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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Mini Taco Meatballs {appetizer}

    LAST UPDATED: February 15, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: January 19, 2014 By Toni Dash 27 Comments

    Mini Taco Meatballs {appetizer}

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    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Mini Taco Meatballs With toothpicks

    As we near the end of football season the delectable, dip-able dishes are making their appearance on the internet. Spicy, relaxed food prepared in mass quantities to celebrate (or agonize) with friends over the nail biting games to see who will make it into Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014.

    Coloradoans will be hosting what is expected to be the largest game ever to be played at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. The weather is expected to hit 60 with sunny skies; not bad for a game played in mid-winter. You can expect to see a lot of orange and blue filling out the sold-out stadium seats, with all appendages crossed for the local Broncos to secure a seat in the Big Game.

    Though there is still time for menu planning, I have some dishes to roll out to kick off the preparation. It struck me that it seems a cruel joke that this holy grail of sporting events would strike in the middle of New Year’s resolutions, tempting those opting for healthier eating or some weight loss as their starting commitment to 2014.

    Mini Taco Meatballs {appetizers}

    The appetizer I have for you today is many things, including kind to one’s health pursuits. Mini Taco Meatballs are just what they sound, bite-size meatballs full of taco flavors and ingredients. They are made with no binding fillers so are pure ground beef as well as are on the table less than 30 minutes after you pull the ingredients out to make them. Not bad, right?

    My household taste testers loved them and the frilly toothpicks make them feel like a party. We happened upon a secondary way to eat them out of necessity, which we all fell in love with. The evening I made them I had not thought through dinner. I had the meatballs but felt we needed more. In the scurry of post after-school sports I realized we had some iceberg lettuce (which I rarely buy but thinking ‘tacos’ I had some on hand to potentially incorporate into the meatball serving). A flash on chicken wraps struck me and we popped a few meatballs in a large leaf of lettuce, sprinkled on a bit of finely grated Mexican cheese combination (salsa would also be good), rolled them up and ate them as a bit of a Poor-Man’s-Taco-Meets-Spring-Roll. Everyone loved them for the crunchy texture, flavor combinations and ease of eating. Of course it made for a healthier taco as well!

    Mini Taco Meatballs with toothpicks

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    Mini Taco Meatballs With toothpicks

    Mini Taco Meatballs {appetizer}

    These quick, easy appetizer-size meatballs are done in less than 30 minutes and are full of taco flavor. Perfect for gatherings or incorporating into other dishes, they have no fillers and are naturally gluten-free.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 25 mini meatballs 1-inch in diameter
    Calories: 35kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup Yellow Onion , finely diced
    • 1/3 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese , finely grated
    • 1/2-1 teaspoon Kosher Salt*
    • 3 tablespoons Taco Seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon fresh Cilantro , diced
    • 1 large Egg , lightly beaten
    • 1 pound lean Ground Beef

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet (with sides to avoid meatballs escaping) with parchment paper or a silpat. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion, cheese, salt, taco seasoning and fresh cilantro. Using a fork, stir mixture together to fully combine.
    • Add the lightly beaten egg, and again using a fork, stir to combine into the seasoning mixture.
    • Add the ground beef, and using your hands, mix all the ingredients together fully.
    • To form meatballs, gather approximately one heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture in your hands. Gently roll the meat into a ball which should be 1 inch across. Place on the prepared baking sheet/pan.
    • Bake for 20 minutes (or until cooked all the way through). Remove pan from oven, allow to sit for a few minutes before serving. Insert toothpicks or mini forks for ease of eating. Note: there will be some melted cheese around the bottom of the meatballs.

    Notes

    *if the Taco Seasoning being used has added salt, I recommend using 1/2 teaspoon of salt only. If using no-salt taco seasoning, 1 teaspoon of salt should be used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 35kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christy says

      January 22, 2014 at 7:47 pm

      These look delicious. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Cassie says

      January 22, 2014 at 6:46 am

      Totally crushing on these, Toni. Great flavor idea for a meatball!!

      Reply
    3. julia says

      January 20, 2014 at 4:19 pm

      I love that you made these meatballs bite sized and taco flavored–perfect for game day!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 20, 2014 at 7:19 pm

        I love that too Julia! There is something so appealing about the size AND the iceberg lettuce Taco made with the meatballs is now is steady demand at my house!

        Reply
    4. cheri says

      January 20, 2014 at 1:34 pm

      What a great idea for Super Bowl, this look delicious!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 20, 2014 at 7:20 pm

        Thanks Cheri. They are delicious but what I love more? They are done within 30 minutes of pulling the ingredients out of the fridge.

        Reply
    5. Angie says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:47 am

      What a great game day appetizer!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 20, 2014 at 7:20 pm

        Thanks Angie!

        Reply
    6. Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says

      January 20, 2014 at 8:47 am

      I see what you did here… you combines two of my absolute favorite things and rendered me utterly weak in the knees. Taco meatballs FTW!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 20, 2014 at 7:21 pm

        Lauren it sounds like a sinister plot! Maybe it is. But one that I don’t think you’d be disappointed by if you tried one!

        Reply
    7. Chris Caldwell @ World Cup of Food says

      January 19, 2014 at 2:57 pm

      I love the idea of the grated cheese in the meatball mixture. I feel that’s an idea with wider-reaching applications than just this recipe. Nice job.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 20, 2014 at 7:22 pm

        Thank you Chris. I love that it helps with the binding and adds great flavor. I completely agree about using this more broadly too. Time to put on the thinking caps…

        Reply
    8. Colleen says

      January 19, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Oh my gosh those look so good! And I love the idea of “lettuce wrap tacos.” Anything taco always gets my attention; tacos were my favorite food growing up, I always chose them for my birthday meal, and I don’t make them often now because I can only eat one or two (vs. 5 or 6 when I was 14!) and it doesn’t seem worth it to make a mess of the stove frying the tortillas. You’ve just given me a way to (a) make the meatballs in advance and (b) serve myself easy prep “tacos” on a moment’s notice – thank you for this inspiration!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 20, 2014 at 7:24 pm

        Well I’ve also gotten an email saying you’ve made a batch! I love the lettuce taco too; perfect to keep the calories slim and the flavor and texture big. I’m sure they’ll be great to freeze to have on hand too!

        Reply
    9. Alice F says

      January 19, 2014 at 7:30 am

      Taco Meatballs are a wonderful idea! Great variation of the original meatball. I can’t wait to make these!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 19, 2014 at 9:42 am

        I hope you’ll like them Alice! They get gobbled up quickly at my house.

        Reply
    10. Liz says

      January 19, 2014 at 8:03 am

      Thank you, Toni for the nice simple recipe. Have Happy Sunday.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        January 19, 2014 at 9:43 am

        You are most welcome Liz. You enjoy your Sunday too!

        Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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