Description
Warm, garlicky meatballs studded with tender spinach, these make for a juicy comfort food with a gourmet twist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey
- 2 cups Fresh Spinach, sautéed
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 small Onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (or oats/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
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tbsp Chopped Parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil it.
- In a medium skillet, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, then add the spinach and cook until wilted. Cool slightly and squeeze out excess moisture.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground meat, cooled spinach, garlic, onion (if using), egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix gently.
- Form meatballs around mozzarella cubes and place on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through and golden. Let rest for 5 minutes and garnish with parsley.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute turkey and sometimes add extra herbs. Ensure cheese is fully encased to avoid leakage while baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: meatballs, spinach, garlic, Italian, comfort food, weeknight dinner