When Betsy and I were expecting our second baby, I took the liberty to insanely stock our freezer with lots of good eats in preparation. I figured I would share them all because everybody needs good freezer meals! These Mexican Meatball Tacos are one of my absolute favorite freezer meals!

This mash-up enchilada meatball taco meal checks oh-so-many important boxes for me in my life right now.

✅ Delicious Tex-Mex Flavors

✅ Feeds a crowd

✅ Freezes fantastically

✅ Did I mention that this is a meatball in a taco?

The ingredient list might look a bit long, but the flavors are fantastic. It makes a BUNCH of meatballs and you can eat them immediately and freeze some for later. Or do what I did and freeze all of them for a future event (like a new baby), when you’ll need a few quick dinners!

  • Want to work on your Mexican sauce game? Try out this traditional mole sauce, which is an all-day project but very worth it!

Enchilada Meatball Tacos

5 from 2 votes
Author: Nick Evans
Servings: 10 Servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
These simmered meatballs are packed with flavor and great served as tacos or individually as appetizers. They also freeze perfectly!

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 small white onion
  • 1 jalapeno
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Handful fresh cilantro
  • ½ cup corn chips
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 10-oz. cans red enchilada sauce
  • 2 cups chicken stock

Quick Salsa:

  • ¼ red onion, diced
  • ½ red pepper, diced
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, diced
  • 1 cup sweet corn, diced
  • Handful of cilantro

Fixings:

  • Corn tortillas
  • Sour cream
  • Cotija cheese

Instructions

  • In a food processor, add onion, jalapeno, garlic, and a handful of cilantro. Pulse until finely chopped.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small cup, mix together crushed corn chips and milk. Let sit for five minutes. In a medium bowl combine beef, onion mixture, corn chip mixture, eggs, salt, and pepper. Mix together well with your hands.
  • Shape mixture into about 35 medium-sized meatballs (about 2 tablespoons per meatball). Roll them into balls and place them on greased baking sheets. Bake meatballs for 12-15 minutes until they are cooked through and browned.
  • Transfer baked meatballs to a large pot with enchilada sauce and chicken stock. Simmer meatballs for about 20 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Meanwhile, mix together quick salsa topping.
  • Serve tacos by spooning some sour cream onto a corn tortilla and topping it with a 2-3 meatballs and some sauce. Top with quick salsa and cotija cheese. YUM.
  • This meal freezes fantastically. Freeze meatballs in freezer safe bags once they are cooled. Thaw on stove top over medium-low heat.

Notes

Recipe adapted from a Southern Living recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tacos | Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 916mg | Potassium: 530mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 805IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Appetizers, Main Dishes
Cuisine: Tex-Mex

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Tag @crunchtimekitchen

How to Make (And Freeze) Mexican Meatball

This meatball mixture starts with some crunched corn chips soaked in milk. Might sound weird, but they basically replace the breadcrumbs in your standard Italian meatballs.

Soaked corn - Mexican Meatball Tacos
The secret.

Then pulse some onion, garlic, pepper (jalapeno or poblano), and a handful of cilantro in a food processor.

Onions and Cilantro - Mexican Meatballs
Good flavor.

Mix together the corn chip mixture, the onion mixture, and the ground beef in a bowl. Also add in the eggs, salt and pepper.

Making Meatballs - Mexican Meatballs for Tacos
Starting the meatballs.

Shape the mixture into medium-sized meatballs (about 2 tablespoons per meatball is a good guideline).

Place the meatballs on a few greased baking sheets.

Making Meatballs - Meatball Tacos
Ready to bake!

Bake these suckers for about 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Boom!

Mexican Meatball Tacos
Ready to eat!

Now for the delicious part. Add those meatballs to a pot with enchilada sauce and chicken stock and bring it to a simmer. Let this simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes so all the flavors combine. Taste the sauce and season it to your liking!

Simmering meatballs for tacos
Sauced.

Freeze these once they are at room temperature in freezer safe bags. Thaw over the stovetop on medium heat!

Making Mexican Meatball Tacos

For serving these Mexican meatball tacos, I made a quick fresh salsa with tomatoes, red pepper, red onion, and corn. You could use your favorite salsa though if you wanted.

Serve with sour cream, cotija, and a few meatballs and sauce! You’re in business!

Mexican Meatball Tacos

Here are a few other great taco recipes!