Description
These Spinach Garlic Meatballs Stuffed with Mozzarella are a flavor-packed twist on classic meatballs. Juicy beef is mixed with fresh spinach, aromatic garlic, and sharp Parmesan, then stuffed with gooey mozzarella for an irresistible cheese pull. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish, these meatballs are quick to prepare and deliver big on taste.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef and turkey mix)
- 1 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, spinach, garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix until just combined—avoid over-mixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Stuff with Mozzarella: Take 1-2 tablespoons of the meat mixture, flatten it in your palm, place a cube of mozzarella in the center, and wrap the meat around it. Roll gently into a sphere. Repeat with remaining mixture.
- Cook the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook meatballs in batches for 4-5 minutes per side, turning carefully, until browned and cooked through (internal temperature of 160°F).
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve immediately with marinara sauce for dipping or as a main dish over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread. Enjoy the molten cheese pull!
Notes
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Spinach Garlic Meatballs:
- Don’t Over-Mix: Overworking the meat mixture can make the meatballs tough. Mix just until combined.
- Use Low-Moisture Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella melts beautifully but can release too much moisture. Low-moisture mozzarella holds its shape better for stuffing.
- Avoid Crowding the Pan: Cook meatballs in batches to ensure they brown evenly instead of steaming.
- Cookie Scoop Hack: Use a cookie scoop for consistent-sized meatballs and faster prep.
- Versatile Serving: These meatballs work as an appetizer, main dish, or even in sandwiches.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (1/4th of recipe)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: spinach garlic meatballs, stuffed meatballs, mozzarella meatballs, appetizer recipe