Spinach Garlic Meatballs Recipe Everyone Will Love Recipe
These Spinach Garlic Meatballs are packed with savory ground beef or turkey, fresh sautéed spinach, and melted mozzarella cheese at the center. Enhanced with garlic, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan, they offer a delightful burst of flavors and textures that everyone will love. Perfect for a hearty appetizer or main dish, they can be baked or pan-seared and optionally simmered in marinara sauce for extra richness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 meatballs 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey (lean turkey can be substituted)
- 2 cups Fresh Spinach, sautéed
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 small Onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (oats or almond flour can be used)
- 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
- 1 tbsp Chopped Parsley
Instructions
- Sauté Spinach and Garlic: Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté the fresh spinach and minced garlic until the spinach is wilted, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then finely chop the spinach mixture.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef or turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and the cooled chopped spinach and garlic. Stir gently until just mixed to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Take chilled mozzarella cubes and fully encase each one with the meat mixture, ensuring the cheese is completely sealed inside and no gaps remain.
- Cook the Meatballs: Choose one cooking method: bake the meatballs on a baking sheet at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, or pan-sear them in a skillet with some oil over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through.
- Optional Simmer: For added flavor, simmer the cooked meatballs in warm marinara sauce for 5-10 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Rest: Let the meatballs rest for 5 minutes after cooking to retain their juiciness before serving.
Notes
- Use chilled mozzarella cubes to prevent cheese leakage during cooking.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- Optional simmer in marinara sauce adds extra flavor and moisture.
- You can substitute ground beef with lean ground turkey for a lighter option.
- Breadcrumb alternatives such as oats or almond flour work well for gluten sensitivity.
Keywords: Spinach meatballs, garlic meatballs, stuffed meatballs, mozzarella meatballs, Italian meatballs, savory appetizers
