📝 Spinach Garlic Meatballs Stuffed with Mozzarella
🍽 Description:
Juicy and flavorful, these Spinach Garlic Meatballs Stuffed with Mozzarella are a savory blend of tender ground meat, nutrient-rich spinach, and aromatic garlic, hiding a gooey mozzarella center. Perfect as a main dish, appetizer, or party snack, these meatballs are crispy outside, melty inside, and bursting with umami goodness.
🧾 Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 cup cooked spinach (squeeze out excess moisture)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (regular or panko)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 8–10 small mozzarella cubes (about ½-inch size)
- Olive oil, for baking or pan-frying
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
👩🍳 Instructions:
- Preheat Oven or Prepare Pan:
- For baking: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly oil it.
- For frying: Heat 2–3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Make the Meat Mixture:
- In a large bowl, combine ground meat, spinach, garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper.
- Mix thoroughly until well blended. Avoid over-mixing to keep meatballs tender.
- Form the Meatballs:
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and flatten it in your palm.
- Place a cube of mozzarella in the center and wrap the meat around it to seal.
- Roll into a ball and place on a plate. Repeat with remaining mixture.
- Cook the Meatballs:
- To bake: Place meatballs on the prepared sheet and lightly brush tops with olive oil. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
- To fry: Add meatballs to the hot pan and cook, turning gently, for 10–12 minutes until browned on all sides and cooked through.
- Serve:
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve warm, optionally with marinara or over pasta, rice, or veggies.
👌 Tips:
- Cheese Tips: Use low-moisture mozzarella to avoid excessive leaking.
- Spinach Prep: Be sure to squeeze out all water from spinach to prevent soggy meatballs.
- Make Ahead: Shape meatballs and freeze (uncooked) on a tray, then store in a freezer bag. Cook from frozen by adding ~5 extra minutes.
- Extra Flavor: Add Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes for a kick.
🍽 Servings:
Makes about 8–10 meatballs
Serves 3–4 people as a main dish or 6–8 as appetizers.
🔬 Nutritional Information (per meatball, approx.):
(Based on beef version and baking method)
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 10g
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Sugars: 0.5g
- Calcium: 80mg
- Iron: 1.2mg
Note: Nutritional values vary based on exact ingredients and portion sizes.
💪 Health Benefits:
- Spinach: High in iron, vitamin K, fiber, and antioxidants.
- Garlic: Contains allicin, a compound with antibacterial and heart health benefits.
- Mozzarella: A good