High Protein Meatballs with Spinach
One of the best things about this recipe is that the meatballs are designed to go straight from the freezer to the oven. Make a big batch ahead of time, freeze them, then bake the frozen meatballs in marinara whenever you need an easy family dinner.
Servings 12
Ingredients
- 2 lbs extra-lean ground beef
- 1 lb ground sausage or ground pork
- 1 bunch fresh spinach finely chopped
- 1 large egg white
- 4 large eggs
- 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp poultry seasoning
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
For Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatballs
- 24 small cubes mozzarella cheese for large meatballs, or 48 cubes for small meatballs You can use the Parmesan in the meat mixture, make mozzarella-stuffed meatballs, or use both for an extra-cheesy version.
For Baking
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- Garlic salt to taste
- Dried oregano to taste
- Dried basil to taste
- Italian seasoning to taste
- Shredded Romano cheese
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add the ground beef, sausage, chopped spinach, egg white, whole eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, and Parmesan to a large mixing bowl.
- Using clean hands, gently mix until the ingredients are evenly incorporated. Avoid excessively working the meat mixture.
- Divide the mixture into 24 large meatballs or 48 smaller meatballs.
- If making mozzarella-stuffed meatballs, flatten each portion slightly and place one cube of mozzarella in the center. Wrap the meat around the cheese and roll it into a ball, making sure the mozzarella is completely enclosed.
- Arrange the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet or tray.
- Freeze until completely firm. Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container until ready to cook.
Baking Frozen Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Arrange the frozen meatballs in the prepared baking dish. Pour the marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs.
- Season the top with garlic salt, oregano, basil, and Italian seasoning. Sprinkle Romano and Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through. For food safety, ground beef and pork should reach at least 160°F in the center when checked with a food thermometer.
- Sprinkle with additional fresh Parmesan and basil before serving, if desired.
