Description
These homemade spinach mozzarella meatballs combine savory ground beef and turkey, sautéed garlic spinach, and a gooey mozzarella center. With a golden sear and a finish in marinara sauce, they’re the ultimate comfort food—perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or party bites.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz fresh baby spinach
- 7 cloves garlic (3 for spinach, 4 for meat mixture)
- 3–4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2¼ cups breadcrumbs
- 3–4 eggs
- Splash of milk
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 jar marinara sauce (such as Rao’s)
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes
Instructions
- Sauté spinach: Cook spinach in 1–2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves. Cook until wilted. Cool, then chop finely.
- Mix meat: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, turkey, remaining garlic, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and cooled spinach. Mix gently.
- Form balls: Take 2–3 tbsp meat mix, flatten, add mozzarella cube, seal, and roll into a ball.
- Brown meatballs: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. Sear meatballs on all sides until browned (2–3 mins/side). Work in batches if needed.
- Bake in sauce: Add marinara around meatballs in skillet, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F for 15–20 mins or until internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Serve hot: Over pasta, in subs, or as appetizers with extra sauce.
Notes
- Use cold or lightly frozen cheese cubes for easier stuffing.
- Don’t overmix meat mixture—mix just until combined for tenderness.
- For even cooking, use a meat thermometer to ensure internal doneness.
- Let meatballs rest in fridge for 30 mins before cooking for better shape retention.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying and Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: stuffed meatballs, mozzarella meatballs, spinach meatballs, Italian meatballs, cheese stuffed meatballs, turkey beef meatballs