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Spinach Meatballs

Best method to sear meatballs in the broiler

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Meatballs are an easy meal that can be served so many ways. On its own, in red or white sauce, on bread for hero sandwiches, or with any kind if pasta. These spinach meatballs doesn’t taste like spinach, but the addition of the chopped spinach and zucchini adds to the tenderness of the meat. The panko and eggs do a great job of keeping these meatballs light yet meaty, tender but not fall apart crumbly. They hold up well in sauce and sandwiches. Broiling in the oven helps give the outside a wonderful even sear. Soy sauce and beef bouillon doesn’t give this recipe any kind of Asian-y taste. It simply enhances the robustness of the meaty taste of the beef and gives it another level of wonderful savoriness. 

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 pounds of ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound spinach, (fresh: cooked and squeezed or frozen: squeezed), chopped fine
  • 1 cup zucchini, finely shredded and drained
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons garlic granules
  • 2 teaspoons beef bouillon powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced fine (or through a garlic press)
  • 2 cups panko
  • 1 cup grated parmesan
  • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 32 ounce jars of marinara sauce or or an equivalent amount of tomato sauce

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the spinach until soft. Transfer the spinach on to a colander to cool and drain the liquid. As it cools, press down on the spinach with the back of a large spoon to squeeze the liquid out. Discard the liquid.
  2. Using a strainer over a bowl, strain the shredded zucchini for about 10 minutes. Discard the liquid.
  3. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine all the ingredients, except the marinara sauce in a large mixing bowl; ground beef, eggs, basil, parsley, garlic granules, beef bouillon, salt, fresh minced garlic, panko, parmesan, soy sauce, drained zucchini and spinach. Use your hands to gently combine all the ingredients together. Form meatballs and place them evenly spaced on the baking sheet.
  4. Turn the oven to broil on medium (2) and set the top rack on the highest level. Broil your meatballs for 5 minutes. This will give the top of the meatball a nice sear. After 5 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and turn the meatballs so that an un-seared part is facing up. Broil for another 5 minutes. Repeat 2 more times so that the meatballs have a nice sear all around, for a total broiling time of 20 minutes. You may have to lean the meatballs against each other so that the meatballs stay in position.
  5. While the meatballs are broiling, warm up the marinara sauce in a large pot. After the meatballs are done broiling, add the meatballs to the sauce and continue to cook the meatballs in the sauce on low heat for 1 hour. Enjoy on its own or over pasta.

Equipment