Description
Juicy and flavorful meatballs made with garlic and spinach, each stuffed with melted mozzarella cheese—perfect for a comforting dinner or impressive party dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes or shredded
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or light oil.
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, chopped spinach, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning until well combined.
- Take about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture, flatten slightly, place a small cube of mozzarella in the center, and wrap the meat around the cheese to form a sealed ball.
- Repeat until all meatballs are formed and arrange them on the baking sheet.
- Brush meatballs lightly with olive oil.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until fully cooked and lightly browned.
- Let rest a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- Try different cheeses like provolone or cheddar for variety.
- For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes or more garlic.
- Make gluten-free by substituting gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 2 months; reheat directly from frozen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
