Description
These Spinach Feta Baked Turkey Meatballs combine lean ground turkey with fresh spinach and tangy feta cheese, baked to perfection in a flavorful marinara sauce. This healthy and delicious recipe offers a great way to enjoy a protein-packed meal with Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground turkey
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (regular or gluten free)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Other
- Homemade marinara sauce (or 32 ounce jar of store-bought marinara sauce)
- Freshly chopped parsley (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Prepare the marinara: Pour the marinara sauce into a large skillet or baking dish and set aside. This will be the base for baking the meatballs.
- Cook and chop the spinach: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the baby spinach and cook until wilted. Then, add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds to infuse the flavor. Remove from the heat and transfer the spinach and garlic to a cutting board. Coarsely chop the mixture.
- Make the meatball mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ground turkey with the chopped spinach and garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, crumbled feta cheese, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Gently mix everything together with your hands, taking care not to overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form meatballs and place in sauce: Shape the turkey mixture into meatballs using about 2 tablespoons each. Place the formed meatballs directly into the skillet or baking dish over the marinara sauce. Repeat until all mixture is used.
- Bake the meatballs: Bake the turkey meatballs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Start checking for doneness after 15 minutes by inserting a meat thermometer into the center of a meatball; the internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve: Once cooked through, remove from the oven. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve hot, enjoying the flavorful, tender meatballs with marinara sauce.
Notes
- You can substitute homemade marinara sauce with a 32 ounce jar of your favorite store-bought marinara sauce.
- Use regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs depending on your dietary preference.
- Make sure to not overmix the meatball mixture to maintain a tender texture.
- Check the internal temperature of meatballs to ensure they are fully cooked; 165 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended for ground turkey.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: spinach feta turkey meatballs, baked turkey meatballs, healthy turkey meatballs, Mediterranean meatballs, low fat main dish
