Name: Cuban Pork Mojo Meatballs with Citrus Mojo Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground pork; 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs; 1 large egg; 1 cup (packed) cilantro (tender stems and leaves) finely chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed; 2 tsp Kosher salt; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, finely minced ((seeds and stems removed)); 2 tsp granulated sugar; 2 cups (packed) cilantro (tender stems and leaves); 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley; 6 cloves garlic, peeled; the zest of 1/2 an orange; 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice ((about 1 naval orange)); the zest of 1 lime; 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice; 1 tsp granulated sugar; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, finely minced ((seeds and stems removed)); 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Ready in 20 minutes, these tasty Pork Mojo Meatballs are a great weeknight dinner recipe, served with a fresh Citrus Mojo Sauce and rice!

JUMP TO RECIPE

These easy 20 minute baked Mojo Meatballs bring all the flavor of Cuban-style pork to quick and delicious bite-sized meatballs! These tender and juicy meatballs pair perfectly with the zippy fresh herb and citrus forward Mojo sauce (which might be the star of the show). Altogether, this tasty recipe makes a great weeknight rice bowl, and can be made in about 20 minutes start to finish!

Bring the bold flavors of Latin America to your kitchen with these tasty, easy to prepare meatballs!

Cuban Pork Mojo Meatballs with Citrus Mojo Sauce

Meatball Ingredients

Ground pork. If you can find it, I prefer a ground pork with a higher fat content for ultra juicy meatballs. If not, the lean stuff works too!
Panko breadcrumbs and a large egg, to help bind the meatball mixture.
Fresh cilantro, for a burst of fresh flavor. You can use the tender stems too for less waste (they have great flavor, too!)
Fresh minced or pressed garlic.
Ground cumin, for a warm spicy note.
A jalapeno or Serrano pepper, finely minced. If you prefer things less spicy, be sure to remove the ribs and seeds.
A touch of granulated sugar, to round out the flavors.

Sauce Ingredients

This flavor packed, citrusy Mojo Sauce takes mere minutes to whip up! All you need to do is gather and prep the ingredients, add to a blender or food processor, and pulse until smooth! Here's what you need to make this vibrant green sauce:

Fresh cilantro and flat leaf parsley.
A bunch of garlic cloves.
Extra virgin olive oil.
Orange and lime juice and zest, for a bold pop of citrus flavor!
A bit of sugar.
Cumin and dried oregano.
More jalapeno or Serrano pepper.

What is Mojo Sauce?

Mojo sauce is a fresh, bright marinade or sauce made with fresh herbs (flat leaf parsley and cilantro), extra-virgin olive oil, citrus juice, spices and garlic. It’s quick, easy, and takes these flavorful Mojo Meatballs to the next level!

How to make the Mojo Meatballs (and the zippy fresh Food Processor Mojo Sauce)

Prepare the meatballs. Mix together the ingredients gently with your hands. You want to just bring the ingredients together gently, and be careful to avoid overmixing, which can lead to tough meatballs.
Divide pork mixture into balls, and arrange in an even layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake the meatballs in preheated oven. While the meatballs bake, you'll prep the quick Mojo sauce in your blender or food processor, and make any sides or rice to go with!

Add Mojo Meatball ingredients to a large bowl

Gently combine with your hands — Add Mojo Meatball ingredients to a large bowl

Tools You'll need

A large rimmed baking sheet, for baking the meatballs. Using some parchment paper sheets helps make cleanup easy, too!
A food processor, immersion blender, or high powered blender, for making the Mojo sauce.
I love to work with a Lime Squeezer/Juicer for easy prep!
A large mixing bowl, for preparing the meatballs.
A silicone or metal spatula, for easy meatball removal after they bake.

Bowl of Cuban Mojo Meatballs with rice beans and plantains

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use another meat for the meatballs?

This recipe calls for ground pork, but you can also make chicken meatballs with ground chicken! Just use all the same ingredients listed, and sub in ground chicken!

Is Mojo Sauce Spicy?

Mojo sauce can be moderately spicy, depending on how much jalapeno or serrano you use. If you prefer things less spicy, use jalapeno over more potent serrano peppers, and adjust the amount to taste. Omitting the seeds can also lessen the spice level, but if you love heat, leave them in!

Can I make the meatballs in the Air Fryer?

Yes, you can absolutely make these Mojo Meatballs in the Air Fryer! Arrange them in an even layer in the air fryer, and air fry for 12-14 minutes at 400 degrees f until cooke through.

Can I omit the sugar?

Yes, you can either omit the sugar from the meatballs and Mojo sauce, or replace it with an equal amount of honey.

Cuban Mojo Meatballs cut in half, with Mojo sauce

What to serve with the Meatballs

These tasty meatballs make great rice bowls with white rice, Cuban style black beans, fried plantains (or plantain chips), and roasted onion wedges! If you want to make some roasted onion wedges, you could arrange them on the sheet and bake them with the meatballs, or coat them in a bit of oil and air fry them!

Mojo Meatballs with Air Fryer Plantains and Beans

More great Cuban Inspired Recipes

If you love this tasty Mojo Meatballs recipe, you'll love these easy Cuban-inspired recipes, too!

Print Recipe

Cuban Pork Mojo Meatballs with Citrus Mojo Sauce Recipe

Ready in 20 minutes, these tasty Pork Mojo Meatballs are a great weeknight dinner recipe, served with a fresh Citrus Mojo Sauce and rice!

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Dinner

Servings: 4

Equipment

Large rimmed baking sheet
parchment paper sheets
Food processor or blender

Ingredients

Mojo Meatballs

1 lb ground pork
½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1 cup (packed) cilantro (tender stems and leaves) finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, finely minced, (seeds and stems removed)
2 teaspoon granulated sugar

Mojo Sauce

2 cups (packed) cilantro (tender stems and leaves)
½ cup flat leaf parsley
6 cloves garlic, peeled
the zest of ½ an orange
¼ cup fresh squeezed orange juice, (about 1 naval orange)
the zest of 1 lime
2 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, finely minced, (seeds and stems removed)
3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees f.
2. Mix together meatball ingredients with your hands until just combined.
3. Form into 2” balls with your hands or a cookie or ice cream scoop, and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet.
4. Bake for 13-15 minutes on top rack of oven.
5. While the meatballs bake, add Mojo sauce ingredients to the bowl of a food processor (or a blender), and pulse until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl for serving.
Once baked, serve meatballs with Mojo sauce and white rice.
Some great additions:
Air Fryer Sweet Plantains
Cuba Style Black Beans

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