Description
Deliciously moist and flavorful Spinach Feta Baked Turkey Meatballs simmered in a rich marinara sauce. This healthy and easy-to-make dish features lean ground turkey mixed with fresh spinach, tangy feta cheese, and aromatic herbs, baked to perfection for a wholesome family meal.
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
For Baking
- Homemade marinara sauce (or 32 ounce jar of store-bought marinara sauce)
- Freshly chopped parsley (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Prepare Marinara Base: Pour your homemade or store-bought marinara sauce into a large oven-safe skillet or baking dish and set it aside.
- Cook and Chop Spinach: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add baby spinach and cook until wilted. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Remove from heat and coarsely chop the spinach and garlic mixture on a cutting board.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the ground turkey, chopped spinach and garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, crumbled feta cheese, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Gently mix with your hands until just incorporated, avoiding overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the turkey mixture into approximately 2-tablespoon-sized balls and place them evenly into the skillet or baking dish with the marinara sauce.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Begin checking for doneness after 15 minutes by inserting a meat thermometer into the center of a meatball; it should read 165°F (74°C) when fully cooked.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven. Garnish the meatballs with freshly chopped parsley if desired, and serve with the marinara sauce for a comforting and flavorful meal.
Notes
- Use lean ground turkey to keep the meatballs moist yet healthy.
- You can substitute regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Overmixing the meat mixture can result in tough meatballs, so mix gently and just until combined.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure safety and juiciness.
- Fresh parsley is optional but adds a nice color and fresh flavor when garnished on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: spinach feta turkey meatballs, baked turkey meatballs, healthy meatball recipe, Mediterranean meatballs, easy dinner recipes, baked meatballs with marinara
