Stuffed Chipotle Meatballs
Photo: Dan Goldberg; Styling: Karen Shinto
Total Time 40 mins
AuthorLaura Granados, Glendale, CA

“This recipe was handed down to me by my mother and grandmother,” says Laura Granados of these lusciously saucy meatballs, each with a hidden surprise in the center. “It was one of my favorite dishes growing up.”

How to Make It

Step 1
1

In a medium bowl, combine beef, egg, rice, salt, and onion. Mixture will be soft. Form meat into 12 thin patties, each about 3 in. wide. Put a wedge of hard-boiled egg in center of each patty, then press meat around eggs, forming 12 balls. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare sauce.

Step 2
2

In a blender or food processor, combine chicken broth, tomato sauce, chipotles, and garlic; blend until smooth. Pour sauce through strainer into a medium saucepan and add meatballs and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover pot and cook meatballs in sauce, turning occasionally, until they're cooked through, about 25 minutes. Pour over rice and sprinkle with cilantro.

Step 3
3

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Ingredients

 1 pound ground beef
 1 egg
 1 tablespoon uncooked long-grain white rice
 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
 1/2 cup finely diced onion
 3 hard-boiled eggs, cut into quarters
 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
 1 cup canned plain tomato sauce
 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
 1 garlic clove, minced
 1 bay leaf
 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Step 1
1

In a medium bowl, combine beef, egg, rice, salt, and onion. Mixture will be soft. Form meat into 12 thin patties, each about 3 in. wide. Put a wedge of hard-boiled egg in center of each patty, then press meat around eggs, forming 12 balls. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare sauce.

Step 2
2

In a blender or food processor, combine chicken broth, tomato sauce, chipotles, and garlic; blend until smooth. Pour sauce through strainer into a medium saucepan and add meatballs and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover pot and cook meatballs in sauce, turning occasionally, until they're cooked through, about 25 minutes. Pour over rice and sprinkle with cilantro.

Step 3
3

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Stuffed Chipotle Meatballs

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