Description
Delicious and juicy spinach garlic meatballs stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese, perfect as a hearty appetizer or main course. This recipe combines fresh spinach, savory garlic, and Italian seasonings for a flavorful twist on classic meatballs, with optional red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey (lean turkey can be substituted)
- 2 cups fresh spinach, sautéed to enhance flavor
- 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 for heat
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley for freshness
Instructions
- Sauté Spinach and Garlic: Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté the fresh spinach with minced garlic until the spinach is wilted, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then finely chop the mixture.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and the cooled chopped spinach mixture. Stir gently until evenly mixed but avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Take a portion of the meat mixture and encase a chilled mozzarella cube inside, shaping it into a ball and sealing the cheese completely within the meat to prevent leakage during cooking.
- Cook the Meatballs: Choose your cooking method: bake the meatballs at 400°F (200°C) for 25 minutes, or pan-sear them in oil over medium-high heat for 8 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
- Optional Simmer: For extra flavor, simmer the cooked meatballs in warm marinara sauce for 10 minutes before serving.
- Rest the Meatballs: Let the meatballs rest for 5 minutes after cooking to retain their juiciness and allow flavors to settle.
Notes
- Use chilled mozzarella cubes to prevent cheese from leaking out during cooking.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture for tender and juicy meatballs.
- Substitute breadcrumbs with oats or almond flour for gluten-free variations.
- Simmering the meatballs in marinara sauce adds depth of flavor and moisture.
- Adjust seasoning including salt and pepper according to taste preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
