Albóndigas Rancheras (Meatballs in Ranchera Sauce)
Juicy beef and pork meatballs with rice and mint, simmered in a chunky ranchera sauce.
Made with Salsa ranchera and Mexican red rice (arroz rojo). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.26 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 bowl, mix the beef and pork mince, cooked rice, egg, mint, garlic, cumin and 1 tsp salt. Mix with your hands until just combined.
- 2
Shape into about 20 walnut sized balls. Chill them for 10 minutes.
10 min - 3
Pour your ready made salsa ranchera (see the base recipe) and the water into a wide pan. Bring to a simmer.
- 4
Drop the meatballs in gently. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes, turning once, until cooked through with no pink inside.
25 min - 5
Warm your ready made arroz rojo (see the base recipe) until steaming hot all the way through.
- 6
Serve the meatballs and sauce over the rice.
Tips
- Wet your hands when rolling so the meatballs stay smooth.
- Do not stir once the meatballs are in. Shake the pan gently so they do not break.
- Hierbabuena (spearmint) is the traditional herb. Ordinary garden mint works fine.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours. Keep in the fridge up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I bake the meatballs first?
Yes. Bake at 200C for 12 minutes, then finish in the sauce for 10 minutes for a firmer texture.
Do the meatballs contain gluten?
Not here. They use rice rather than breadcrumbs as the binder, so they are gluten free.
More made with salsa ranchera
Pollo Ranchero (Chicken in Ranchera Sauce)
GFDFEFChiles Poblanos Rellenos de Frijol (Baked Bean-Stuffed Poblanos)
GFEFNFTortas Ahogadas de Carnitas (Drowned Pork Sandwiches)
DFEFNFAlbondigón Relleno de Huevo con Salsa Ranchera (Mexican Meatloaf Stuffed with Egg)
DFNFHPDouble 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.