Filled with protein and vegetables in a tomato-based sauce and easy to make in a crockpot, meatball stew is one of those hearty yet simple dishes anyone could make. We’re giving a Mexican twist to the usual crockpot meatball stew recipes with the addition of corn and Mexican-style tomato sauce. Serve this easy meatball stew recipe for lunch or dinner over rice, pasta, or with slices of crusty Italian bread on the side to soak all the yummy sauce up.
Tips on Making Meatball Stew
As promised, this Mexican meatball stew is quick and easy to make. Plus, we have more tips on how to make meatball stew to make sure that you make it perfectly every time.
- You can use store-bought frozen meatballs or make your own. For homemade meatballs, the sweet spot is 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat ground beef. It has just the right amount of fat so that the meatballs won’t end up too dry when cooked. Oil your hands to prevent them from sticking, and use an ice cream scoop to measure them out evenly.
- If you’ve got some extra time on your hands, sear the meatballs. Heat up a shallow pan on high heat. Add some oil, and quickly cook the meatballs until they develop some browning. This extra step will give you more flavor.
- If you fancy a spicy meatball stew, you can add chopped chilies, jalapenos, chili powder, or tabasco.
- Add other ingredients to make it more filling. You can add mushrooms, rotisserie chicken, sausages, and peas. It’s best to put hard vegetables like carrots and potatoes in the bottom of the pot to make sure that they cook well.
- Turn it into a meatball soup by adding more beef broth.
- Finish the meatball stew or soup with noodles. Add the noodles 10 to 15 minutes before the cooking time is over and you have a delicious meatball noodle soup.
For other Mexican recipes, check out this colorful mango habanero salsa that you can enjoy with some chips.
How To Make Mexican Meatball Stew
Enjoy this yummy slow cooker meatball stew filled with corn and vegetables in a Mexican-style tomato sauce base.
Ingredients
- 1 lb *meatballs, cooked and frozen (see Recipe Notes for recipe)
- 1 lb garden blend vegetables, frozen
- 1 onion, large, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, large, chopped
- 14.5 oz Mexican style stewed tomatoes, (1 can)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup corn, frozen
- 8 oz salsa, mild, medium, or hot
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in crock pot.
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Heat on Low for 4-6 hours or on High for 2-4 hours.
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Once done, serve with bread or rice. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Here’s a good meatballs recipe you can easily make at home! You can make a batch ahead and keep the cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to use.
Nutrition
- Sugar: 9g
- :
- Calcium: 108mg
- Calories: 468kcal
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Cholesterol: 82mg
- Fat: 26g
- Fiber: 8g
- Iron: 4mg
- Monounsaturated Fat: 11g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g
- Potassium: 1116mg
- Protein: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Sodium: 749mg
- Vitamin A: 6427IU
- Vitamin C: 50mg
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the secret to good meatballs?
The secret to good meatballs is to keep in some fat, at least 20 percent. Fat adds flavor and keeps them from drying out. Prepare the meatballs using cold ingredients so that the meat mixture comes together and emulsifies. As a result, there is a lesser chance of the meatballs breaking apart when cooked. To check if they’re properly seasoned, fry a small amount of meat and taste it. Adjust the seasoning accordingly.
What happens if you don’t put breadcrumbs in meatballs for meatball stew?
Bread crumbs act as the binder to the meat mixture. It helps the meatballs keep their shape and moisture when cooked. However, if you used good quality ground meat and a good amount of fat, the meatballs should hold together even if you don’t put bread crumbs. In stew and soup recipes where the meatballs are cooked in liquid, moisture won’t be a problem as they won’t dry out.
Conclusion
For an easy-to-make yet hearty and nutritious meal, give this slow cooker meatball stew recipe a try and you’ll surely be satisfied!Have your own special recipe to share? Submit Your Recipe Today!
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