Juicy beef or turkey meatballs filled with sautéed spinach, garlic, and melted mozzarella cheese centers. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep.
# What you need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1 lb ground beef or turkey
02 - 2 cups fresh spinach, sautéed and finely chopped
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 1 cup breadcrumbs
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 8 oz low-moisture mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and chilled
09 - 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
10 - Salt, to taste
11 - Black pepper, to taste
→ Optional Enhancements
12 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
13 - 1 tbsp chopped parsley
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F or prepare a skillet for pan-searing over medium-high heat.
02 - Heat skillet over medium heat. Sauté spinach and half the minced garlic until wilted, about 3–4 minutes. Cool completely, then finely chop.
03 - In large mixing bowl, combine ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, remaining garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chopped spinach. Mix gently until just combined; avoid overmixing.
04 - With damp hands, portion about 2 tablespoons mixture. Flatten and place chilled mozzarella cube in center. Shape meat around cheese, sealing completely. Repeat with remaining mixture.
05 - Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 20–25 minutes until browned and cooked through, or pan-sear in oil 6–8 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
06 - Simmer cooked meatballs in warm marinara sauce 5–10 minutes for additional flavor infusion.
07 - Let meatballs rest 5 minutes before serving to retain internal juiciness.
