Low Carb Enchilada Meatballs

Meatball bakes are one of the first things I made when I started keto. I have a recipe here on the blog for a classic meatball bake made with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. You can find that recipe here. I had it on the dinner menu one night a couple of weeks ago and decided to create a Mexican version of that dish.”

“I added a twist to the meatballs by adding taco seasoning and cheddar cheese. Once the meatballs were cooked, I added them to a casserole dish and covered them with enchilada sauce and shredded Mexican blend cheese. This recipe is definitely going on my regular dinner rotation for sure.”

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

• 2 pounds (908 grams) ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 22 soda crackers, crumbled (saltine crackers)
• 1/3 cup (56 grams) minced onion
• ½ cup (125 ml) milk
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
• ½ teaspoon (3 ml) chili powder
• ½ teaspoon (3 ml) paprika
• ½ teaspoon (3 ml) cumin
• ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) pepper

Buffalo Honey Sauce:

• ¼ cup (65 ml) Frank’s Red Hot sauce
• ¼ cup (65 ml) honey
• ¼ cup (65 ml) apricot jelly
• ¼ cup (50 grams) brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) soy sauce
• 1 ½ tablespoons (23 ml) cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon (15 grams) melted butter

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, crumbled soda crackers, minced onion, milk, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
2. Shape the mixture into meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake the meatballs in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 20-25 minutes or until they are cooked through and browned.
4. While the meatballs are baking, prepare the Buffalo Honey Sauce. In a saucepan, combine the Frank’s Red Hot sauce, honey, apricot jelly, brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and melted butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
5. Once the meatballs are done baking, remove them from the oven and place them in a casserole dish. Pour the Buffalo Honey Sauce over the meatballs, ensuring they are well coated.
6. Return the casserole dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the meatballs are fully glazed.
7. Serve the Keto Mexican Meatball Bake hot, garnished with chopped cilantro or green onions if desired.

Enjoy this flavorful twist on classic meatballs with a Mexican flair.