Description
These spinach garlic meatballs stuffed with mozzarella are juicy, cheesy, and packed with savory flavor. Tender seasoned meatballs are filled with gooey mozzarella and blended with spinach, garlic, herbs, and Parmesan for a comforting meal perfect for dinner, appetizers, or sliders.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or a mix of beef and ground turkey
- 1 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 6 to 8 small mozzarella balls or mozzarella cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil for cooking
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce for serving (optional)
- 1/4 cup milk (optional for extra moisture)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, chopped spinach, garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Add milk if desired for softer meatballs and mix gently until just combined.
- Scoop a golf ball-sized portion of the mixture and flatten it slightly in your hand.
- Place a mozzarella ball or cube in the center and wrap the meat mixture around it, sealing completely.
- Roll into a smooth meatball and repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the meatballs and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally until browned and fully cooked.
- If using marinara sauce, pour it into the skillet and simmer the meatballs for about 5 minutes.
- Serve hot with fresh parsley and your preferred side dish.
Notes
- Seal the meatballs tightly around the cheese to prevent leaking.
- Frozen spinach can be used if thawed and drained well.
- Ground chicken or turkey makes a lighter variation.
- Use almond flour instead of breadcrumbs for a lower-carb version.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 20 minutes for an oven method.
- Provolone, fontina, or cheddar can replace mozzarella.
- Serve with pasta, salad, rice, or toasted slider buns.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 meatballs
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
