Description
Hearty spinach garlic meatballs with mozzarella offer a delightful Mediterranean-inspired fusion of classic comfort and fresh ingredients. Juicy ground meat, fragrant herbs, and melted cheese create a perfect bite that elevates weeknight dinners with irresistible flavor you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef or turkey
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 3 cloves minced garlic
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 large egg
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400F and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet for optimal meatball roasting.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet, gently sauté garlic until aromatic, then incorporate fresh spinach and cook until completely wilted and softened.
- Let the spinach-garlic mixture cool to room temperature to prevent overheating the meat mixture.
- Combine ground meat with cooled spinach blend, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly blend ingredients using hands or a fork, ensuring even distribution of seasonings and spinach.
- Portion the meat mixture into uniform sections, creating a small indent in each portion’s center.
- Insert a chunk of mozzarella cheese into the center of each meat portion, carefully encasing the cheese completely.
- Gently roll the meat mixture into smooth, round balls, maintaining the cheese’s concealment within the meat.
- Arrange meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly to promote consistent cooking.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, rotating the sheet midway for uniform browning.
- Confirm doneness by checking that meatballs are golden brown and internal temperature reaches 160F.
- Remove from oven and allow meatballs to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to retain moisture and cheese integrity.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by using fresh garlic and high-quality spinach for a more vibrant taste profile.
- Customize protein options by substituting ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner meatball.
- Prevent cheese from leaking by freezing mozzarella chunks briefly before stuffing inside the meatballs.
- Ensure even cooking by using a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 160F for food safety.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg