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White pan of 24 orange-red chorizo golf-ball-size meatballs
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4.86 / 27 votes

Chorizo Meatballs

These chorizo meatballs are simple to make with ground beef and Spanish pork chorizo, Cheddar cheese, red onion, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Honestly some of the best meatballs we've ever made.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Calories: 724

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 medium red onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 3/4 cup fresh store-bought or homemade bread crumbs*
  • 1/2 cup grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 pound ground chorizo, (the Spanish sort and not the Mexican kind)
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or less to taste
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Slick a rimmed baking sheet or a roasting pan with 2 tablespoons of the oil.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, warm the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the egg and milk together. Add the bread crumbs, cheese, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, and oregano and combine.
  • Add the sautéed onion and garlic to the egg mixture along with the beef and chorizo. Add the salt and mix thoroughly.
  • Using dampened hands, roll about 1 tablespoon chorizo mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches (4 centimeters) in diameter, taking care not to squash the mixture too much. Take care that the meatballs are all the same size to ensure they cook evenly. Arrange the meatballs on the baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
  • Roast for 12 to 18 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through. Serve immediately.

Notes

Chorizo Meatballs Variation

Cocktail Party Chorizo Meatballs
For chorizo meatballs that are daintier—and easier for your guests to manage as they juggle a cocktail in one hand and a toothpick, napkin, and party nosh in the other—simply use half the amount of chorizo meatball mixture as directed in the recipe above when you shape the meatballs and bake for a shorter amount of time. Begin checking on the meatballs after 8 minutes.

*What You Need To Know About Making Homemade Bread Crumbs

To make homemade bread crumbs, use 2- to 3-day-old stale bread of any sort and pulse it in a food processor until crumbs form. For softer bread crumbs, use bread that’s been soaked in milk or water.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 724kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 55g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 1330mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g