yes. Use 750 g beef mince at 15% fat. The pork adds tenderness, but all beef works well.
Why masa harina in the meatballs?
It binds the mixture and keeps it gluten free without breadcrumbs. Fine breadcrumbs also work if you do not need gluten free.
Is the sauce very hot?
It has a clear smoky heat. Use less of the chipotle sauce for a milder dish, and serve cool avocado or crema alongside.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Sopa de Papa con Chipotle (Mexican Potato Soup with Smoky Chipotle)
GFEFNFChicharron en Salsa de Chipotle (Pork Crackling in Chipotle Sauce)
GFEFNFTacos Gobernador (Prawn, Poblano and Cheese Tacos)
EFNFTostadas de Jamaica (Hibiscus Flower Tostadas with Chipotle)
GFDFEFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.