Albóndigas en Chile Rojo con Arroz Rojo (Meatballs in Red Chilli Sauce)
Tender beef and pork meatballs with mint and rice, simmered in smoky red chilli sauce with carrots and potato.
Made with Red enchilada 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 £2.30 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
Mix the beef, pork, cooked rice, egg, mint, garlic, grated onion and salt in a bowl with your hands. Shape into 20 balls, each about the size of a walnut. Chill for 15 minutes.
15 min - 2
Heat the oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Brown the meatballs for 5 to 6 minutes, turning, then lift out.
6 min - 3
Pour your ready made red enchilada sauce (see the base recipe) into the pan with the water. Bring to a simmer and add the potato and carrots. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
10 min - 4
Add the meatballs. Cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through with no pink inside and the vegetables are tender.
15 min - 5
Warm your ready made Mexican red rice (see the base recipe) in a covered pan with a splash of water until steaming hot all the way through.
4 min - 6
Serve the meatballs and sauce over or beside the rice.
Tips
- Grate the onion so it melts into the meatball mix and keeps them tender.
- Brown the meatballs gently and do not crowd the pan. They finish cooking in the sauce.
- If the sauce thickens too much, loosen with a splash of water.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours. Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze the meatballs in sauce for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Reheat rice only once.
Questions
Why is there rice inside the meatballs?
Rice is a classic Mexican albóndiga ingredient. It keeps the meatballs soft and light, and it also stretches the meat.
Can I use all beef?
Yes. Use 500 g beef mince. A mix with pork gives a more tender, juicier meatball.
More made with red enchilada sauce
Taquitos de Pescado con Salsa Roja (Crispy Fish Taquitos)
EFNFHuevos Ahogados con Camarón (Eggs Poached in Red Sauce with Prawns)
DFNFBurrito Mojado de Carnitas (Wet Burrito with Red Sauce)
EFNFHPAsado de Puerco (Pork in Red Chilli Sauce) with Pot Beans
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.