Albondigas al Chipotle (Mexican Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce)
Tender pork and beef meatballs with a little rice and mint, simmered in smoky chipotle sauce and served over red rice.
Made with Chipotle tinga sauce 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 £2.64 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 pork mince, beef mince, cooked rice, egg, mint, oregano, garlic and 1 tsp salt. Mix with your hands for 1 minute until sticky and combined, but do not overwork it.
- 2
Roll into 20 balls the size of a small walnut. Keep your hands damp so the mixture does not stick.
- 3
Heat the oil in a large wide pan over a medium high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches for 4 minutes, turning, until golden on the outside.
4 min - 4
Pour in your ready made chipotle tinga sauce (see the base recipe) and 150 ml of water. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes, turning once, until the meatballs are cooked through with no pink inside.
20 min - 5
Reheat your ready made Mexican red rice (see the base recipe) until steaming hot all the way through.
- 6
Spoon the meatballs and sauce over the rice and sprinkle with coriander.
Tips
- Use a mix of pork and beef. Pork gives juiciness and beef gives depth.
- The cooked rice in the mixture is traditional and keeps the meatballs soft. Cool it first so it does not warm the meat.
- Check that a meatball is cooked through by cutting one open. It should be hot and brown inside with clear juices.
Storing and freezing
Cool quickly and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze the meatballs in sauce for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I bake the meatballs instead?
Yes. Bake on a tray at 200C (180C fan) for 15 minutes until browned, then simmer in the sauce for 10 minutes so they finish cooking through.
Is it gluten free?
Yes. The meatballs contain rice, not breadcrumbs. Check the labels of your tinned chipotles and make sure the rice base used gluten free stock.
Can I make it egg free?
Yes. Leave out the egg and add 2 tbsp of the cooked rice or a spoonful of the tinga sauce. The mixture will be a little softer, so chill it for 20 minutes before rolling.
More made with chipotle tinga sauce
Double 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.