Description
Tender, flavorful meatballs filled with spinach and garlic, with a surprise melty mozzarella center in every bite. These Spinach Garlic Mozzarella Meatballs are a delicious twist on traditional meatballs.
Ingredients
Meatball mixture
- 450g ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
- 1 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 60ml breadcrumbs
- 25g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
For the cheesy centers and cooking
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, gently combine your ground beef, finely chopped spinach, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix just until everything comes together – don’t overwork it or your meatballs will be tough. Take about 1-2 tablespoons of the meat mixture and flatten it in your palm. Place a cube of mozzarella right in the center, then carefully wrap the meat around it, making sure to seal it completely so no cheese escapes. Roll it into a nice round ball and repeat with the rest of your mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add your meatballs in batches – don’t overcrowd the pan or they won’t brown properly. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, turning them gently, until they’re beautifully browned all over and cooked through completely.
- Serve your meatballs hot with marinara sauce for dipping, or toss them with your favorite pasta. For an extra special touch, garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. Get ready for that amazing cheese pull when you bite into them!
Notes
- The key to tender meatballs is gentle mixing – just combine the ingredients until they hold together, no more.
- Make sure to seal each meatball completely around the mozzarella cube to prevent delicious cheese leakage during cooking.
- These meatballs are perfect over pasta, in a sub sandwich, or just enjoyed on their own with marinara for dipping.
- You can prep these ahead of time and refrigerate for a few hours before cooking, or even freeze them for future meals.
- For extra flavor, try using a mix of ground beef and pork – the pork adds richness and keeps everything extra juicy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
