Chipotle seasoned chicken turned into Mexican meatballs is an easy dinner with fresh flavors. The best part: these are BAKED chicken meatballs, and are hands-off while you make the rest of the meal!
Everyone loves a meatball. People like chicken. Quite a few folks like Mexican food. I combined everything and this recipe will blow your mind!
Chicken chipotle meatballs mix delicious Mexican flavors like smokey chipotle and cumin with healthy ground chicken for a very delicious dinner. They are fantastic served with Cilantro Lime Rice and my super green Cilantro Salsa with Lime and Jalapeno.
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Ground chicken meatballs in the oven are super easy to make. I have seasoned mine with the smoky Mexican chipotle and served them over rice. This is one of my favorite Mexican-inspired dinners.
Plus, you can make these meatballs ahead, make a double batch, and keep some in the freezer.
They are so versatile: Serve them over rice with salsa, like me, or in a tortilla as a taco, even in a torta (a Mexican sandwich on a soft roll). I share even more ideas below.
How to make meatballs in the oven
The best chicken meatballs are baked! Of course, you could cook the chipotle meatballs in a skillet with a little oil; but I like to cook them in the oven. Less mess and I'm free to prepare the rest of dinner while they roast.
Baking meatballs is one of my favorite dinner-prep tricks. Here's how to do it:
- Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Heat oven to 350ºF.
- Roll meatballs and place them on the foil-lined baking sheet.
- Small meatballs will roast for about 25 minutes.
I bake these Chicken Meatballs with Cumin and Orange in the oven as well as the meatballs for this delicious Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs dinner.
My Moroccan Porcupine Meatballs dinner is baked in the oven as well.
Ground chicken meatballs tips
If you've ever rolled ground chicken meatballs, you know they don't roll as easily as beef or sausage meatballs. The ground chicken is sticky because it is so lean; there's no fat to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands.
My tip: Have a bowl of water close and keep your hands wet when rolling. This will help the chicken not stick and you'll get a nice smooth roll.
This recipe has a preparation bonus! The little meatballs freeze like a dream, to be cooked and devoured at a later date.
My tip: Freeze rolled ground chicken meatballs by placing them in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Once frozen, pile them in a zip-top freezer bag and keep them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Portioning meatballs into equal sizes can be tricky.
My tip: I use a cookie scoop! Yes a metal food scoop that is about 2 tablespoons capacity will be perfect.
What's chipotle?
You'll find cans of chipotle in adobo in the grocery store. Usually in the Mexican food section.
Chipotle are red, ripe jalapeños that have been smoked and dried. Chipotle in adobo are the smoked chilis rehydrated and canned in a garlic, spiced tomato puree. That's the adobo. It's a delicious tomato-based sauce that takes on the smokey flavor of the chilis.
Together, the chipotle and adobo are a favorite ingredient for a delectable Mexican flavor base.
Try some of these delicious ways to eat Mexican meatballs:
I love the Mexican flavors in these chicken chipotle meatballs. It makes for diverse dinner options. My mouth is watering!
• Serve with Spanish rice, enchilada sauce, and Cotija cheese.
• Wrap in a burrito with beans, rice, and salsa.
• Sauté onions and peppers, then serve with tortillas like fajitas.
• Serve with rice, salsa verde, and tortilla chips with Pepper Jack cheese.
• Place on top of a taco salad with chips, guac, and everything nice.
• As an appetizer on a tortilla chip topped with guacamole.
Fresh cilantro salsa goes perfectly with these chicken meatballs:
Make this amazing cilantro salsa with jalapeños, green onions, and lime. This green salsa is so easy, so fresh and delicious.
Ground Chicken Mexican Meatballs With Chipotle And Adobo
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground chicken
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ½ cup plain bread crumbs
- 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 chipotle chiles in adobo, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon adobo sauce
- 1½ teaspoon chili powder
- 3 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ cup cilantro, finely chopped
Serving Suggestions
- Sliced avocado
- Cooked white rice or Cilantro Lime Rice
- Cilantro and Jalapeno Salsa Verde
- Tomato salsa
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Use a cookie scoop to portion out mixture into about 48 small balls; and roll into shaped meatballs. Freeze or cook.
- *Roll with wet hands to keep the mixture from sticking. Rewet hands with water as needed.
- To sauté, heat 2 teaspoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add meatballs taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Turn frequently to brown on all sides and cook through, about 8 to 10 min.
- To bake, heat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil and add meatballs, cook small meatballs about 25 minutes.
- Serve as desired, or with rice, Cilantro and Jalapeno Salsa Verde, and other salsas.
Notes
Nutrition
Main Dish Recipes
About Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.
Recipe Tara Teaspoon. Original LHJ Mar/11. Photography Darianne Edwards
Mary Bench says
This is one of my favorites!
Britney Fronk says
I love all your meatball recipes, and this one's no different! Absolutely mouthwatering!
Mary says
These are DELICIOUS!!
Megan Palmer says
I love how versatile these meatballs can be. I am adding this to my meal plan for next week.
veenaazmanov says
Looks delicious and perfect for a Happy Meal. I love all your recipes and this Meat Ball one is yum.
Kathryn Donangelo says
I love how unique and delicious this recipe is! I enjoyed mine as a meal and it was perfect!
Liz Cleland says
We actually tried this recipe out with your FRESH CILANTRO SALSA and man it was a hit!! I will say next time I will make a double batch!
Tara says
Oh so great to hear! I agree, a double batch is always in order!
Amy Liu Dong says
Oh my goodness, this is so delicious and such a perfect meal to prepare for my husband today. I love it, thank you!
Paula Montenegro says
Everyone loves meatballs and Mexican, so true! That plate with the meat and the avocado, salsa and lime makes my mouth water! Thanks for sharing.
Eileen Kelly says
These Mexican meatballs were a huge hit with the family. Everyone loved them. We will make these again and again .
Neha says
Wow I have never tried mexican flavored meatballs and these look to die for good. I can’t wait to give them a go!
Jacqueline Debono says
I love all the flavours in these chicken meatballs. This recipe looks really easy to make and baking the meatballs is an excellent idea. Going to add this recipe to next week's meal plan!
Ramona says
These mexican flavoured meatballs look really juicy and soo delicious. I can already taste the flavour from the other side of the screen! I am definitely going to try this recipe and I'm really looking forward to. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says
The mexican flavours sound great! Will have to give them a go
Michelle says
These chicken meatballs were so bright and flavourful! We enjoyed them with corn tortillas -- absoutely delicious!
Tara says
I love that these meatballs are baked! Such a flavor-packed and easy meal. They sound incredible paired with the Cilantro and Jalapeno Salsa Verde.
Mary says
I love that kicky chipotle flavor! Adds so much to these!
Traci says
Flavor and texture galore! Love how easy and beautiful these are...thanks for sharing this family favorite 🙂