Spinach Garlic Meatballs Recipe Everyone Will Love Recipe
These Spinach Garlic Meatballs are a delicious and nutritious twist on classic meatballs, combining savory ground beef or turkey with sautéed spinach, garlic, and gooey mozzarella centers. Perfectly seasoned and versatile, they can be baked or pan-seared and served with marinara sauce for a flavorful meal that everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes (baking) or 12-16 minutes (pan-searing)
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 12 meatballs 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey (lean turkey as a substitute)
- 2 cups Fresh Spinach, sautéed
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 small Onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (can substitute with oats or almond flour)
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 8 oz Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cubes, chilled
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Optional Enhancements
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes for heat
- 1 tbsp Chopped Parsley for freshness
Instructions
- Sauté Spinach and Garlic: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the fresh spinach and minced garlic. Cook until the spinach is wilted and the garlic is fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Once cooled, finely chop the spinach mixture.
- Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef or turkey, cooled chopped spinach and garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and finely chopped onion if using. Stir gently until all ingredients are just combined—avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Take a portion of the meat mixture and flatten it in your hand. Place a chilled mozzarella cube in the center, then carefully fold the meat mixture around it, sealing completely to encase the cheese. Shape into meatballs of desired size.
- Cook the Meatballs: Choose your cooking method: To bake, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and arrange meatballs on a baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Alternatively, pan-sear the meatballs in a skillet with a bit of oil over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes per side until browned and cooked completely.
- Optional Simmer: For extra flavor, simmer the cooked meatballs in warm marinara sauce for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Resting: Let the meatballs rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring they remain moist and flavorful when served.
Notes
- Using chilled mozzarella cubes helps prevent cheese leakage during cooking.
- Sautéing the spinach enhances its flavor and reduces excess moisture in the meatballs.
- To keep meatballs tender, mix ingredients gently without overworking the meat.
- You can customize the heat and freshness by adding red pepper flakes and chopped parsley as desired.
- Meatballs can be served alongside pasta, in sandwiches, or as appetizers with dipping sauce.
Keywords: spinach meatballs, garlic meatballs, mozzarella stuffed meatballs, Italian meatballs, baked meatballs, healthy meatballs
