I’ve eaten a shocking amount of meatballs over the last few months, but these? These are different. Bold, smoky chipotle beef meatballs loaded onto zesty cilantro lime rice, then topped with sweet and spicy tomato corn salsa and silky garlic cilantro crema. This meal DOES NOT MISS—and the fact that it packs 64g of protein per serving just seals the deal. Forget takeout, skip the bland meal prep, and join me in the Meaningful Macros Mexican Meatball movement. You could go to Chipotle and spend $15 on a mediocre bowl… or you could take destiny into your own hands and make something way better right now. Choose wisely.
Mexican Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 2 lbs lean ground beef 93% lean
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cluster garlic minced
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the Cilantro Lime Rice:
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- Zest & juice of 1 lime
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
For the Tomato Corn Salsa:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes quartered
- 1 can corn 15 oz
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Garlic Cilantro Crema:
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ½ tsp salt
For Garnish (Optional):
- ¼ cup crumbled queso fresco
- Lime wedges
Instructions
Prep the Meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, onion, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix until just combined—avoid overmixing.2 lbs lean ground beef, ½ cup breadcrumbs, 2 large eggs, ½ cluster garlic, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Roll the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs (about 28–32 meatballs) and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through.
Cook the Cilantro Lime Rice:
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Cook rice according to your preferred method (I love my rice cooker!)1 cup jasmine rice
- Once cooked, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in lime zest, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and salt.Zest & juice of 1 lime, ¼ cup fresh cilantro
Make the Tomato Corn Salsa:
- In a small bowl, combine diced tomatoes, corn, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Mix well and let sit for at least 10 minutes.1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 can corn, ¼ cup red onion, 1 tbsp lime juice, ¼ cup fresh cilantro, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper
Whip Up the Garlic Cilantro Crema:
- In a bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt (or sour cream), minced garlic, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and salt. Refrigerate until serving.½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream, ¼ cup fresh cilantro, 1 clove garlic, 1 tbsp lime juice, ½ tsp salt
Assemble & Serve:
- Divide the cilantro lime rice among four meal prep containers, topping with meatballs & corn salsa! Drizzle with garlic cilantro crema and sprinkle with crumbled queso fresco, garnishing with lime wedges.¼ cup crumbled queso fresco, Lime wedges
Nutrition
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Why You’ll Love These Mexican Meatballs
This Mexican-inspired meatball meal prep is absolutely loaded with flavor while delivering an impressive 64g of protein per serving.
✅ Juicy, perfectly seasoned Mexican-style meatballs
✅ Zesty cilantro lime rice for a refreshing kick
✅ Fresh tomato corn salsa to brighten every bite
✅ A creamy garlic cilantro crema to tie it all together
Ingredient Substitutions & Customizations
💥 Make it leaner – Swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.
💥 Lower the carbs – Use cauliflower rice instead of jasmine rice.
💥 Add more spice – Throw in diced jalapeños or extra chili powder.
💥 Make it dairy-free – Use dairy-free yogurt for the crema.
💥 Extra crunch? – Add toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) as garnish.
Expert Tips for Perfect Mexican Meatballs
🔥 Don’t overmix the meat – Keeps the meatballs tender.
🔥 Let the salsa marinate – The flavors deepen while resting.
🔥 Use fresh lime juice & zest – Adds brightness to the rice.
🔥 Drizzle crema right before eating – Keeps flavors fresh.
Serving Suggestions & Storage Tips
🥡 Storage: Keep in airtight containers for up to 4 days in the fridge.
🔥 Reheating: Microwave in 90-second intervals, stirring in between.
🍽️ Pair it with: A side of guacamole or black beans for extra volume.
🌿 Garnish ideas: Extra cilantro, sliced avocado, or queso fresco.
Optional Garnishes
🌿 Chopped fresh cilantro
🧀 Crumbled queso fresco
🥑 Sliced avocado