Looking for the Best Ground Turkey & Spinach Meatball recipe…then look no further. I love a good meatball recipe and this one does not disappoint. Lean ground turkey, spinach, aromatics and seasonings come together to make this super simple meal that can be served for your next lunch or dinner. Filled with a sweet and savory flavor you will be making these again and again. I love making these especially on busy weeknights and it’s truly a meal the whole family can enjoy. If you want more meatball recipes then try these Healthy Firecracker Meatballs, Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, Asian Turkey Meatballs or these Thai Chili meatballs as well!
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These healthy turkey meatballs with spinach are in steady rotation for my weekly meal prep. I love making meatballs and this easy ground turkey recipe definitely checks all the boxes. It’s super simple to make and bonus you get to sneak in some extra veggies if you have some picky eaters on your hands. Even better is that these ground turkey & spinach meatballs taste amazing thanks to some basic ingredients and seasonings.
WHY LOVE GROUND TURKEY AND SPINACH MEATBALLS
There are several reasons to love ground turkey and spinach meatballs. Here are some of them:
- Healthier Option: Lean ground turkey is generally lower in fat compared to ground beef, making it a healthier choice if you’re looking to reduce your fat intake.
- Lean Protein: Ground turkey is a good source of lean protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair, as well as overall health.
- Versatile: Ground turkey can easily take on different flavors and seasonings, making it versatile for various cuisines and recipes.
- Kid-Friendly: Meatballs are often a hit with kids, and incorporating spinach into them is a sneaky way to get them to eat more greens without much fuss.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Ground turkey and spinach meatballs can be made in batches and frozen for later use, making them a convenient option for meal prep.
- Customizable: You can customize the seasoning and herbs in your meatballs to suit your taste preferences, adding variety to your meals.
- Balanced Meal: Pairing ground turkey and spinach meatballs with whole grains like whole wheat pasta or quinoa and a side of vegetables creates a balanced and nutritious meal.
This is one of those meals you can feel good about feeding your family. Each serving packs about 22 grams of protein and about 8 grams of fat. Add the hidden nutrient boost of dark greens, and this is an extremely nutritious meal. These turkey meatballs with spinach are also just plain good. They bring a slightly sweet and spicy kick with every bite. The fresh basil helps balance out the flavors and brings the entire dish together.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR TURKEY MEATBALLS
- Ground turkey: One pound ground turkey is used for this recipe. I always love to cook with lean ground turkey that is 93% lean with 7% fat. However you can always choose ground turkey with a higher fat content at 85/15 or a lower fat content at 99% lean .
- Spinach: Fresh spinach or frozen spinach both works for this original recipe. If using fresh baby spinach, chop the spinach really finely so it blends well with the turkey mixture. If using frozen spinach ensure to defrost and wring the spinach out throughly to get as much liquid out as possible.
- Onion: Yellow onion, or white onion finely diced blends well for this recipe.
- Garlic: Garlic is a versatile ingredient that can add a lot of flavor and depth to meat dishes. You can use fresh garlic bulbs or shave some prep time by using pre-chopped garlic in a jar.
- Seasonings: a seasoning blend is used that consists of some pantry staples like black pepper, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and salt to taste
- Tomato Paste: to add a richness and depth of flavor to the meatballs a bit of tomato paste is used as a key ingredient.
- Parmesan Cheese: slightly nutty and adds an additional layer of flavor to these ground turkey meatballs
HOW TO MAKE MEATBALLS
In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients including the lean ground turkey, seasoning blend, thawed spinach, onions, garlic, parmesan cheese and tomato paste.
Mix together throughly to combine with hands or a mixing spoon.
Using a tablespoon or small scoop, scoop out some of the ground meat mixture and roll into a medium size ball. Turkey and spinach meatballs should be about 1.5 – 2 inches. Continue to repeat this process until all of the meatballs have been formed. This should make approx. 10 – 12 balls
Place the meatballs on the air fryer basket and spray with olive oil or spray oil to ensure they brown during the cooking process. Cook in the air fryer on 375 for 10-12 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and are golden brown.
Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool.
While the meatballs are cooking, make your marinara sauce. Bring a large skillet to medium heat and spray with olive oil. Next add onions and garlic and saute for 2 – 3 mins. Next add your crushed tomatoes and seasonings. Stir to combine and let simmer.
When you’re ready to serve, place some sauce on the bottom of a shallow bowl and top with the meatballs. Optional – you can top with 2 tsp of fresh pecorino romano cheese and fresh basil.
TIPS ON HOW TO SERVE
Whole wheat pasta: any type of pasta will work nicely with these meatballs like penne pasta, spaghetti pasta or rigatoni.
Side salad: make a simple side greek salad with romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, black olives and pepperchinos.
Bell Peppers: stuffed bell peppers with white rice like jasmine or basmati.
Cauliflower rice: helps keep this dish lower in carbs
Spaghetti squash: is a great substitute for a low carb pasta option
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Meat: ground chicken or lean ground beef
- Cheese: Mozzarella cheese, feta cheese or provolone cheese
- Veggies: Finely chopped broccoli, baby kale, shredded zucchini or really any sturdy green vegetable will fit the bill and blend in perfectly with these meatballs.
CAN I MAKE THESE FOR MEAL PREP
These turkey meatballs with spinach are perfect for meal prep. I usually make a double batch of these meatballs and use one for the week and freeze the other batch for later use. These healthy turkey meatballs are ideal for quick lunches or a low carb dinner.
These turkey meatballs with spinach store well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Alternatively, you can choose to freeze them in smaller batches of 4 – 5 meatballs in freezer bags to use at a later time.
If you try this recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment & star rating down below! Let’s stay in touch! Feel free to follow me on my social media as I share more healthy recipes, fitness workouts and motherhood. Give a follow at: Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest!
Easy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs with Spinach
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
Ingredients
Turkey Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground turkey 93/7
- 1 handful Spinach frozen, thawed
- 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
- 1 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1/4 cup Yellow onion chopped
- 1/2 tsp Garlic chopped
- 1/2 tsp Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp Crushed red pepper
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Sauce
- 2 cans Crushed tomatoes 15 oz.
- 1/4 cup Onion chopped
- 1 tsp Garlic chopped
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients including the lean ground turkey, seasoning blend, thawed spinach, onions, garlic, parmesan cheese and tomato paste. Mix together throughly to combine with hands or a mixing spoon.
- Using a tablespoon or small scoop, scoop out some of the ground meat mixture and roll into a medium size ball. Turkey and spinach meatballs should be about 1.5 – 2 inches. Continue to repeat this process until all of the meatballs have been formed. This should make approx. 10 – 12 balls
- Place the meatballs on the air fryer basket and spray with olive oil or spray oil to ensure they brown during the cooking process. Cook in the air fryer on 375 for 10-12 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and are golden brown.
- Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool.
- While the meatballs are cooking, make your marinara sauce. Bring a large skillet to medium heat and spray with olive oil. Next add onions and garlic and saute for 2 – 3 mins. Next add your crushed tomatoes and seasonings. Stir to combine and let simmer.
- When you’re ready to serve, place some sauce on the bottom of a shallow bowl and top with the meatballs. Optional – you can top with 2 tsp of fresh pecorino romano cheese and fresh basil.
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