Turkey Spinach Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Turkey spinach meatballs always show up when I’m low on groceries but need something healthy, hearty, not boring. You ever stare hopelessly into your fridge, spot some ground turkey, and just feel—well, uninspired? Same. But toss spinach into the mix? Suddenly, we’re on to something. I first stumbled on these by riffing off this Greek turkey meatball recipe and, honestly, haven’t looked back. Now, my freezer’s got a batch at all times… and my picky family even cheers (sometimes).
Recipe notes
Let’s not pretend turkey spinach meatballs have to be fancy. You grab some ground turkey—honestly whatever’s on sale—handful of chopped spinach (frozen or fresh, doesn’t really matter). I’ve used both, and nobody noticed (or at least nobody complained loud enough for me to care). Eggs bind the whole thing together, but if you’re out, skip it. I won’t report you. A little parmesan gives flavor oomph, but regular cheese works if that’s what’s left in your drawer. And dried herbs? Oregano, basil, maybe some parsley. Don’t stress over amounts. If your mix feels too sticky, throw in breadcrumbs. If it’s dry—add a splash of milk. Here’s something wild: these taste a thousand times better the next day. That’s my hot take. I let them cool and stash them away, and boom—lunch is sorted.
Can I add more spinach to the mixture?
So, you’re one of those go-big-or-go-home folks, huh? I’ve jammed nearly double the spinach into turkey spinach meatballs before, just to see what would happen. It looked a little… green. But the flavor? Still dreamy. The trick is chopping the spinach super fine and really squeezing out the water if you’re using frozen—it’ll save you a soggy mess. If the mix feels wet, toss in more breadcrumbs or even some parmesan (I just love sneaking that in). The kids might give it side-eye if it’s super vegetal, but hey, sometimes you win. Don’t be afraid to try a handful of spinach more—healthy is healthy, right? Moderation’s good, but it’s hard to overdo spinach in here. I say go for it.
10 Ways to Meatball Ideas
Here’s the fun part. Once you nail turkey spinach meatballs, suddenly every leftover in your kitchen morphs into a new meal idea. Leftover cooked broccoli in the fridge? Mash it in. Nobody complained. I’ve swapped out the tomato sauce for homemade gravy, or plopped the meatballs cold into a pita with pickles and Greek yogurt. Oh—try finishing baked turkey spinach meatballs with a little smoked paprika dusted on top right out of the oven. Even my friend who claims “I can’t cook, I just microwave” nailed this recipe, barely measuring anything.
| Another tip: repurpose these into workweek lunches. Serve them over any pasta you’ve got, or crumble into a salad with whatever veggies are near death in the crisper. |
I whipped these up for a Sunday dinner, and my notoriously hard-to-please teenager went back for seconds… and thirds. At this point, I’m declaring the meatball method officially ‘kid-tested.’
Rate This Recipe
Let’s be real. When you make turkey spinach meatballs, you either fire off texts to your favorite people (“you gotta try these!”) or you quietly hoard leftovers. First time I cooked these—full honesty—I nearly burned the first batch. Oven runs hot. Still tasted like a five-star restaurant, so don’t worry if you aren’t perfect either.
Feel free to tweak the seasonings or, heck, the actual base—swap in chicken or beef if that’s what you’ve got. I want to hear how it went! Your tips make this whole food blog thing way more interesting, honestly. Drop your weirdest or tastiest add-ins down below.
Reader Interactions
So, what’s your best meatball disaster story? Or… did the turkey spinach meatballs actually work out for you, no substitutions needed? Either way, the comment section’s basically a kitchen table—flour spills and all. Ask questions, vent about recipe flops, or share side dish successes (I need more ideas, trust me). If you’re searching for more ideas, maybe check out my cheesy baked meatballs with garden vegetables if you want a more veggie-packed twist.
Sometimes, turkey spinach meatballs rescue dinner with embarrassingly little effort. If today wasn’t a Martha Stewart day, you’re not alone—this recipe will pull you through. For more ideas or in-depth instructions, peep other recipes for inspiration, like this detailed Baked Turkey Meatballs with Spinach Recipe – Home Cooking …. I also found some great flavor tips at Turkey Spinach Meatballs | Living Lou (never would’ve guessed adding feta, wow). And, for a fancy take, check this Turkey-Spinach Meatballs Recipe | Bon Appétit. Hope your kitchen feels cozier tonight. If you do something weird with these meatballs, drop a note—because honestly, the weird ideas are always my favorite.
Turkey Spinach Meatballs
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, mix together ground turkey, chopped spinach, egg, parmesan cheese, dried herbs, breadcrumbs, and milk until well combined.
- Form the mixture into meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Place meatballs on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until fully cooked through.