Simple Way to Spanish Meatballs Recipe

Hearty Spanish Rice Bake

Brown the meatballs on all sides, in batches if necessary and turning gently as.

Recipe Summary Hearty Spanish Rice Bake

Ground beef, fresh onion, green bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and rice are simmered in a sweet-hot sauce then baked with Cheddar cheese and garnished with fresh cilantro. Spice it up with Ro-Tel® instead of regular canned tomatoes, cayenne, and jalapeno peppers. I have also added extra Cheddar cheese and you can substitute a Mexican blend or any other cheese if you like. Warning: this will spice up your life if you use the optional ingredients.

Ingredients | Spanish Meatballs Recipe

1 pound lean ground beef

½ cup finely chopped onion

¼ cup chopped green bell pepper

1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers (such as RO*TEL®)

1 cup water

¾ cup long-grain white rice

½ cup chile sauce

1 (4 ounce) can sliced black olives, or to taste

2 tablespoons sliced jalapeno peppers, or to taste (Optional)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (Optional)

1 pinch ground black pepper

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, onion, and green bell pepper in the hot skillet until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease.

Stir beef mixture, diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, water, rice, chile sauce, olives, jalapeno peppers, garlic, salt, brown sugar, ground cumin, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and black pepper together in a large pot over medium-low heat.

Bring beef-rice mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors blend, about 30 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Transfer mixture to a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish and press down firmly. Top with remaining 1 cup Cheddar cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Top with chopped cilantro.

The original recipe called for using a 2-quart casserole dish which I upgraded to a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish because of the addition of the optional ingredients. I did not want to overfill a 2-quart casserole dish.

Info | Spanish Meatballs Recipe

prep: 15 mins cook: 45 mins total: 1 hr Servings: 6 Yield: 6 servings

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