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Quick Spinach Garlic Meatballs Recipe

Juicy spinach garlic meatballs stuffed with melty mozzarella and packed with flavor. These healthy, cheesy, family-approved meatballs are easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or entertaining.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 20 meatballs
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
  • 2 cups fresh spinach sautéed and finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 small onion finely chopped (optional)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 oz low-moisture mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Method
 

  1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté spinach and garlic until wilted and fragrant. Let cool slightly and chop finely.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, parsley, and the spinach mixture.
  3. Mix gently until just combined.
  4. Take a small portion of the mixture, flatten it, place a cube of mozzarella in the center, and roll into a ball, sealing the cheese inside.
  5. Repeat until all meatballs are formed.
  6. Place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  7. Bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until cooked through and golden.
  8. Optional: Simmer cooked meatballs in marinara sauce for 5–10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overmix the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender. Chilling the cheese cubes helps prevent leaking during cooking.