Description
Take the flavor of classic tacos, roll them up into meatballs, and top with cheese for a delicious and protein-packed meal.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
- 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1 lb. raw extra-lean ground beef (4% fat or less), or HG Alternative
- 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup egg whites (about 2 large eggs’ worth)
- 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese
Instructions
- Spray an extra-large skillet with nonstick spray and heat it to medium-high. Cook and stir the bell pepper and onion until slightly softened, about 4 minutes.
- Add garlic, and cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Transfer the contents of the skillet to a large bowl. Add crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. onion powder, and 1/8 tsp. paprika. Mix thoroughly.
- In another large bowl, combine beef, breadcrumbs, egg whites, and the remaining 1 tsp. cumin, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. onion powder, and 1/8 tsp. paprika. Mix thoroughly and form into 20 evenly sized meatballs.
- Clean the skillet if necessary, re-spray it, and return to medium-high heat. Place the meatballs in the skillet and cook, rotating until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and carefully add the tomato mixture, coating the meatballs. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Rearrange the meatballs so they are close together in the center of the skillet. Sprinkle with cheese, cover again, and cook for 2 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
Notes
- If made with lean ground turkey (7% fat or less), each serving will have 278 calories, 11g total fat (4.5g sat. fat), 660mg sodium, 15.5g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 5.5g sugars, and 30g protein.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 meatballs with sauce
- Calories: 263
- Sugar: 5.5g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Carbohydrates: 15.5g
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Protein: 31g
