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    Home > Recipes > Beef

    Meatball Taco Bowls

    Published: May 10, 2016 · Modified: Apr 4, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 1 Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

    1.3K shares
    Meatball Taco Bowls
    Meatball Taco Bowls
    Meatball Taco Bowls
    meatball taco bowls with cheese and avocado
    meatball taco bowls

    Taco meatballs over rice with avocado, cheese, jalapeno and chips

    Fresh, fast, and loaded with flavor, meatball taco bowls are one of our favorite freezer-friendly meals. These are gluten-free, totally customizable, and only 520 calories!

    Freezer meals are like money in the bank, right? Few things make me as happy as seeing a week or two worth of fast, homemade meals lined up in the freezer. They quite possibly saved us from spending a small mortgage on take-out dinners after Molly and Clara were born.

    tacos, rice and enchilada sauce in storage containers

    These bowls are one of my favorite things to come across in the freezer. All of the key elements freeze well (including that homemade enchilada sauce), so all you need are a few fresh taco toppings and 25 minutes to toss it all together while the meatballs simmer in flavorful sauce.

    meatballs in sauce

    I've had tacos on the brain this week. I blame the margaritas.

    Happy Taco Tuesday friends!

    Meatball Taco Bowls with chips and cheese

    More Tex-Mex Recipes

    • Sheet Pan Tacos
    • Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas
    • Slow Cooker Carnitas Taco Salad
    • Tex Mex Stuffed Zucchini
    • Tex Mex Burgers with Guacamole
    • Slow Cooker Tex Mex Stuffed Peppers
    • Mexican Pita Pizzas
    • Taco Casserole with Ground Beef
    • Honey Lime Salmon Tacos

    Favorite Tools

    • Anchor 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowls 
    • Half Sheet Pan
    • All Clad Saucepan 
    meatball taco bowls with cheese and avocado
    Print Recipe
    4.75 from 4 votes

    Meatball Taco Bowls

    One of our favorite weeknight freezer meals, simmer meatballs in sauce and top taco bowls with any of your favorite toppings.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Tex Mex
    Keyword: easy dinner, family friendly, freezer friendly, gluten free
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 661kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $9.00

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowl
    • Half Sheet Pan
    • Large Saucepan

    Ingredients

    Meatballs:

    • 1 pound Lean Ground Beef (sub any ground meat like pork, turkey or chicken)
    • 1 Egg
    • ¼ cup finely chopped Kale or fresh herbs like Parsley or Cilantro (optional)
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Taco Bowls

    • 2 cups Enchilada Sauce (we use homemade)
    • 16 Meatballs (ingredients listed above)
    • 2 cups Cooked Rice, white or brown
    • 1 Avocado, sliced
    • 1 cup store-bought Salsa or Pico de Gallo
    • 1 cup Shredded Cheese
    • 1 Jalapeno, thinly sliced (optional)
    • 1 Tablespoon Cilantro, chopped
    • 1 Lime, cut into wedges
    • Tortilla Chips, for serving

    Instructions

    To Make / Freeze:

    • In a large bowl, combine ground meat, eggs, kale (if using), salt and pepper. Mix with your hands just until evenly combined. Form into 16 meatballs about 1-inch in diameter and place on a sheet pan lined with foil.
    • If using within a couple days, refrigerate for up to 2 days.
    • If freezing, place sheet pan in freezer until meatballs are solid. Transfer to a freezer bag. Meatballs will keep in the freezer for 3 to 4 months.

    To Cook:

    • In a medium saucepan, bring enchilada sauce to a low simmer. Add meatballs (no need to defrost first if meatballs were frozen). Simmer meatballs until cooked through, 12 minutes if fresh and 20 minutes if frozen.
    • While meatballs simmer, prep other ingredients.
    • Assemble taco bowls by topping rice with meatballs and sauce, sliced avocado, salsa, cheese, jalapeño slices, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges and tortilla chips.

    Notes

    Print and attach the label below so cooking instructions are ready when you are!
    tex mex meatballs

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 661kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 174mg | Sodium: 2384mg | Potassium: 1096mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1911IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 213mg | Iron: 5mg

     

     

    And even though I just shared another photo of Molly and Clara pooling it up over the weekend, I couldn't resist just one more. These girls love the pool!

    Molly and Clara Swimming Pool

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Meatball Taco Bowls- Fresh, fast, and loaded with flavor. One of our favorite freezer-friendly meals. These are gluten-free, totally customizable, and only 520 calories!

    Related

    « Homemade Enchilada Sauce
    Lemon Olive Oil Cake »
    1.3K shares

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lucy @ Globe Scoffers recipes

      May 11, 2016 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      What an delicious bowl of food! Its great to plan a head and freeze things makes meals in the week so much easier. Your girls are gorgeous. ????

      Reply

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