Description
Tender, juicy meatballs infused with garlic and fresh spinach, stuffed with melty mozzarella, and baked in rich marinara sauce until perfectly golden. This Italian-inspired comfort dish is hearty, flavorful, and irresistibly cheesy—perfect for dinner with pasta, crusty bread, or on its own.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped and sautéed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 6–8 mozzarella cheese balls (or cubes of mozzarella)
For Assembly:
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella (for topping)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Filling – Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and garlic; sauté until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat.
- Make the Meatball Mixture – In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, pepper, and the spinach-garlic mixture. Mix until just combined.
- Stuff the Meatballs – Divide the mixture into equal portions. Press a piece of mozzarella into the center of each portion, wrapping the meat around to seal.
- Bake in Marinara – Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread marinara sauce in a baking dish. Arrange the stuffed meatballs in the sauce. Bake for 20–25 minutes.
- Add the Cheesy Topping – Remove from oven, sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the top, and return to bake for another 5–7 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Serve – Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Use ground chicken for a leaner option.
- Add fresh basil for extra aroma.
- Serve over spaghetti for a full Italian feast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg