This warm and inviting Meatball Chili will take the chill off this fall while you're enjoying the picked at peak flavor of tomatoes and garlic. Full of meat, flavor and paired with a cauliflower rice, it will bring your family around the table together for a warm and comforting meal.
This Meatball Chili was an absolute hit with my family! Roasted garlic flavor from the pasta sauce (affiliate link) brings a warmth and comfort to your family table.
You can serve this over a bowl regular rice or do as I do and serve it over this cauliflower fried rice recipe here on my website.
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Why You'll Love Meatball Chili
- Hearty and comforting: plenty of meatballs make this a meaty chili the comfort food for chilly days.
- Low carb recipe: no breadcrumbs in the meatball mixture and served over top of cauliflower rice, makes this chili recipe low carb.
- Full of flavor: plenty of garlic, onion, and
Ingredients
Homemade meatballs, jar pasta sauce, and a few herbs, and veggies make a delicious easy and delicious homemade chili.
- Lean ground beef
- Carrots
- White onion
- Fresh cilantro
- Garlic cloves
- Egg
- Beef broth
- Olive oil
- Pasta sauce
- Canned black beans
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Diced tomatoes
- Roasted garlic
- Cauliflower rice (for serving)
Hint: choose a pasta sauce that is flavored with roasted garlic (affiliate link) for extra garlic flavor. You can roast your own garlic, or you can use jarred roasted garlic (affiliate link).
See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.
How to Make Meatball Chili
- Make the meatballs by gently mixing together with your hands or a spoon, the ground beef, carrot, onion, cilantro, egg, roasted garlic, and beef broth.
- Scoop meatball using small scoop (about 1 tablespoon size) and shape into balls. Place on cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil.
- Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until firm. (meat will be slightly red in center)
- To make the chili, heat large stockpot with olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent. Stir in pasta sauce, chili powder, ground cumin, diced tomatoes, and black beans. Bring to a simmer.
- Cut each meatball in half. Add to chili sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes until meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve meatball chili over cauliflower rice.
Equipment
- Large baking sheet
- Large bowl
- Small scoop
- Aluminum foil or parchment paper
- Large stock pot
Substitutions
Meat swap: substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.
Sauce substitution: use a quart of canned tomatoes or this homemade pasta sauce in place of the store bought sauce.
Spice swap: use 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder in place of 1 tablespoon of regular chili powder for a smoky chili version.
Variations
Veggie meatball chili: replace the meatballs with these vegetarian meatballs for a vegetarian version.
Sweet and spicy chili: add a tablespoon of brown sugar or maple syrup to add a sweet heat flavor.
Veggie packed meatball chili: add a bell pepper or two when sautéing the onion, garlic, and carrots.
Top Tip
- Gently mix the meatball ingredients together then I used my small cookie scoop to portion them out to keep them from becoming tough.
Serve with...
Serve this meatball chili with a side of these brown bread baguettes and air fryer green beans.
Related Recipes
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Meatball Chili
Equipment
- Aluminum foil or parchment paper
- Large stock pot
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Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ⅓ cup shredded carrot
- ⅓ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 tablespoon roasted garlic chopped fine
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup beef broth
For the Chili
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 7 cups pasta sauce
- 15 ounces can black beans rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 10 ounces diced tomatoes with peppers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
- In a large bowl, mix the the ground beef, egg, carrot, onion, cilantro, roasted garlic, and beef broth.
- Using a tablespoon sized scoop, portion meatball using small scoop and shape into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake meatballs 20 minutes, until firm. (meat will be slightly red in center)
- Heat large stockpot with olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and cook until translucent.
- Stir in pasta sauce, chili powder, ground cumin, diced tomatoes with peppers, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and keep at a simmer.
- Cut each meatball in half. Add to sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through.
Cindy Phillips says
Shelby that looks delicious! Have to try the chili!
Shelby says
Thanks Cindy! Glad you stopped by!
Lee Gee says
You didn't say when to add the beans. ..
Shelby says
Hi Lee, the black beans are added in line 6 of the recipe instructions.
Carolyn West says
Love finding completely new recipe ideas. I tend to get bored with my regular chili so I'm definitely going to give this a try. #client