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    Home » Recipes » Beef and Lamb

    By Carol · Published: May 25, 2015 · Modified: Jul 14, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Pepper Jack Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce

    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 2 votes
    1 hour
    Pepper Jack Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce - Why put cheese ON your meatballs when you can put cheese IN your meatballs!

    Pepper Jack Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce ooze with cheesy goodness.  Definitely NOT your average meatball!

    Photo of Pepper Jack Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce in clay dish on white and yellow towel.

    Why just put cheese ON your meatballs when you can put cheese IN your meatballs?  Pepper Jack Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce will rock your meatball world!

    Meatballs are a popular item with my clients, so I’ve made a few in my career.  Here are some tips and tricks to make the process go faster and give you even-sized meatballs.

    Tips for making meatballs:

    • Get all the ingredients except the ground meat mixed together first.  This ensures all the ingredients–especially the seasonings–are evenly distributed.
    • Wear disposable gloves and mix with your hands to get the job done faster and more thoroughly.
    • The best way I have found to portion and form meatballs is with a cookie dough scoop.  I have several sizes and for these, I use my 1 ½-inch scoop.
    • Grab a handful of the meat mixture in one hand and the scoop in the other.
    • Use the heel of the hand holding the meat mixture to level off the scoop.  Empty the scoop on a baking sheet.
    • After portioning the meat mixture, press the cheese into the center and roll into neat balls.
    • If you don’t have a large cookie dough scoop, press the meat into a rectangle shape on wax paper on your counter, cut into 24 even squares, stuff, then roll into neat balls.

    Tips for making Pepper Jack Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce:

    • It’s important to keep the size of the cheese cubes to about a half-inch.  Any larger than that and you’ll have more cheese on your baking sheet than in your meatballs.  A little will ooze out, but I think it adds to the cheesy goodness.
    • Use a good-quality Pepper Jack cheese such as Cabot rather than a Pepper Jack processed cheese product.  A processed cheese product will really ooze out!
    • Although frying does give you a nicely browned exterior, frying meatballs is messy and requires more active time and attention.  Instead, I place them on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet and simply bake them.
    • For safety’s sake, ground beef should always be cooked to 165 degrees in the center.

    Serve over rice or pasta or serve as a great appetizer.  Enjoy!

    More meatball recipes you’ll love:

    • Turkish Turkey Meatball Lettuce Wraps with Tzatziki
    • Easy Awesome Beer Turkey Meatballs
    • Middle Eastern Spiced Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
    • Chicken Meatballs Marsala with Baked Parmesan Polenta
    • Hoisin Glazed Pork Meatballs and Rice Noodles with Cabbage and Carrots

    Pepper Jack-Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce

    5 from 2 votes
    By: Carol | From A Chef's Kitchen
    Pepper Jack Stuffed Meatballs with Chipotle Sauce ooze with cheesy goodness.  Definitely NOT your average meatball!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Beef
    Cuisine Southwestern / Mexican
    Servings 6
    Calories 447 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wusthof Chef Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Glass Mixing Bowls
    • Saucepan
    • Rimmed Sheet Pan
    • Cookie Scoop Set

    Ingredients
      

    Sauce

    • 2 tablespoons canola oil - vegetable or olive
    • 1 medium onion - finely chopped
    • 1 can (28-ounce) tomato sauce
    • 2 cans (10-ounce) diced tomatoes with green chiles - undrained
    • 3-4 chipotle chiles in adobo - or to taste, minced or pureed
    • 4 cloves garlic - minced
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
    • Chopped fresh cilantro - for garnish

    Meatballs

    • Cooking spray
    • 1 large egg
    • ¼ cup milk - whole or 2%
    • 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
    • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 4 cloves garlic - minced
    • ½ cup panko - (Japanese bread crumbs)
    • 1 ⅓ pound ground beef
    • 5 ounces pepper jack cheese - cut into 24 half-inch cubes

    Instructions
     

    Sauce

    • Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Add the onion, reduce heat to medium and cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often or until onion is soft.
    • Add remaining sauce ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 25 to 30 minutes or until thickened. Adjust seasoning as desired.

    Meatballs

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray.
    • In a bowl, combine egg, milk, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic and panko and mix well.
    • Add the meat and mix well.
    • Form into 24 1 ½-inch meatballs.
    • Press a cube of cheese into the center of each meatball, making sure the cheese is securely in the center.
    • Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until the center is cooked through to 165 degrees.
    • Serve with sauce over rice or pasta.

    Notes

    MAKE-AHEAD:  The sauce can be made 2-3 days in advance, cooled and refrigerated. The meatballs can be mixed and rolled 1 day in advance. (Be sure ground beef is very fresh.) Reheat sauce on the stovetop and bake meatballs prior to serving.
    FREEZER-FRIENDLY:  Cool thoroughly.  Package as desired.  Freeze 1-2 months.  Thaw in the refrigerator.  Reheat in a 350-degree for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 | Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 733mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 644IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 252mg | Iron: 4mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.

    More Beef and Lamb

    • Moroccan Beef Stew
    • Parmesan and Herb-Crusted Lamb Chops
    • Chili-Glazed Meatloaf
    • Lighter Beef Stroganoff
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    Categories: Beef and Lamb

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Steph @ Steph in Thyme says

      June 15, 2015 at 11:08 am

      These will certainly please a crowd!

      Reply
    2. Matt @ Plating Pixels says

      June 14, 2015 at 11:14 pm

      Those look so gooey and saucy! I would totally eat those on their own without any spaghetti

      Reply
    3. Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos says

      June 14, 2015 at 10:02 pm

      I love making homemade meatballs, adding cheese to the center sounds amazing!!

      Reply
    4. Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence says

      June 14, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      I could probably eat that whole bowl of meatballs. Looks SO good.

      Reply
    5. Christina @ Christina's Cucina says

      June 14, 2015 at 11:01 am

      I’ve never made meatballs stuffed with anything before! What a cute idea, and I’m sure everyone loves them!

      Reply
    6. Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says

      June 14, 2015 at 6:21 am

      I also love using a cookie scoop to shape my meatballs – it is so much easier! These look delicious and I love the flavors going on!

      Reply
    7. Laura @ Family Spice says

      June 12, 2015 at 6:05 pm

      Life is definitely brighter with cheese melting all over it! Those meatballs look amazing!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        June 14, 2015 at 1:00 pm

        Thanks, Laura!

        Reply
    8. Annie @ Annie's Noms says

      June 09, 2015 at 8:43 am

      I completely agree with why have cheese on when you can have it inside your meatballs, love these and that sauce looks so rich and delicious!

      Reply

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